Engineering Technician (Civil-Hydrology)

Bureau of Reclamation; Elephant Butte (NM); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Bureau of Reclamation in Elephant Butte, NM seeks an Engineering Technician (Civil-Hydrology) to provide technical engineering and hydrological support in the maintenance and operation of dams and appurtenant structures, supporting Rio Grande Project water operations.

The role focuses on evaluating projects, reviewing plans, inspecting hydraulic instrumentation, and preparing technical reports to help manage irrigation-season needs.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience includes performing technical evaluation and analysis of engineering projects.
• Developing and reviewing plans, specifications, and cost estimates.
• Inspections and assessments of civil works and hydraulic instrumentation and measurement systems.

Responsibilities

• Perform technical evaluation and analysis of civil engineering projects.
• Develop and review plans, specifications, and cost estimates.
• Conduct inspections and assessments of civil works and hydraulic instrumentation and measurement systems.
• Interpret and validate technical data.
• Troubleshoot and improve field instrumentation.
• Prepare technical reports.
• Monitor project scope, schedule, and budget.

Skills

Technical evaluation

Engineering project analysis

Plans specifications cost estimates

Field instrumentation troubleshooting

Automated engineering design systems

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

Tools

Automated engineering design systems

Job description

You will serve as an Engineering Technician (Civil-Hydrology) with the Bureau of Reclamation in Elephant Butte, NM to provide a range of technical engineering and hydrological support in the maintenance and operation of dams and appurtenant structures. You will serve as a supporting role to the Rio Grande Project water operations, deliveries, and accounting needs during the irrigation season.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-09/14/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

Basic Educational Requirement AND Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying.

Basic Educational Requirements

In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following:

• A. Have qualifying specialized experience that includes technical work. Examples of technical work are; drafting, surveying construction estimating, physical science, mathematics, aerospace, architecture, chemicals, electrical or mechanical systems, mining, petroleum, or nuclear systems. -OR-
• B. Have experience in a trade or craft that involved intensive knowledge of engineering principles, techniques, methods, and precedents. Examples are trade positions with substantial developmental, test, or design responsibilities such as: Planner and estimator who analyzed designs for production purposes or Instrument maker or model maker who performed design or development work on devices fabricated.

-AND-

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level:

• Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-10 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: performing technical evaluation and analysis of engineering projects; developing and reviewing plans, specifications, and cost estimates; conducting inspections and assessments of civil works and hydraulic instrumentation and measurement systems; utilizing automated engineering design systems; interpreting and validating technical data; troubleshooting and improving field instrumentation; preparing technical reports; analyzing contractor schedules, proposals, and submittals; monitoring project scope, schedule, and budget.. You must include hours per week worked.

Volunteer Experience

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). 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.