Senior Interior Designer
Office of Administrative Services
Posted: March 19, 2026 (0 days ago)
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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Department of the Army
Location
Salary
$50,964 - $98,058
per year
Type
Full-Time
More Architecture & Design jobs →Closes
Base salary range: $62,107 - $80,737
Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-10. Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 years graduate study.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
This job involves designing and improving the inside spaces of buildings for military bases, federal agencies, and public projects, focusing on making them practical and visually appealing.
It starts at a beginner level with training and supervision, leading up to a full expert role.
It's ideal for recent college graduates in interior design who want hands-on experience in government work, especially if they have some basic project skills or related education.
This position is being filled under the Direct Hire Authority for Post-Secondary Students and Recent Graduates.
About the Position: Interior design encompasses performance and review of work related to the interior environment on in-house designed architectural projects for military installations, non-Department of Defense federal agencies, and civil work sites of the District.
Management may select from any grade level being advertised, with the full performance grade level being GS-11.
Who May Apply: To be eligible for consideration you must meet the definition of recent graduate as defined below: Recent Graduate: a person who was awarded a degree by an institution of higher education not more than two years before the date of the appointment of the applicant.
Exception: For a person who has completed a period of obligated service in a uniformed service of more than four years, the degree may be awarded by an institution of higher education not more than four years before the date of the appointment of the applicant.
You must submit a copy of your transcript to determine eligibility under this hiring authority.
To learn more, please visit the Office of Personnel Management webpage, Hiring Authorities: Students & Recent Graduates. This is a developmental position with a target grade of GS-11.
Assignments at the GS-07 level will become progressively more difficult and will be under closer than normal supervision until the next level of GS-09 is reached.
Assignments at the GS-09 level will become progressively more difficult and will be under close supervision until the full performance level is reached.
Non-Competitive promotion to the target job may be effected provided you are sufficiently experienced; meet all necessary qualification requirements for promotion to the target job; and is performing the full scope of the major duties 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.
Minimum Qualifications for GS-07: One year of specialized experience which includes designing and altering interior spaces to meet functional and aesthetic needs; meeting with vendors and manufacturer to discuss and evaluate materials, finishes, equipment, and furnishings; making appropriate selection based on familiarity with project and experienced judgment.
This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05).
OR Education: One full academic year (minimum 18 semester hours) of graduate-level education directly related to interior design or the design and alteration of interior space to meet the functional requirements.
OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for the position if the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%.
To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education by 18. Add the 2 percentages.
OR Superior Academic Achievement: Successful completion of all the requirements for a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement.
To be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled, such as that identified in Education above.
Superior Academic Achievement is based on: (1) Class Standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR (2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.; OR (3) Honor Society Membership - Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achsnatl.org/).
Minimum Qualifications for GS-09: One year of specialized experience which includes creating furniture plans in CAD software, creating furniture packages to include, but not limited to, bill of materials, room by room contents lists, and item installation lists; participating in determining action plan and project design related tasks.
This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07).
OR Education: A master's or equivalent graduate degree or two full years (minimum 36 semester hours) of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B. or J.D.
directly related to interior design or the design and alteration of interior space to meet the functional requirements.
OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for the position if the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%.
To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond one year (18 semester hours) by 18.
Add the 2 percentages.
Minimum Qualifications for GS-11: One year of specialized experience which includes applying basic interior design theories, principles, and concepts to evaluate design objectives and identify the most economical and efficient procedures of building design and performance; participating in furniture procurement processes, to include collaborating with others within the workplace to see projects through to procurement, installation, punch inspection, and closeout.
This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09). OR Education: A Ph.D.
or equivalent doctoral degree, or three full years (minimum 54 semester hours) of progressively higher-level graduate education directly related to interior design or the design and alteration of interior space to meet the functional requirements.
OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for the position if the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%.
To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond two years (36 semester hours) by 18.
Add the 2 percentages. You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas: Major Duties:
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