Communications Technician 4

Job description

*** | SUPPLEMENTAL LABOR MANAGEMENT OFFICE

ADDITIONAL POSITION INFORMATION

Title & Level

Communications Technician 4

Work Group Location

Portland, OR

Specialty

Power System Control

Offsite Work Eligibility*

Not Eligible for Telework

Organization

TETS

Number of Days Onsite

5 days per Week

Hours

Full-Time, up to 40 hours

Additional Information

Enter additional info regarding the offsite work arrangement, if applicable.

Overtime

10% anticipated





On-Call

No





Travel

Up to 95% various field locations across BPA service area.





FN Status

NOT open to Foreign Nationals





Investigation Type

SF-85, Standard Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions: Candidate must be able to pass this background investigation in order to qualify for and/or retain this position.

* Current telework, remote work and onsite support is based on BPA s business needs and is subject to change or termination at any time.

** Positions with the Remote Designation must reside in WA, OR, ID or MT.

Case-by-case exceptions may apply only when in the best interest of BPA.

OVERVIEW

Position

This position is located in the Specialty Services (TETS) subgroup within the Engineering and Technical Services (TE) organization in the Transmission Services (T) business line of the *** (BPA).

This position will install and troubleshoot electronics and communication circuits on the BPA system, and provide support for the planning, scheduling, and implementation of capital construction projects, specifically communications projects involving digital radios, fiber optics equipment, network management systems, and all types of command and control communications circuits.

BPA, in its role as a regional transmission provider, must interface with diverse and sometimes incompatible communications equipment.

This position will provide support of BPA s capital program to support the seamless integration of communications equipment and the command and control circuitry needed for the safe and reliable delivery of energy across the Northwest.

The Communications Technician 4 will perform all duties under the assistance and initial guidance of BPA senior level technicians, engineers and/or the BPA manager.

Organization

This position is located in the Specialty Services (TETS) subgroup within the Engineering and Technical Services (TE) organization in the Transmission Services (T) business line of *** (BPA).

This position is 95% travel in OR, WA, ID, MT which requires a vehicle to carry tools and equipment to sites with rough access and poorly maintained roads.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Note: All official drafts, documents and recommendations, as listed below, must be reviewed, finalized and approved / accepted by appropriate BPA manager or other federal personnel with the authority to do so.

Provide planning support, draft and document work processes, coordinate plans of service and implement plans for all capital communications projects.

Provide technical support to district construction, operations and maintenance personnel, T&E power engineers, and contract installation crews, including technical information/training on the operation of new interfaces, circuits, and equipment and the integration with existing equipment.

Assist project staff in developing requirements for the planning, installation and modification of capital communications projects, and in creating project documentation, including start-up configuration files, reading sheets, etc.

Provide project scheduling updates for project tracking, including entering data and creating technical reports for work accomplished.

Attend project scoping meetings or design reviews, contribute pre-construction technical knowledge to project plans, and recommend changes to specification diagrams based on technical and operational issues.

Under the guidance of senior level technicians, engineers or the BPA manager, perform initial acceptance tests and commissioning checks for new installations and obtain data to be used by other personnel on SONET, radio, digital channel banks, SCADA, transfer trip and other miscellaneous communications equipment.



Perform installation and integration of communications equipment, utilizing technical documentation as required.



Perform duties related to maintenance of communications equipment, which may occur at substations or remote locations.



Under direct technical guidance, perform more difficult and non-routine types of maintenance, installation, and troubleshooting work on communications equipment.



Use test equipment and accepted procedures to perform installation work for the following equipment:

Cisco SONET Equipment

IMACs multiplex equipment

Nokia Transport systems

Timing sources

Networking equipment

Telemetering

Miscellaneous control equipment such as fiber optic multiplexed alarms or specialized electronic devices.

In connection with the various types of work, prepare reports which in general are a collection of test data, instrument readings, and other pertinent information which can be used by engineering staff to make an engineering determination on the equipment operations.



In coordination with BPA federal staff, facilitate special assignments related to Power System Control work such as assisting in the development of test programs, the development and assembly of special test circuits, and Client tests.

At the request of the BPA Manager, assist in the development of trouble-shooting instructions and assist in providing training to craftsman trainees.

All final training documents and training materials will be reviewed and approved by BPA Managers or other BPA federal staff.

REQUIREMENTS

Education & Corresponding Experience (required on matrix)

High School Diploma or GED is required.

9 years of work experience in an electrical field; installing, performing testing, troubleshooting, repairing and integrating equipment is required.

2 years of specialized/formal training at a technical school or apprenticeship are required.



Specialized/formal training must include electrical theory on AC and DC circuits, complex number math, vector diagrams, three phase vector diagrams and three phase load and motor circuits.

Note: Resume must include the specialized training and list the specific classes/training being claimed as qualifying, including the hours for each class and the name of the institution where the classes were taken.

Required Technical Skills & Experience (required on matrix)

7 years experience in testing and installing digital telecommunications equipment.

7 years experience with communications test equipment such as OTDR, optical power meters, DS3, DS1, DS0 test sets.

7 years experience troubleshooting communications systems.

Preferred Skills & Experience (optional on matrix)

Experience in installing new communications and control equipment at electrical utility or public or private utility facilities.



Experience integrating communications and control systems at electrical utility or public or private utility facilities.

Experience setting and modifying electrical utility or public or private utility communications systems.

Experience with electric utility systems, design practices, testing standards, safety standards, work standards and duties and tasks related to installation, testing, maintenance and repair of substation relay and control systems.

Additional Requirements (not required on matrix)



Valid U.S. Driver s License is required.



First Aid/AED/CPR Certification required within 30 days of assignment start.

Worker/Employer is responsible for maintaining current certification.



Energized Facility Permit is required within one year of assignment start.

Type: Substation Entry Permit (SEP)

Due to the specialized technical skill requirements for this position, a skills assessment by a BPA subject matter expert will be conducted to verify candidate capabilities.

Passing all requirements needed to possess a substation key and have unescorted access to BPA control houses and radio stations is a condition of this contract assignment.

PPE Requirements



White Hard Hat



Eye Protection



Hand protection (gloves)



Hearing Protection



Footwear: ASTM F 2413-11 with an EH Rating or ASTM F2413-18 with an I/C/EH Rating.

Footwear must lace up over the ankle and have a rigid sole and heel.

The exterior of the boot must be made entirely of natural materials (all leather or leather and rubber combination) to conform to Arc-Flash requirements.



Electrical and Arc-Flash protective clothing and PPE as required by OSHA and consistent with BPA Safety and Health Policy for work on or near an energized facility.



User Type:

Everyday

Estimated Usage:

4 days per week



Additional PPE required by State or Federal OSHA for the work being performed.

Refer to Ad-hoc PPE Requirement Appendices.

Hazards & Risks



Position requires frequent walking, bending and stooping.



Position requires overhead work.



Position requires the ability to lift and carry 50 pounds.



Position requires the ability to lift items approximately 50 pounds in weight on and off vehicles and maneuver them, using wheeled carts, to designated locations.



Position requires working knowledge and safe use of basic hand tools such as a drill, hammer and saw.

Appendices

The following appendices apply to this position and may be downloaded from the Fieldglass Reference Library:



Substation Entry Permit (SEP)



Fall Protection Equipment Standards (Non-Climbing)



Offsite Work

Training Expectations (Worker is expected to keep current on the latest technologies and skills required for the position.)

Training Type

Details

Provided by



APM/Safe Workplace Training

32 hours

BPA



Shock & Arc Flash PPE Training with Refresher

8 hours

BPA

Attendance at all conferences, workshops, training, etc.

must be pre-approved by SLMO.

Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Approval is subject to the most current guidance provided to SLMO by BPA or DOE and is subject to change at any time.

SLMO reserves the right to negotiate attendance on billable/non-billable hours and reimbursement of travel costs with the supplier.

Reimbursable travel costs must adhere to the Federal Travel Regulations and be submitted via an expense sheet in Fieldglass.

CLOSELY ASSOCIATED RESPONSIBILITIES & REQUIRED ASSOCIATED MITIGATION MEASURES

The following list of potential inherently governmental risk areas and the measures that SLMO-Compliance has determined MUST be in place in your organization, via processes and procedures, in order to mitigate those associated risks.

The BPA manager s acceptance of the API serves as the manager s attestation that all mitigation measures listed below are or will be established and adhered to in their org.

Area of potential Closely Associated / Inherently Government function

Mitigation Measures

Area of potential Closely Associated / Inherently Government function

Mitigation Measures

Access to Confidential / Sensitive Information

CFTE MUST sign NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreements) at beginning of assignments.



CFTE MUST complete annual Information Security and Privacy Awareness training.

CFTE MUST complete and pass background investigations of an appropriate level.

Acquisition Planning / Source Selection

CFTE are not permitted to serve as voting members for acquisition selections.



All purchasing decisions MUST be made by appropriate federal personnel (Contracting Officers).

All acquisition documents (requirements,
SOW s, evaluation criteria, etc.) MUST be reviewed, finalized and approved by appropriate BPA federal personnel.



ONLY Contracting Officers are authorized to obligate BPA funds.

Agency / Org Planning

All drafts, documents, materials and recommendations, MUST be reviewed, finalized and approved by appropriate BPA federal personnel.

Budget / Finance Prep

ONLY Federal Employees may determine budget priorities & allocations.



BFTE MUST control, and finalize / approve ALL budgets and related documentation, including that for projects, programs and Organizations.













Contract Management

ALL Contractual documents, including invoices MUST be finalized / approved by appropriate Federal personnel.



All contract related decisions (modifications, changes, performance) MUST be determined by appropriate federal personnel (COs).

Decision Making

CFTE may provide input and recommendations to decision-makers.

ONLY appropriate federal personnel may make decisions which obligate BPA resources or to a specific course of action.


Direction & Control
(directing BFTE)

CFTE are not permitted to direct the actions of federal employees (BFTE) or have any control or input into their performance.



Work of BFTE MUST be assigned by federal manager, supervisor, Program / Resource manager or other appropriate designee.

Disposing Govt.

Property

ALL decisions regarding the disposal of BPA property MUST be made by appropriate federal personnel; and, all property dispositions MUST be directed and controlled by the Investment Recovery Center (IRC).

Dissemination of Agency/Policy Information / Training

All training and any information that is to be disseminated MUST be either 1) per established policy, process, procedure, or practice; or, 2) reviewed, finalized and approved by appropriate BPA federal personnel.

Inspection / IT Testing

Processes and procedures MUST ensure Federal personnel review inspection findings and CFTE recommendations before acceptance or rejection of material(s) / item(s).

HR Support

CFTE may assist with HR functions per established procedures, processes and guidelines (e.g., timekeeping).

ALL work products MUST be reviewed and finalized by appropriate federal employees.

Policy Development


BPA s process for Policy development includes multiple levels of federal review prior to acceptance / adoption.

Interpretation of Policy/Regulations

ONLY BPA federal employees MAY determine the applicability and interpretation of regulations.



CFTE are not permitted to interpret regulations for or on behalf of BPA.

Regulations are interpreted by federal personnel and communicated via standards, guides, policies and processes.

Representing BPA


Contract workers are required to identify themselves and their employer in signature blocks, in introductions and have a nameplate outside their cubicle.

CFTE MUST receive written VP approval to represent BPA at outside events, such as workshops, seminars or conferences.



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Required Skill Profession

Electrical And Electronic Equipment Mechanics, Installers, And Repairers