Engineering Technician (Civil)

Summary

Reclamation is seeking career professionals looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as an Engineering Technician (Civil). Make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.

Duties

• Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Develop, prepare, and review engineering project documents: Create and evaluate plans, specifications, and cost estimates for construction and ongoing projects. Review designs for compliance with industry standards and ensure alignment with field conditions. Utilize automated engineering drafting and design systems to support project development. Provide technical oversight and contract administration: Apply a variety of contracting processes to deliver engineering oversight for construction, architecture, and engineering contracts. Monitor contractor performance for compliance with requirements and specifications. Support research, testing, and data integrity: Collaborate with engineers to analyze research and testing requirements, plan and implement experiments, and configure test systems. Interpret extensive, incomplete, or conflicting data; validate data used in electronic and automated design and records management applications; and provide technical oversight to ensure data integrity. Advise on instrumentation and laboratory systems: Recommend and select instrumentation, equipment, and laboratory system capabilities. Calibrate and fabricate laboratory systems; troubleshoot, adjust, modify, and improve test systems, test articles, and materials. Review and approve test materials and results, ensuring laboratory accreditation is maintained. Prepare and communicate technical documentation: Formulate and present findings, briefings, project papers, status reports, and correspondence to foster understanding and acceptance of recommendations. Prepare technical documentation, including construction material test results and reports, technical construction reports, and final inspection/construction reports. Monitor project plans of assigned projects. Serve as Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), Grants Officer's Technical Representative (GOTR), or Awarding Official Technical Representative (AOTR), assisting with contract implementation, administration, and close-out.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-09/14/2026-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 Basic Specialized Experience Requirement AND Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying. Basic Specialized Experience Requirement: Examples of basic specialized experience include: Technical work in: drafting, surveying construction estimating, physical science, mathematics, aerospace, architecture, chemicals, electrical or mechanical systems, mining, petroleum, or nuclear systems; or Experience in a trade or craft may be credited as specialized experience when the work provided intensive knowledge of engineering principles, techniques, methods, and precedents. Examples are trade positions with substantial developmental, test, or design responsibilities such as: Planner and estimator who analyzed designs for production purposes. Instrument maker or model maker who performed design or development work on devices fabricated. -AND- To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level: Specialized Experience Requirement: You must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-10 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Developing and reviewing project documents, including plans, specifications, and cost estimates for construction projects; examples include reviewing designs for compliance with current industry standards, provide technical oversight to ensure data integrity, and analyzing research and testing requirements and objectives with Engineers to plan, implement, and configure experiments; Conducting award and contract administration activities, such as monitoring contractor compliance with technical requirements; leading teams; and identifying issues prior to adverse impacts; Performing inspections and condition assessments of civil works facilities, hydraulic, mechanical, and/or electrical systems, materials laboratories, transportation infrastructure, and construction sites to identify issues and recommend corrective actions; Advising on instrumentation, equipment, and laboratory system capabilities; troubleshoots, adjusts, and improves test systems and materials; recognizes and resolves data anomalies; and ensures laboratory accreditation is maintained; Communicate technical information effectively, prepare and present reports, briefings, and correspondence to foster understanding and acceptance of findings and recommendations; advise on efforts and collaborate with a wide range of audiences to resolve operating issues.. You must include hours per week worked. 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.

Requirements

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 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 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 period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

At this grade level, this position does not allow substituting education for experience.

How to apply

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 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 09/14/2026--unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. 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/13048590 Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. 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. 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.