Hydrologic Technician

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.

• 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement 08/17/2026…