Engineering Technician (Civil-Hydrology)

U.S. Department of the Interior; New Mexico; On-site; USD 42,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation invites applications for an Engineering Technician (Civil-Hydrology) at Elephant Butte Field Division, Elephant Butte, New Mexico. You will provide technical engineering and hydrological support to the Rio Grande Project operations.

Responsibilities include field measurements, interpreting drawings, calibrating instruments, preparing reports, and overseeing contractor activities to ensure safety and compliance.

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship or national status required.
• No education-for-experience substitution allowed.

Responsibilities

• Completes measurements with field instruments and adheres to USGS standards.
• Interprets civil/mechanical drawings; conducts surveys using level circuits, topography, silt lines, GPS, and total stations.
• Operates and improves field instrumentation; calibrates and verifies equipment and test systems for hydrology and dam safety.
• Prepares clear technical reports, field observations, and project updates to support decision making.
• Oversees project and contract activities: tracking scope, schedule, budget, contractor performance, and records for safety and compliance.

Skills

Field measurements

Instrument handling

Reading drawings

Technical reporting

Tools

Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler

Acoustic Doppler Velocity Meter

AA cup meter

GPS

Electronic total stations

Job description

Summary

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.

Major Duties

This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, 04 - 04, Elephant Butte Field Division, Elephant Butte, New Mexico.

• Completes measurements using various instruments including an acoustic doppler current profiler, acoustic doppler velocity meter, or AA cup meter, and adheres to standards set forth by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
• Read and interpret technical civil and mechanical drawings to confirm field accuracy. Plans, performs, surveys of minor construction, and project features, using, 3-wire level circuits, topography mapping, silt lines, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and electronic total stations.
• Operate and improve field instrumentation by selecting, calibrating, troubleshooting, and verifying equipment and test systems used for hydrology and dam safety.
• Prepare and present clear technical reports, field observations, project updates, and recommendations to support decisions and ensure accurate documentation.
• Oversee project and contract activities by tracking scope, schedule, budget, contractor performance, and records to ensure work is completed safely, efficiently, and in compliance with requirements.

Education

This position does not allow substituting education for experience.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/. Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel. Certification to serve as a Federal Acquisition Certification (FAC) COR or AOTR may be required as articulated in Department and/or Bureau policies. You must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively cert