Survey Technician

This job is open to

Help

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. Citizens or Nationals; and Career transition eligibles (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).

Overview

Telework eligibleYes—as determined by the agency policy.Remote jobNoRelocation expenses reimbursed No Salary $55,882 - $88,356 per year

Pay is subject to annual review and adjustment. Highest Previous Rate (HPR) may be used to set pay.

Pay scale & grade GS 8 - 10 Promotion potential 10 Work scheduleFull-timeTravel Required50% or less - Travel is required for surveying projects in remote areas.Appointment typePermanentSupervisory statusNoFederal service typeThis job is in the Competitive Service Represented by a unionYesDrug testNoSecurity clearanceNot RequiredPosition sensitivity and riskModerate Risk (MR)Financial disclosure requiredNoAnnouncement numberCBVK-27-13107136-DE-LLControl number892065000

Occupations and job series

• 0817 Survey Technical

Background check type

• Credentialing
• Suitability/Fitness

Summary

This position is within the Surveying Team, Facilities Engineering Group of the Technical Support Office Yuma Area Office (YAO), Lower Colorado Basin Region.

You may be expected to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work occasionally to support emergency field responses or critical mission requirements.

Duties

Help

At the full performance level (GS-10) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Performs a wide range of land, construction, and hydrographic surveying tasks using Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment, total stations, scanners, echo sounders, and other precision tools to collect accurate data that supports engineering and project planning needs.
• Establishes and maintains survey control networks, including benchmarks, alignments, grades, and reference points, ensuring the accuracy required for construction activities, structural placement, and river or water-management operations.
• Reviews and verifies survey-related information in construction documents, including contractor computations, proposed realignments, layout plans, and vertical and horizontal control data, to ensure accuracy and compliance with project standards.
• Conducts field surveys throughout construction, including restoring disturbed control points, checking placement of forms for concrete, verifying structural alignment, and completing final "as-built" surveys to confirm that completed work meets specification requirements.
• Coordinates survey activities with engineers, contractors, and other project staff, identifies data gaps or issues, communicates needed corrections, and supports decisions related to project progress, technical needs, and job estimates.
• Maintains organized survey records and technical documents, including field notes, digital data files, computations, and daily activity reports that document work performed, site conditions, safety concerns, and any issues affecting accuracy or project timelines.
• Provides training and coaching to personnel on survey instruments, data collection techniques, computation methods, and safety practices; promotes consistent data quality and ensures safe work habits in field environments.

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

Physical Demands/Work Environment: The work requires considerable and strenuous physical exertion while in the field, in varied terrain, which involves climbing, walking, bending, crawling, or stooping. Incumbent conducts lengthy field surveys in desert terrain during peak periods of summer heat. The work will involve the occasional operation of all-terrain vehicles, boats up to 150 hp, light-duty trucks. May be required to clear line with axes, brush hooks, and chain saws in extreme heat or cold; lifting up to 60 lbs. is required.

The work is performed in the field (50%) and in the office (50%). Work is performed outside under regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks and discomforts, adverse weather conditions with exposure to fluctuating temperature, insects, snakes, underbrush, etc. For field work exposure to a variety of temperatures ranging from 35 degrees F in the winter months, to highs in excess of 100 degrees F in the summer months. In remote locations with no cell reception; work environment requires the employee to stay alert continually, recognize and correct workplace hazards, and to take special safety precautions including wearing hard hats, safety glasses, ear plugs, or other personal protective equipment are required in some cases. Construction surveys are conducted in an area of high noise level, vibration, dust, and moving machinery. Hard hat, steel toe boots, and safety glasses are required on construction site. Office work is performed in a well-lighted, ventilated and temperature-controlled area.

Requirements

Help

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/.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• You must pass a physical examination.
• You may need to complete a statement regarding your physical ability.
• You are required to obtain and maintain a Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC).
• You will be required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and possible purchase authority.
• 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 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-11/23/2026-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 at each grade level:

To qualify for this position at the GS-08 grade level:

• Specialized Experience Requirement: You must have at least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the competencies needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. Examples of specialized experience include: operating and maintaining manual and electronic surveying instruments such as total stations, terrestrial scanners, levels, and global positioning system equipment; using surveying instruments to collect field data and prepare associated survey documents and reports; independently measuring uncomplicated surveys and resolving routine field problems; assisting in performing basic land surveys such as location, right-of-way, and property surveys for an assigned segment of a project; and determining angles, distances, and elevation differences. You must include hours per week worked in your resume.

To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level:

• Specialized Experience: You must have at least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-08 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. Examples of specialized experience include: independently operating and maintaining a full range of manual and electronic surveying instruments such as total stations, levels, terrestrial scanners, and global positioning system equipment to conduct land surveys; performing field surveys and preparing related survey documents, notes, and reports; independently measuring and resolving technical problems encountered during survey activities; performing varied land surveys such as location, right-of-way, and property surveys for segments or portions of projects; determining angles, distances, and elevation differences between stations with increased accuracy and independence; performing bathymetric surveys using single- or multi-beam equipment; operating and adjusting survey instruments to locate land features, property corners, and boundary lines; and identifying or verifying survey corners through field inspection, comparison with recorded references, and use of original and resurveyed data. You must include hours per week worked in your resume.
  -OR-
• Education: Successful completion of at least two full years (36 semester hours, 54 quarter hours, or equivalent) of graduate education that is directly related to the work of the position. Examples of directly related studies include geography, cartography, mathematics. You must include transcripts in your application package. -OR-
• Combination of education and experience: To combine education and experience, first divide your number of credit hours earned towards a directly related graduate degree that are in excess of 18 semester hours, 27 quarter hours, or equivalent, by 18 semester hours, 27 quarters hours, or the number your school uses to represent one year of full-time graduate study. Then take the number of months of qualifying experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts in your application package. You must include hours per week worked in your resume.

To qualify for this position at the GS-10 grade level:

• Specialized Experience Requirement: You must have at least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. Examples of specialized experience include: leading and conducting complex bathymetric surveys using single- or multi-beam systems; assisting in planning and coordinating various types of land and hydrographic surveys using advanced surveying knowledge; applying a practical understanding of surveying theories, principles, and practices to resolve complex field and office problems; using initiative and independent judgment to resolve project details and select appropriate surveying methods; preparing and certifying field notes, reference maps, sketches, and supporting documentation for survey analysis; processing, evaluating, and editing electronic field data for entry into mapping software, design, and analysis systems; and successfully leading multiple survey projects from data acquisition through delivery of final survey products to customers. You must include hours per week worked in your resume.

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.

Education

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), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

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. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

Pay will vary based on grade level for which you're selected. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate. Please see below the pay rates for each grade level:

GS-08 steps 1 to 10: $55,882 - $72,644
GS-09 steps 1 to 10: $61,722 - $80,243
GS-10 steps 1 to 10: $67,970 - $88,356

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, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor.

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 Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive. A continued service agreement may be required if it is determined you are eligible for a permanent change in duty station (PCS), recruitment, or relocation incentive.

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, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions.

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, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Help

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. Learn more about federal benefits.

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 (e.g. resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of any additional assessment(s) required for this position.

Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. 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. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into the following categories:

• Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position

• Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job

• Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.

You will be assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Decision Making
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork
• Reading Comprehension (GS-08 only)
• Reasoning (GS-09 and GS-10 only)

In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of the USA Hire Assessment, if required.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 85 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

Required Documents

Help

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/23/2026 - unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement:

1. Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates in month-year format (include month/day/year format if needed for 52 weeks of experience), and indicate hours worked per week (or full-time). Your resume must clearly show how long you have held each grade/rank. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. Your 2-page resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements. If you have federal experience, you should include series, and grade for each position held, and if experience is part of a career ladder position, you must clearly distinguish the job duties and length of time working for each grade level. More information on how to write a Federal Resume: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include
2. Complete All Required Assessment(s).
3. All college transcript(s), if qualifying based on education. Please submit both undergraduate and graduate level transcripts, as applicable.
4. Veterans Preference Documentation, if applicable. Veterans must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (member 4 copy) or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Parent or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.va.gov/records/ or call 1-800-827-1000. If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active-duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
5. Interagency Career Transition (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): You MUST submit proof of eligibility including 1) copy of the agency notice, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc.; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be well qualified. For more information visit: USAJOBS Help Center - Career Transition Programs (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).

Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from all documents.

Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

Help

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments, select appropriate hiring eligibilities, and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the 11/23/2026--unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement to receive consideration.

The application process is as follows:

1. Click the Apply Online button.
2. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13107136
3. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
4. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
5. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
6. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
7. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
8. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources.

To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

Eligibilities:
Please ensure you complete the Eligibility section of this application. This section determines the hiring paths under which you may be considered for this position. You will only be considered for the eligibilities you select. Applicants are strongly encouraged to reach each eligibility carefully to understand the requirements and select all that apply. For each eligibility selected, you must upload the required supporting documentation. Review the eligibility descriptions to confirm you are providing the correct documents. You may select more than one eligibility, if applicable. If you do not select at least one eligibility, you will not be considered for this vacancy. To learn more about federal hiring paths, visit USAJOBS - Unique Hiring Paths.

To view the announcement status or your application status, visit https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.

Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.

Agency contact information

Laura Lasell Email laura_lasell@ios.doi.gov Address Lower Colorado Basin
Bureau of Reclamation
7301 Calle Agua Salada
Yuma, AZ 85364
US

Next steps

Please refer to your USAJOBS account for application status; the Human Resources Office cannot respond to individual status inquiries.

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.

You can find your path with the Department of Interior at https://careers.doi.gov/.

Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background checks, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the Human Resources Office posting this announcement.