Hydrologic Technician.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS); Roswell (NM); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in Roswell, New Mexico, is seeking a position at the GS-06 level within the Department of the Interior. The role emphasizes quality assurance, data management, and field-ready instrumentation, with telework possible upon supervisor approval.

Responsibilities include coordinating QA testing, maintaining SOPs, and ensuring proper storage of hydrologic data and related documents. A probationary period applies as part of the federal appointment process.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience in trade or craft work related to hydrology facilities or equipment.
• Education: 1 year of graduate study in hydrology or related field.
• If combining education and experience, include transcripts.

Responsibilities

• Plan, schedule, coordinate and/or conduct, and review a full range of quality assurance testing (e.g., equipment calibration, aquifer tests, geophysical logs).
• Create and maintain tip sheets and Standard Operating Procedures related to your area of expertise (instrumentation, data management, etc.).
• Ensure data and related documents for hydrologic records are evaluated and stored in archives, databases, spreadsheets, and graphics software.
• Oversee the configuration, installation, maintenance, and servicing of sensing, recording, and communication equipment and instrumentation.

Job description

Duties

These positions are located within the Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Office of the Director, Rocky Mountain Region, New Mexico Water and Science Center, duty stationed in Roswell, New Mexico.

At the full performance level (GS-11) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Perform complex problem solving in their area of expertise with minimal guidance and/or input from others.
• Create and/or maintain tip sheets and Standard Operating Procedures relative to their area(s) of expertise (i.e., instrumentation, indirect measurements, local database management, innovative techniques, geophysics, etc.).
• Plan, schedule, coordinate and/or conduct, and review a full range of quality assurance testing, such as equipment calibration, aquifer tests, geophysical logs, cross sectional surveys, blanks, duplicates/replicates, etc.
• Ensure data and related documents for a wide variety of parameters and hydrologic records are properly evaluated and stored in appropriate archives, databases, spreadsheets, and graphics software following established USGS policies.
• Oversee the configuration, installation, maintenance, and servicing of a wide variety of sensing, recording and communications equipment and instrumentation utilizing significant electronics and computer skills.

Pre-employment Medical Examination

This position involves field work where the duties of the position may involve arduous conditions. Therefore you will be required to pass a pre employment medical examination to ensure you can perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the position, with or without accommodation.

Work Environment

Office conditions do not require special safety precautions; field conditions may include extreme heat or cold, rain or snow, possible aggressive wildlife encounters, and hazardous conditions such as ice or flooding, or exposure to irritant or toxic chemicals. Work may require the use of special clothing or gear such as masks, coats, boots, goggles, respirators, or life jackets.

Physical Demands

The work regularly requires considerable dexterity, agility, and strenuous physical exertion such as: climbing and/or working from tall ladders and scaffolding; work in areas where footing is treacherous such as slippery or icy riverbanks, steep rocky terrain, or fast-moving water; lifting heavy objects weighing 23 kilograms (50 pounds) or more or crouching or crawling in restricted areas.

Driver's License

You will be required to maintain a valid State issued Driver's License as a condition of employment.

Travel

You will be expected to travel for meetings, trainings, and/or site visits, typically for one week each month.

Telework

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

Salary Range Information (Per Annum):

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

GS-06: $45,409 - $59,031

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
• 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
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.

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 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 08/17/2026 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.

Specialized Experience

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

GS-06

Skills

To qualify for the GS-06, you MUST possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:

• Experience working in trade or craft work in maintenance or construction of facilities or equipment related to hydrology. To qualify you MUST meet the specialized experience statement above.

-OR-

Education

Successful completion of at least 1 year of appropriate graduate level education (18 semester hours, 27 quarter hours, or the equivalent) in hydrology or other field of study directly related to the work of this position for the required 1 year of specialized experience if it provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of this position. You must include transcripts. (Unofficial Okay)

• OR-

Combination Of Education And Experience

To combine education and experience, first take graduate-level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level. Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts. The education must be related directly to hydrology or another field of study directly related to the work of this position. (CLICK

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.

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. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education.

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

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

All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here,

Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to 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.

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.