Summary This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD Workforce to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service. About the Position: This Survey Technician position is with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Southwestern Division, Galveston District, Engineering and Construction Division with a duty station location of Galveston, TX. This is a developmental position. Please see additional information section. Responsibilities Conduct hydrographic surveys and independently performs a variety of duties required to survey one or more major navigation channels in support of planning, design, construction, and maintenance of navigation projects. Use electronic data gathering equipment including, but not limited to, single beam, sidescan, and multibeam sonars, and LiDAR equipment. Check and analyze details and drawings of ship channels and/or areas surveyed to determine whether the design and drawings are complete and correct and if specifications conform to requirements. Manages and/or performs all operators’ maintenance on vehicles, and surveying and depth sounding equipment. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. This position is being filled as a one-grade interval. For most one-grade interval occupational series, the qualification standard calls for at least 1 year of specialized experience at the next lower grade. However, there is no position in the normal line of progression that is one grade lower than the position being filled. Therefore, 1 year of specialized experience at the second lower level is creditable for in-service (current or former) applicants. However, for outside applicants (i.e., those without current or prior Federal competitive or excepted service), 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower level is required. Please see statements below for qualifications and time in grade requirements. For In-service Applicants (Current or Former federal employees) ~ Specialized Experience GS-07: One year of specialized experience which includes assisting in the collection and processing of hydrographic survey data on a boat. OR Education: One full year of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position. Transcripts must be provided. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages. Time in Grade Requirement GS-07 Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-05). Specialized Experience GS-09: One year of specialized experience which includes collecting hydrographic survey data to be used for navigational charts, dredging operations, determining shoal areas, and locating dangers to vessels and calibrating hydrographic survey systems and equipment such as single beam and multi-transducer systems. OR Education: One and a half years of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as surveying, engineering, construction, or industrial technology. Transcripts must be provided. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total semester hours minus 18) by 9. Add the two percentages. Time in Grade Requirement GS-09 Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-07). For Outside Applicants (non-Federal)~ Specialized Experience GS-07: One year of specialized experience at the GS-06 level which includes assisting in the collection and processing of hydrographic survey data on a boat and operating computerized/electronic equipment for surveys such as a single beam, multibeam, or sidescan sonars, or equivalent. OR Education: One full year of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position. Transcripts must be provided. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages. Specialized Experience GS-09: One year of specialized experience at the GS-08 level which includes collecting hydrographic survey data to be used for navigational charts, dredging operations, determining shoal areas, and locating dangers to vessels; calibrating hydrographic survey systems and equipment such as single beam and multi-transducer systems; and calculating dredge quantities using a variety of methods and programs such as average end area or surface to surface. OR Education: One and a half years of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as surveying, engineering, construction, or industrial technology. Transcripts must be provided. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total semester hours minus 18) by 9. Add the two percentages. This is a developmental position. You may be selected at the GS-07 or the GS-09 only. If selected at the GS-07, you will be promoted to 08 then to 09 target grade based on time-in-grade requirements, satisfactory or higher performance rating and demonstrated ability to perform the higher graded duties. Education FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: Additional Information Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. One year trial/probationary period may be required. Direct Deposit of Pay is required. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. This is a(n) Engineers & Scientists (Construction) Career Field position. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit for more information. Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations. A RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION INCENTIVE MAY BE OFFERED, DEPENDING ON FUNDING AVAILABILITY AND MANAGEMENT DISCRETION. AN INCENTIVE MUST BE REQUESTED BY SELECTED APPLICANT AT TIME OF THE TENTATIVE JOB OFFER AND APPROVED PRIOR TO HIRE. AN INCENTIVE REQUIRES A SIGNED SERVICE AGREEMENT. This is a developmental position. You may be selected at the GS-07 or the GS-09 only. If selected at the GS-07, you will be promoted to 08 then to 09 target grade based on time-in-grade requirements, satisfactory or higher performance rating and demonstrated ability to perform the higher graded duties.