High Voltage Electrician (Apprentice) - Phoenix Arizona

$40.50 - $55.48 hourly

Job Description

High Voltage Electrician (Apprentice)

Department of Energy
Western Area Power Administration

Summary

As a High Voltage Electrician (Apprentice), you are expected to complete a 4-year training program that combines on-the-job training, classroom, and self-study training during off-duty hours designed to train, appraise, and develop the apprentice as they progress to become a fully competent Journeyman High Voltage Electrician.

This open and continuous announcement establishes a standing register of eligible applicants. See Additional Information section.

Duties

Work is both indoors and outdoors under all prevailing weather conditions during the day or night. Hazards include working around high voltage electrical equipment (69 kV and higher) and machinery with moving parts. Active climbing, lifting, working in strained positions. Work from ladders, scaffolds, and man-lift devices. May work from substation's support structures which requires the use of appropriate fall protection equipment. Install and repair equipment in confined and enclosed spaces. Regularly lift and carry items weighing 50 pounds or more. Works as a member of a crew. Requires overnight travel of 14 or more days per month. Full performance level installs, constructs, commissions, maintains, troubleshoots, and repairs equipment in high voltage switchyards, substations, communication facilities and power operations centers.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

 

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period. Employees serving on a probationary or trial period may be terminated at any time during the probationary or trial period for performance, conduct, or business-related reasons in the interest of Federal service.
  • A Service Agreement of up to 2 years is required for this position.
  • This position requires the ability to operate a Government vehicle. The incumbent must be at least 18 years of age, able to obtain and maintain Defensive Drivers certification and have a valid state driver's license. Defensive Driver's Training will be completed upon employment.
  • The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) to operate vehicles of more than 26,000 pounds GVWR. The CDL must be obtained within 120 days of employment, or longer if outside the control of the employee.
  • The incumbent must wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as required.
  • The incumbent must wear Arc Rated protective clothing when in proximity to exposed energized circuits.
  • The incumbent is subject to the random drug and alcohol testing program established by the Department of Energy.
  • The position requires a pre-appointment and annual physical exam at Federal expense.
  • The incumbent of this position is subject to inclement weather conditions such as high temperatures, rain, sleet, snow, and extreme cold.
  • This position may be subject to regular and recurring overtime. Overtime may be on short notice to include nights, holidays, and weekends in support of related mission requirements.
  • This position requires the incumbent to climb structures averaging 65 feet in height.
  • This position requires a climbing weight not to exceed 310 pounds with all required gear and personal weight without gear not to exceed 280 pounds.
  • This position may require the incumbent to occasionally fly in a fixed wing aircraft or helicopter during the performance of assigned duties.
  • The position may require nationally accredited crane certification for fixed and/or swing boom cranes. If so, training will be provided at Federal expense.

 

Qualifications

 

In order to qualify for this position, your resume must provide sufficient experience and/or education, knowledge, skills, and abilities, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are being considered. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities, as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to submit a thorough resume that directly relates to this position.

Applicants must meet the requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations (X-118C). Although a specific length of time and experience is not required for most trade and labor occupations, you must show through experience and training that you possess the quality level of knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties of the position at the level for which you are applying. Qualification requirements emphasis is on the quality of experience, not necessarily the length of time.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the job elements and screen out listed below. This job has a screen-out factors which will be used to determine minimum eligibility for this job. Applicants who do not receive a minimum of two points on this screen-out element(s) will be found ineligible.

The screen-out element for this position is:

  • Having the aptitude and interest in pursuing and completing a 4-year electrical apprenticeship program.

If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. In preparing your application, describe in detail the experience and training which you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by job titles alone.

"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.

Physical Effort:
Active climbing, lifting, working in strained positions. Work from ladders, scaffolds, and man-lift devices. May work from substation's support structures which requires the use of appropriate fall protection equipment. Install and repair equipment in confined and enclosed spaces. Regularly lift and carry items weighing 50 pounds or more.

Working Conditions:
Be able to wear protective apparel (such as respirators, steel-toed footwear) when required for worker safety. Work is both inside and out-of-doors with exposure to hazardous materials and the possibility of electric shock, falls, bruises, cuts, burns, strains, and inclement weather. May be required to fly to work sites by either fixed wing aircraft or helicopter. Work may require considerable travel requiring temporary lodging away from the duty station.

 

Education

 

For this position, education cannot be substituted for experience.

Additional information

  • This open and continuous announcement establishes a standing register of eligible applicants.
    • Applications received by Sep 14 2026, will be considered for the first referral.
    • Applications received on/after Sep 15, 2026, but by Oct 14, 2026, will be considered for the second referral.
    • Applications received on/after Oct 15, 2026, buy by Nov 13, 2026 will be considered for the third referral.
    • Applications received on/after Nov 14, 2026, but by Dec 13, 2026, will be considered for the fourth referral.
    • Applications received after Dec 14, 2026, but by Jan 13, 2026, will be considered for the fifth referral.
    • Applications received after Jan 14, 2026, but by Feb 17, 2026, will be considered for the final referral.
  • You do need to resubmit your application between referral periods unless your contact information, qualifications, or interest change.
  • This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE.
  • For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit: www.telework.gov
  • The selectee for this position may be eligible to receive a recruitment or relocation incentive. You will need to sign an employment agreement to be eligible for this incentive.
  • Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs are not authorized.
  • This position may be eligible for creditable service towards annual leave. Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a federal employee. DOE may offer newly appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
  • Status and non-status applicants from outside DOE selected under this authority are required to serve a mandatory one (1) year probationary period. A DOE career status employee selected for this position may be required to serve a new one (1) year probationary period, pursuant to 5 CFR 315.802.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
 

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

This position is announced under a government-wide Direct-Hire Authority (DHA) for High Voltage Electrician positions in the 2810 series. Under the DHA, applicants who meet the Qualification requirements listed in this announcement will be referred for consideration. Veteran's Preference, category rating, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply under the DHA process.

Appointments made under the DHA are processed as "new" appointments. Current Federal employees may be required to serve a new probationary period (5 CFR 315.802(b).

Successful candidates will possess the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

  • Ability to Follow Oral Directions
  • Ability to Use Prints and Drawings
  • Aptitude and Interest for Learning Trade Theory and Practice
  • Reliability and Dependability



Career Transition Assistance Programs: If you are eligible for career transition assistance, such as ICTAP or CTAP, you must meet the Education and Qualification requirements to be referred for consideration.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (11/27/2026) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13047639

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package which includes:

  • Your RESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of the each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
  • Transcripts, if specific educational requirements are indicated in this job announcement.Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements.
  • Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable(e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.) For more information see the OPM Guide to Career Transition.

Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

 

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

PMA Careers
Email
PMACareers@wapa.gov
Address
WAPA-RMR-Rocky Mountain Region
5555 E. Crossroads Blvd
Loveland, CO 80538
US