About This Position
This is a public notice flyer to notify interested applicants of anticipated vacancies. Applications will NOT be accepted through this flyer. Interested applicants should review the "How to Apply" section of this flyer for more information on how to be considered. This flyer will be used as positions become available. There may or may not be actual vacancies filled from this flyer.
Qualifications
Who May Apply: US Citizens 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. There is no specific length of training or experience required. However, you must be able to demonstrate, through experience shown in your written application materials that you possess the sufficient knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the work of this position without more than normal supervision. Minimum Qualifications: Ability to do the work of a Drill Rig Operator without more than normal supervision. Abilities include (1) Selecting and installing appropriate equipment, devices, and tools required to carry out work assignments (e.g., pumps, derricks, mechanical riggings, downhole hammers); (2) Applying knowledge of most types of conventional core boring drill rigs and auxiliary equipment and knowledge of the drill-ability of hard rock and sediments to perform the full range of standard foundation core drilling and noncore boring operations; and (3) Directing a crew of one or two lower grade workers in the gathering and transporting of equipment, parts, and supplies to drill sites; in the construction of temporary roads; in leveling drill sites; and rigging up and aligning equipment and tools. Failure to meet this Screen Out Element will result in an ineligible rating. PHYSICAL EFFORT: Work is primarily performed in the field requiring good physical strength and stamina. Work requires standing, walking, or bending most of a work day, frequent and repeated lifting of objects in excess of 60 pounds and occasionally up to 200 lbs., use of both hands and feet to operate machinery, good pulmonary function to allow the use of a level C respirator, good balance and coordination, good dexterity for assembling and disassembling drill pipe, and tolerance of heat and cold. WORKING CONDITIONS: Drill work routinely consists of geotechnical investigations for Military, Civil Works and Support For Others Projects and geo/environmental investigations on Hazardous Toxic and Radioactive Waste (HTRW) sites. Work on HTRW sites requires the wearing of protective gear against possible exposure to chemical hazards. Use of specified personal protective equipment is mandatory. Work is conducted in the field up to 90% of the time. Work outside in all types of weather, frequently in wet, muddy, very cold or hot, and dirty condition, exposed to poison growth, reptiles, and insects and under noisy conditions. May perform drilling operations over water. Grease, oil, and other lubricants as well as fuels are present during operation, maintenance and repair of equipment and accessories. The employee may be exposed to a variety of health and safety hazards requiring the use of protective equipment and clothing such as respirators, safety glasses, shoes, hats, body suits, and harnesses. The employee may carry/wear equipment (i.e., air tanks, etc.) up to 50 lbs. in weight.
Major Duties
Assist in setting up, operating, and maintaining all types of large truck and skid mounted core boring drill rigs and ancillary equipment necessary to perform wash, rotary, or auger borings at various depths and in all types of subsurface conditions.
Work closely with higher-grade operator to develop skills to independently complete complex assignments.
Perform equipment maintenance, field repairs and overhauls, and fabricate special adaptations to increase equipment reliability and to minimize mechanical breakdowns.
Interpret technical drilling instructions and scopes of work to provide requested subsurface data, communicates daily with field investigation team members and others, and maintains all required reports, logs, and associated documents.
Work closely with higher-grade operator to develop skills to independently complete complex assignments.
Perform equipment maintenance, field repairs and overhauls, and fabricate special adaptations to increase equipment reliability and to minimize mechanical breakdowns.
Interpret technical drilling instructions and scopes of work to provide requested subsurface data, communicates daily with field investigation team members and others, and maintains all required reports, logs, and associated documents.
How You Will Be Evaluated
As vacancies occur, the Human Resources Office will review your resume to ensure you meet the hiring eligibility and qualification requirements listed in this flyer. You will be rated based on the information provided in your resume, along with your supporting documentation. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. Veterans and Military Spouses will be considered along with all other candidates. If selected, you may be required to provide additional supporting documentation.
Additional Information
This announcement uses the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD Workforce direct hire authority to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to certain positions in the competitive service. 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 an Engineers and Scientist (Resources and 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 https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction/ for more information. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest. A Recruitment and/or Relocation Incentive may be authorized for this position subject to agency determination.
How to Apply
Interested Applicants must submit resumes/application packages to: [email protected]. You must provide the vacancy announcement number CERD-25-12880859-DHA-R for which you are applying to in the subject line of the email. To apply for this position, you must submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. Alternate applications (e.g., facsimile applications) will not be accepted. The complete application package must be submitted to the email address provided above by 11:59 PM (EST) on 03/10/2026 to receive consideration.
Required Documents
Your complete application includes your resume and other documents which prove your qualifications and eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further. 1. Your resume: Your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. For each relevant work experience, make sure you include the employer's name, job title, start and end dates (include month and year), for qualifications purposes, the number of hours worked per week, and a brief description that show you can perform the tasks at the required level listed in the job announcement. If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete, and you may not receive consideration for this position. Use plain language. Avoid using acronyms and terms that are not easily understood. The hiring agency will not make assumptions about what's in your resume. If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations, and you may not be considered for this vacancy. For additional information, to include formatting tips, see: What to include in your resume. 2. Other supporting documents: Cover Letter, optional This position requires a job-related license or certification. You MUST submit a copy of your license or certification with your application package or you will be rated ineligible. See: Transcripts and Licenses NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove another person's personal information before you submit your application. You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility. - Provide documents that support your qualification for the position, typically, these are documents such as resume, transcript, copy of professional license, and SF-50. - Personally Identifiable Information (PII), such as SSN and DOB data should be REDACTED or REMOVED from documents prior to submission, especially SF-50 and DD 214 forms. - To ensure that documents are identifiable to your application package, name attachments with the following naming convention: Last Name, First Name - Document Type EXAMPLES: Smith, John - Resume Smith, John - SF50 Redacted Smith, John - Transcript Smith, John - PE License - Preferred format for documents is PDF format. - Do not submit documents that are password protected. - Any documents to be considered as part of your application, must be attached to your email. Submissions that provide a link to access and download or retrieve resumes, etc., will be considered as an incomplete application.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for the Drill Rig Operator position at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers?
The salary range for this position is $31 - $36/hr. This is a WG-8 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Drill Rig Operator job located?
This position is located in Baltimore, Maryland. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
Who May Apply: US Citizens 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...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Mar 10, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
No security clearance is required for this position.
What does WG-8 mean?
WG-8 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.