Mechanical Engineer (Recent Grad)

Full Job Description

This position is part of the Bonneville Power Administration, Department of Energy, Transmission Services, Transmission Student Development.

s a Mechanical Engineer (Recent Grad), you will serve as an mechanical engineer performing assignments of limited scope and difficulty which are screened to eliminate difficult or unusual problems.

To be eligible for the Recent Graduate program you must be a: Recent graduate who has completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution.

-OR Student who within 90 days of the closing date of this announcement will meet the education requirements and will graduate with a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution.

A student may not be appointed to a position until they have graduated.

-OR Preference eligible veteran who was precluded from applying due to their military service obligation begin their two-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty.

Eligibility for these veterans cannot exceed six years after degree or certificate completion." BASIC REQUIREMENT: A. Degree: Engineering.

To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

-OR- B.

Combination of Education and Experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering.

The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: Professional Registration or Licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico.

-OR- Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

-OR- Specified Academic Courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A.

The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.-OR- Related Curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance.

Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions.

(The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.) For more information on how to meet the Basic Requirements please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdfIn addition to the meeting the basic requirement, a qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience.

GS-07: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-05): Specialized experience for this position is defined as applying practical knowledge of standard electrical engineering concepts, principles, methods, and practices (1) to follow an operation through a series of related detailed steps or processes in carrying out work assignments.

You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: One year of graduate-level education, or superior academic achievement (S.A.A.) gained in a bachelor's degree curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled (based on class standing, grade-point average, or honor society membership).

See the following link for more information: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=app -OR- Combination of education and experience as described above.

Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with completed graduate education.

GS-09: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-07): Specialized experience for this position is defined as applying practical knowledge of standard electrical engineering concepts, principles, methods, and practices (1) to follow an operation through a series of related detailed steps or processes in carrying out work assignments, and (2) to recognize and identify discrepancies and deviations in results.

You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: Two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree, or master's, or equivalent graduate degree; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

-OR- Combination of education and experience as described above.

Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e., credit hours beyond the first year of full-time study may be credited).

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience.

Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations.

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills; and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Major Duties:

As a Mechanical Engineering Recent Grad, you will: Assist higher-grade engineers or works as a team member and participates in various types of work performed in the organization for orientation and exposure.

Select and adapt standard practices, methods, procedures, and data to be applied to a specific problem. Plan work procedures to carry out a sequence of operations.

Study engineering texts, periodicals, manufacturers' publications and other technical material to obtain information which may have a bearing on the specific problem assigned.

Perform necessary calculations. Prepare reports, charts, graphs, memoranda, and correspondence.