GEOLOGIST

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS); Bellmead (TX); On-site; USD 63,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Geological Survey in Austin, Texas or Moffett Field, California seeks a Geologist GS-1350-09/11/12. The position is filled at GS-9 with a full performance level to GS-12. Pay varies by duty location; first-time hires usually start at step 1.

Duties include compiling geoscience data, generating maps in GeMS format, applying GIS techniques, and developing GIS solutions for geologic problems. Education requirements include a geology degree with transcripts and graduate study for master's.

Qualifications

• Specialized Experience: at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-7 performing observations, computations, compilations and analyses in assisting higher level Geologists.
• Education: completion of at least two years of graduate education leading to a master's degree in geology or related field, with transcripts.
• Foreign Education: proof of foreign credential evaluation if applicable.

Responsibilities

• Compile geoscience data to generate geologic maps, data releases, metadata, and GeMS format documents.
• Apply GIS techniques to geologic studies and problems, including generating geologic maps.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance project- and enterprise GIS solutions for geologic problems and studies.
• Apply methods to field/remote sensing observations and/or laboratory samples analysis.
• Contribute to training, workshops, and user-manual development.

Skills

Geology background

GIS analysis

Data management

Project collaboration

Education

Geology degree and related coursework

Graduate coursework toward master's

Tools

ESRI GIS software

Python/ArcPy

ArcGIS Online integration

Job description

SummaryThis position will serve as a Geologist GS-1350-09/11/12 for the U.S. Geological Survey in either Austin, TX or Moffett Field, CA. The position will be filled at the GS-9 level with a full performance level of GS-12.

Pay will vary based on duty location for which you're selected. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to U.S. Citizen or National; and Career transition eligibles (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).

Duties

This position is located within the Department of the Interior, US Geological Survey, at one of the following locations:

MOFFETT FIELD, CALIFORNIA

AUSTIN, TEXAS

Salary Range Information

For Austin, Texas the pay range for the GS-9 level is $63,457 - $82,499 per year.*

For Moffet Field, California the pay range for the GS-9 level is $77,161 - $100,315 per year.*

• First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level.

At the full performance level (GS-12) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Compiles existing geoscience data to generate geologic maps, data releases, metadata, and associated documents in the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program mandated Geologic Map Schema (GeMS) format.
• Applies GIS techniques to geologic studies and problems including generating geologic maps
• Develop, maintain, and enhance project-level and enterprise GIS solutions to geologic problems and studies.
• Applies a variety of sophisticated processes and analytical methods to the preparation and analysis of field/remote sensing observations and/or laboratory samples.
• Contributes to evolving project, science center, and program needs through training, workshops, and user-manual production.

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• 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/.
• You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 4 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
• You cannot hold an active real estate license, nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
• You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.

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 certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-09/15/2026-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

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. Degree: Geology, plus 20 additional semester hours in any combination of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological science, structural, chemical, civil, mining or petroleum engineering, computer science, planetary geology, comparative planetology, geophysics, meteorology, hydrology, oceanography, physical geography, marine geology, and cartography. You must submit transcripts.

-OR-

Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

To qualify for this position at the GS-9 grade level:

• Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience performing a variety of observations, computations, compilations and analyses in assisting higher level Geologists in carrying out geologic assignments. Examples include: Developing and managing cloud-based enterprise GIS systems with ESRI software and associated server hardware; Generating ESRI file geodatabases; Integrating ArcGIS online with geologic field data; Developing and maintaining Python/ArcPy geoprocessing tools. You must include hours per week worked.

Education: Successful completion of at least two years of graduate education leading to a master's degree in geology or related field, or a master's degree in geology or related field. You must include transcripts.

Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work through National Service programs. Volunteer work helps build competencies and can provide training and experience relevant to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), GPA, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, etc. will not be accepted.

Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs.

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position.

The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, and upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials and the result of any assessments required for this position.

Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

Candidates Will Be Rated And Ranked Using Category Rating Procedures. Veterans with a service-connected disability are listed in the highest quality category. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated in the following categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, Qualified.

You will be assessed in the following competencies: Creative Thinking, Information Management, Technical Competence, Technology Application.

Current or former displaced Federal employees have priority selection rights under CTAP or ICTAP. More information is available in the USAJOBS Help Center.

Providing false or misleading information may result in removal from consideration. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language will be ineligible.

Required Documents

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/15/2026:

• Resume including all significant jobs, duties, hours worked per week, and dates.
• Complete All Required Assessments.
• All college transcripts.
• Veterans Preference Documentation, if applicable.
• ICTAP/CTAP documentation, if applicable.

Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.