HYDROLOGIST

US Geological Survey; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

US Geological Survey in Reston, VA is seeking a Hydrologist to lead or participate in subsurface hydrologic studies of significant scope. The position supports interdisciplinary teams and project leadership within the Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, with responsibilities spanning data integration, modeling, and field observations.

The role emphasizes independent scientific work, rigorous analysis, and advancing hydrologic understanding under varying conditions.

Qualifications

• Degree requirements include at least 30 semester hours in hydrology, physical sciences, geophysics, chemistry, or water resources management; calculus and physics coursework required.
• Combination of education and experience accepted if it meets the listed coursework and experience criteria.

Responsibilities

• Lead or participate in subsurface hydrologic studies of considerable scope and complexity.
• Serve as a project leader or member of an interdisciplinary team to advance hydrologic science.

Education

Degree in physical or natural science or engineering with 30 semester hours in hydrology, physics, calculus, or related fields

Combination of education and experience meeting basic educational requirements

Job description

You will serve as a HYDROLOGIST within the Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center located in Reston, VA, leading or participating on subsurface hydrologic studies of considerable scope and complexity or serving as a project leader or member of an interdisciplinary team.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-11/06/2026-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/OR 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: physical or natural science, or engineering that included at least 30 semester hours in any combination of courses in hydrology, the physical sciences, geophysics, chemistry, engineering science, soils, mathematics, aquatic biology, atmospheric science, meteorology, geology, oceanography, or the management or conservation of water resources. The course work must have included at least 6 semester hours in calculus (including both differential and integral calculus), and at least 6 semester hours in physics. Calculus and physics, as described above, are required for all grade levels. You must submit transcripts.

-OR-

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

-AND-

To qualify for this position at the GS-12 grade level:

• Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience must include fundamental or applied research in subsurface hydrology or multiphase flow through porous media. Experience could include assisting in selecting, constructing, calibrating, and validating numerical groundwater models; integrating field observations, geologic data, and hydrologic measurements; and simulating groundwater flow, aquifer responses, and groundwater-surface water interactions under varying hydrologic and management conditions. At this level, experience should demonstrate a very good knowledge of the principles of hydrology and their application, and the ability to independently perform scientific work of considerable difficulty. You must include hours per week worked.

-OR-

To qualify for this position at the GS-13 grade level:

• Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience must include leading a team in fundamental or applied projects of subsurface hydrology or multiphase flow through porous media. Experience could include selecting, constructing, calibrating, and validating numerical groundwater models; integrating field observations, geologic data, and hydrologic measurements; and simulating groundwater flow, aquifer responses, and groundwater-surface water interactions under varying hydrologic and management conditions. The complexity of this work typically required extensive modification and adaptation of standard procedures, methods, and techniques, and the development of totally new methods and techniques to address novel or obscure problems for which guidelines or precedents were not substantially applicable. At this level, experience should demonstrate extensive knowledge of the principles of hydrology and highly developed ability in their application, and wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment to perform scientific work of marked difficulty and responsibility. 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.