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Posted: April 7, 2026 (0 days ago)

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ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Department of the Army

Fresh

Location

Salary

$55,658 - $107,090

per year

Closes

April 21, 2026More Army jobs →

GS-7 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $41,966 - $54,557

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-6. Bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement or 1 year graduate study.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves working as a hydrographic survey expert for the U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers, where you'll plan and lead teams in collecting data from water areas using boats and specialized tools, process that data for accuracy, and create technical drawings for projects like dredging or mapping.

It's a hands-on role in a government office in Michigan, ideal for someone with technical experience in surveying, who enjoys outdoor fieldwork and using design software.

A good fit would be a detail-oriented technician comfortable with boats and data analysis, looking for stable federal employment.

Key Requirements

  • One year of specialized experience in hydrographic or land surveying field operations, depending on the GS level (7-10)
  • Proficiency in processing and reviewing survey data using software like HYPACK for accuracy and completeness
  • Experience with Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) tools such as MicroStation, AutoCAD, or Revit
  • Familiarity with operating, trailering, and maintaining small boats or vessels
  • Ability to assist in setting up and executing single/dual/multi-beam hydrographic surveys, including equipment calibration
  • Skills in producing survey plots, calculating volumes (e.g., dredging), and performing engineering computations
  • Experience with topographic surveys, preventative maintenance on survey equipment, and post-processing data in tools like EHYDRO

Full Job Description

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: Position serves as hydrographic survey expert for the Area Office survey operations.

Plans, directs, and technically supervises the work of employee(s) engaged in various survey activities.

Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the 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.

Specialized Experience GS-07: One year of specialized experience which includes assisting in field operations in the collection of technical data; supporting senior technicians using data processing software in editing, and reviewing for accuracy and completeness, the collected data; familiarity in developing and completing technical and design assignments using Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD)and Building Information Modeling (BIM) using MicroStation, AutoCAD, and/or Revit; Assisting with creating drawings and making modifications to features for various projects.

Maintains interest in, or has familiarity in, trailering, operating, and maintaining small crafts or vessels (boats.) Specialized Experience GS-08: One year of specialized experience which includes assisting in surveying field operations (land or hydrographic) in the collection of surveying data; supporting senior surveyors using survey data processing software such as HYPACK in editing, and reviewing for accuracy and completeness, the collected data; Assisting in developing and completing technical and design assignments using Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD)and Building Information Modeling (BIM) using MicroStation, AutoCAD, and/or Revit; Assisting with creating drawings and making modifications to features for various projects: familiarity in, trailering, operating, and maintaining small crafts or vessels (boats.) Specialized Experience GS-09: One year of specialized experience which includes experience in executing hydrographic surveying field operations in the collection of hydrographic surveying data; processing survey data using HYPACK, in editing, and reviewing for accuracy and completeness, the collected data; assisting with calculating dredging volumes and utilizing engineering techniques to include arithmetic, geometric, algebraic formulas when performing surveying computations; assisting and setting up Single/Dual and Multi-beam frequency hydrographic surveys; assisting with operating the survey vessel and perform launching and loading of the vessel; assisting with pre-survey calibration and equipment checks; assisting with producing survey plots, channel tabulations, and metadata from survey soundings using specialized software; inputting post-process survey data utilizing specialized software such as EHYDRO and Computer Aided Design & Drafting (CADD) for the plotting of data; assisting with topographic surveys; assisting with the preventative maintenance and repairs on survey equipment, survey vessel, and towing equipment.

This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09).

Specialized Experience GS-10: One year of specialized which includes experience in planning and executing hydrographic surveying field operations in the collection of hydrographic surveying data; processing survey data using software such as HYPACK, in editing, and reviewing for accuracy and completeness, the collected data, and reviewing lower graded employees processing for accuracy; calculating dredging volumes and utilizing engineering techniques to include arithmetic, geometric, algebraic formulas when performing surveying computations, and reviewing lower graded employees calculations for accuracy; performing Single/Dual and Multi-beam frequency hydrographic surveys; operating survey vessel and perform launching and loading of the vessel; performing appropriate pre-survey calibration and equipment checks; produce survey plots, channel tabulations, and metadata from survey soundings using specialized software; post-processing survey data utilizing specialized software such as EHYDRO and Computer Aided Design & Drafting (CADD) for the plotting of data; conducting topographic surveys; implementing quality control standards and perform quality assurance on collected survey data; completing preventative maintenance and repairs on survey equipment, survey vessel, and towing equipment.

Specialized Experience GS-11: One year of specialized experience which includes experience in planning and execution of the hydrographic survey program for multiple projects across a geographic area; planning, coordinating, executing, and assigning work to lower graded employees, to complete hydrographic surveying field data collection, and hydrographic surveying data processing using software such as HYPACK.

v Verifying accuracy of calculations that are both self-performed and performed by those of lower graded employees, of dredging volumes and utilizing engineering techniques to include arithmetic, geometric, algebraic formulas when performing surveying computations; planning and leading program-wide Single/Dual and Multi-beam frequency hydrographic surveys; operating survey vessel and perform launching and loading of the boat; self-performing, and ensuring lower graded employees have performed, appropriate pre-survey calibration and equipment checks; reviewing lower-graded employees work in producing survey plots, channel tabulations, and metadata from survey soundings using specialized software; post-processing survey data utilizing specialized software such as EHYDRO and Computer Aided Design & Drafting (CADD) for the plotting of data; conducting topographic surveys; leading a team in quality control and quality assurance on collected survey data; completing preventative maintenance and repairs on survey equipment, survey vessel, and towing equipment; providing liaison support to government agencies and public interest groups.

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify.

For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted. Major Duties:

  • Serve as a hydrographic surveyor for the Project Office survey operations.
  • Plan, direct and technically supervise the work engaged in various survey activities.
  • Serve as system operator onboard the survey vessel conducting bathymetric data collection and advise on appropriate and efficient use of various systems on board.
  • Serve as an operator and technician on hardware and software systems with respect to multi-beam, side scan sonar and single/dual frequency hydrographic survey platforms such as Motion and Heading Sensors, Digital Velocity Profiles, and computers.
  • Plan, organize, coordinate, and develop methods and procedures for performing and conducting work of the survey team.
  • Process survey data using specialized hydrographic surveying software such HYPACK, to include editing, and reviewing for accuracy and completeness, the completed products.
  • Perform survey vessel (boats) operations of up to 26' in length, to include the safe preparation, trailering, launching, operating, and assisting in maintenance.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 4/7/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 4/7/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: RECE 26-12920904-DHA