Western Area Power Administration is recruiting Electrical Engineers (Protection) for four federal positions in the Upper Great Plains region. Duty locations include Fort Peck, Montana; Bismarck, North Dakota; and Huron, South Dakota. Pay ranges from $57,999 to $127,443 per year across GS-5 through GS-12.
This is especially relevant to early-career engineers because WAPA describes the employee as a trainee who progresses toward fully independent protection-engineering work. Applicants completing qualifying degree requirements within 120 days of the August 28, 2026 closing date may also apply.
Protection Engineering Work
At full performance, the engineer develops tests and troubleshooting procedures for electrical protection equipment and provides technical support to craft employees when complex problems occur in the field.
The engineer evaluates test results, documents findings and develops fixes, enhancements, logic or control settings when protection systems need improvement.
Substation Design and Commissioning
The position engineers additions, modifications and replacements for protection and control systems and revenue metering. That includes planning, cost estimates, coordination, scheduling, testing and technical documentation.
Engineers can also design or review major parts of new substation protection-and-control systems and participate in implementation and commissioning.
System Disturbance Analysis
WAPA engineers analyze equipment operation and power-system disturbances using computerized models and tools. The goal is to verify that protection equipment operated correctly and determine what should change if a malfunction or unwanted condition occurred.
The engineer also supports installation and commissioning work and keeps as-built drawings current at the office and substation.
Education and Entry Grades
The federal GS-0850 basic requirement can be met with a qualifying engineering degree or an approved combination of education, training and technical experience.
At GS-5, meeting the professional engineering basic requirement can be enough. GS-7 and GS-9 can use qualifying specialized experience, graduate education or an allowed combination. This structure makes the announcement accessible to candidates at several career stages.
Higher Grade Experience
GS-11 applicants need qualifying experience such as developing AC and DC electrical schematic drawings and control-wiring diagrams, or qualifying doctoral-level education or a combination.
GS-12 requires professional experience resolving electrical power-system or equipment failures and developing and implementing commissioning work plans for protection and control systems.
Travel and Federal Application
The job requires travel of roughly 25 to 30 percent annually, with overnight travel averaging five to ten days per month. Situational telework is available, but the positions are not remote.
Applicants need a valid state driver’s license and must be able to obtain WAPA defensive-driver certification. The resume is limited to two pages, and transcripts are required to document the engineering education requirement.
How to Apply
Apply through USAJOBS before August 28, 2026. The announcement is open to the public, including U.S. citizens and nationals, and also lists veterans, military spouses and career-transition applicants among eligible hiring paths.