Summary About the Position: This job announcement will fill multiple vacancies for a Civil Engineer (Geotechnical) at the full performance levels (FPLs) of GS-11, GS-12 and GS-13. 4 GS-13 positions are Dam Safety Production Center (DSPC) vacancies and may be filled at any of the duty locations listed on the announcement. The location must be negotiated and agreed upon by both the losing and the gaining organization prior to the selectee receiving a firm job offer." Responsibilities GS-11 Perform soil and rock property analyses using standard methods and software to support senior engineers. Calculate settlement, bearing capacity, and slope stability for standard features under supervision. GS-11 Participate in drilling programs and collect field samples to identify subsurface conditions. Perform and interpret routine lab tests to determine strength, compaction, and permeability for design input. GS-11 Prepare portions of geotechnical data reports and summarize computations for inclusion in design documentation. Contribute to drawings, figures, and quantity estimates supporting engineering studies. GS-11 Support multi-disciplinary teams by coordinating field data and test results. Attend site visits and assist senior engineers with construction-phase reviews. GS-12 Perform geotechnical analyses for foundations, slopes, and seepage to optimize safety, constructability, and economy. Design geotechnical features and instrumentation systems to monitor settlement and pore pressures. GS-12 Plan and execute subsurface exploration programs to obtain soil parameters supporting design decisions. Develop and interpret laboratory testing programs for construction recommendations. GS-12 Lead design teams and prepare design documentation reports, engineering appendices, plans, and specifications to meet project objectives. Conduct construction-phase site visits to ensure design intent and resolve field conditions. GS-12 Develop scopes, estimates, and reports for Architect-Engineer contracts ensuring deliverables meet standards. Review submittals and implement quality control plans to ensure technical adequacy and compliance. GS-13 Provide SME reviews and District Quality Control of geotechnical work products for complex or unprecedented features. Mentor engineers and geologists to enhance technical quality and execution. GS-13 Lead complex geotechnical and instrumentation studies for dams, levees, tunnels, and shoreline protection. Design, reassess, and troubleshoot instrumentation systems to support dam and levee safety. GS-13 Coordinate with Federal, State, and local partners for regulatory compliance and data collection. Represent District at conferences and workshops to present recommendations and resolve technical issues. GS-13 Write scopes, prepare estimates, and perform technical evaluations for Architect-Engineer selection and management. Evaluate Architect-Engineer deliverables and adjudicate comments to align products with USACE standards. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications This job announcement will fill multiple vacancies at the full performance levels (FPLs) of GS-11, GS-12, GS-13. Applicants selected at the FPL level are not eligible for promotion to a higher grade without competition or a valid non-competitive eligibility. This is not a developmental job announcement Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities. Current Department of Army Civilian Employees Current Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employee (non-Army) Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473 Non-Department of Defense (DoD) Transfer People with Disabilities, Schedule A Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible Reinstatement Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998 In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR ENGINEER AT ALL GRADE LEVELS (GS-11, GS-12, GS-13): 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)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: TO QUALIFY FOR THE FPL GS-11: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: Assisting basic geotechnical analyses, including settlement, shear strength, and permeability evaluations, to support designs for civil works projects; gathering and analyzing subsurface and lab data to characterize soil and rock conditions; and preparing preliminary technical reports and estimates under supervision. OR Successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position, such as (Civil Engineering and other Engineering degrees). (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Have the specialized experience as described in A, but less than one year; and have at least two years of graduate education as described in B, but less than the required three years. The computed percentage of the requirements must total 100% (To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then, divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.). (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) TO QUALIFY FOR THE FPL GS-12: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: Conducting geotechnical analyses for routine foundation, slope stability, and seepage problems using standard engineering software; planning and documenting limited-scope subsurface investigations and coordinating lab testing; and drafting sections of design reports and plans/specs under senior review. GS-12: Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted. TO QUALIFY FOR THE FPL GS-13: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: Leading geotechnical design tasks for complex features and coordinate multi-discipline inputs for design documentation reports and plans/specs; developing scopes and overseeing investigations and conducting lab tests programmatically to ensure cost, quality, and schedule alignment; and providing Quality Assurance and District Quality Control reviews, mentor junior staff, and resolve construction-phase issues using instrumentation data or geotechnical expertise. GS-13: Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted. TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent: For GS-11 - 52 weeks at the GS-09 For GS-12 - 52 weeks at the GS-11 For GS-13 - 52 weeks at the GS-12 . Education FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. One year trial/probationary period may be required. Direct deposit of pay is required. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. This is a Engineers and Scientists (Construction) Career Field Program 18 position. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction/ for more information. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives may be authorized (up to 25%) with a signed service agreement. Pay will be set based on duty location and grade level. Visit https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2025/general-schedule/ for the current GS Locality Pay Tables. Position may be subject to a Special Salary Rate (SSR) under the applicable pay table. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: 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 RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA 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, based on your adjudication decision. 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 RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en-us/sections/28980686389652-Reasonable-Accomodation-Information
