Customer Account Executive (Real-Time Technical Lead)

About the role

This position is within the Real-Time Trading and Scheduling (PTFR), Trading Floor (PTF) group of the Bulk Marketing (PT) organization within the Power Services (P) business line of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). Elevate your career as a Technical Lead!

Champion advanced power trading systems, train real-time market operators, and influence regional energy policy to ensure reliable, affordable electricity across the Pacific Northwest.

What you will do

• Lead at the Intersection of Technology, Policy, and Real-Time Energy Markets The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) plays an essential role in the Pacific Northwest, delivering reliable, carbon-free hydroelectric power to millions of homes and businesses while keeping energy rates affordable and championing environmental stewardship.
• At the heart of this critical mission is BPA's 24/7 trading floor, where energy is scheduled, balanced, and delivered in real time across an interconnected regional grid.
• As a Customer Account Executive (Real-Time Technical Lead), you will serve as the operational backbone and technical visionary for this fast-paced trading environment.
• Bridging the gap between software development, energy economics, and high-stakes operations, you will empower market specialists with advanced digital tools, guide strategic industry policy, and ensure the Pacific Northwest's power grid runs efficiently and reliably around the clock.
• Key Responsibilities & High-Impact Duties Lead the Evolution of Critical Energy Trading & Scheduling Systems Serve as the lead technical authority overseeing the systems that drive real-time power transactions.
• Partner directly with software engineers and IT specialists to design, modernize, and maintain advanced digital tools that adapt seamlessly to fluctuating market conditions, complex contracts, and grid interconnections.
• Represent the Agency on Regional and National Energy Committees Act as a key ambassador for BPA across inter-agency working groups, regional reliability organizations, and national energy policy forums.
• Influence emerging market designs, transmission policies, and technical standards while establishing collaborative relationships with external utilities and power-trading partners.
• Drive Workflow Automation and Process Innovation Analyze daily trading and dispatch workflows to identify bottlenecks and evaluate opportunities for automation.
• Champion cutting-edge analytical tools and streamlined practices that improve transaction speed, reduce operational risk, and maximize economic efficiency across the trading floor.
• Design and Champion Premier Training Programs Build, deliver, and continuously refine comprehensive training curricula that transform complex power-scheduling concepts into actionable expertise.
• Mentor emerging talent, onboard new operators, and ensure the trading floor is proficient in evolving market rules and technical procedures.
• Spearhead Operational Strategy and Policy Adaptation Translate intricate federal regulations, transmission tariffs, and commercial requirements into straightforward, standardized operating procedures.
• Continuously evaluate shifting energy market trends and proactively update internal protocols to keep operations compliant and agile.
• Foster High-Stakes, Cross-Functional Collaboration Serve as a vital liaison uniting diverse internal and external stakeholders-including day-ahead trading desks, transmission engineers, legal counsel, risk analysts, and customer utilities.
• Build consensus on complex initiatives and resolve operational challenges across organizational boundaries.
• Optimize Wholesale Power Resources and Contract Execution Provide authoritative technical guidance on power purchase and sales commitments, ensuring transactions maximize value for public power customers while strictly observing environmental constraints, river system requirements, and statutory obligations.
• Serve as the Senior Operational Subject-Matter Expert Step onto the trading floor as a premier technical resource during critical grid events, peak seasonal periods, or specialized market scenarios.
• Ensure seamless continuity of round-the-clock operations and maintain clear, high-level operational intelligence for executive leadership. ??????This position is located in Portland, OR which boasts huge spans of amazing trees, foliage, landscape, and everywhere you look you can appreciate beautiful greenery!
• It is known as the most bike-friendly city in America, has a train system that greets you at the airport spanning across the city, and is home to the Portland International Rose Garden, the oldest in the country!
• Portland is the one place where you will find lively festivals, energetic music, mouthwatering food, and for you basketball fans, the Portland Trail Blazers are a 7 minute walk from the HQs building!
• There is always something new to experience in this eco-friendly town!

Requirements

• In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire.
• Answer to these questions is not scored or rated.
• Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration.
• When you apply you will be asked a series of questions to determine your eligibility for employment and your qualification for this position specifically.
• You must answer all of these questions completely and truthfully.
• Key Requirements: You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
• You will be required to report in person to the official duty location.
• Conditions of Employment: Selectee will be required to complete the Office of Government Ethics Standard of Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OFGE450e) within 30 days of employment and annually.
• Lead will be authorized to work either a Monday-Friday core hour position or a 10-hr shift "day shift" position working four days a week (Monday-Friday).

Education

There are no specific education requirements or substitution of education for experience for this position.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements above. Once the announcement closes, we will conduct a review of your application package to verify your eligibility and qualifications. If you are found qualified, your application will move forward to additional phases of the review process.

Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Offices or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will review your two-page resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications. Selection will be based on skills and competencies, not educational credentials or self-reported experience.

Merit Promotion & VEOA Procedures: If you are minimally qualified for this job, your will be assessed and evaluated to determine if you are a best qualified candidate. Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements and current employees must have at least a fully successful or equivalent performance rating to receive consideration.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Customer Service Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Career Transition Assistance Programs: To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet the eligibility criteria; and 2) be rated "well-qualified", which is defined as having a score of 85 or better.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (11/04/2026) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click *** USAHire: To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment.

The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

Documents you must provide

• duties performed; full name and address of 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).
• Information on how to create a federal resume *** Cover Letter, optional, expressing additional information not covered in your resume.
• 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.
• Submit one or more of the following to support your eligibility(s) to apply to this job announcement: SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" (current/former federal employees): Most recent Promotion, Within Rate Increase (WRI/WGI), or Appointment/Conversion SF-50 or Notification of Personnel Action showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held.
• 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 selected for the position you MUST submit: A copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and incentive awards, you received in the last 5 years.
• The assigned HR Specialist will verify review this documentation to ensure selectee has at least a satisfactory performance rating before setting the entrance on duty date.
• If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, you will be asked to submit a statement as to why it is not available.

What to expect next

Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement.

You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Your assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. The status of your application will be updated in USAJOBS as it is evaluated. You can check the status by logging into USAJOBS.

You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application changes by logging into your USAJobs Account and editing the Notification Settings. You will be contacted directly if an interview is required.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE.

EEO Policy: USAJOBS Help Center | Equal employment opportunity policy Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs.

If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Staffing Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement.

USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy Reasonable Accommodation for USAHire: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application.

Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis.

If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments.

You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement.

To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here. Veterans Information: USAJOBS Help Center - Veterans Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Telework: *** Selective Service Registration: *** - Who must register: *** Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations. BPA strives to ensure a safe and positive work environment.

We also understand the importance of work/life balance and offer a variety of programs and policies designed to create more flexible, responsive work environments supportive of commitments to community, home and family members.

BPA also supports employees' overall wellness through its Be Well program, which helps employees adopt healthier lifestyles and feel better about their work/life balance. The program supports five key areas of life: career, community, financial, physical and social.