About This Position
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: Operates a Survey Boat engaged in reconnaissance and hydrographic surveys pertinent to the maintenance and improvement of coastal harbors, bars, estuaries, and river navigation channels.
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 (Screen Out Element): Ability to do the work of a(n) Small Craft Operator ~ without more than normal supervision. For the XF-08: Must have the ability to perform common tasks of a Small Craft Operator. Ability to operate a variety of boats, work boats, or towboats, ranging in size up to 26 feet in length, line handling, operating boats in traffic, performing maintenance and making minor repairs using common tools and materials and perform tasks with electronic navigation systems.
Ability to work under normal supervision of a work leader or journey-level employee who observes tasks in progress and upon completion to make sure they are properly performed. For the XF-09 level: Must possess all of the following United States Coast Guard (USCG) Documentation and you must upload a copy of each credential: (1) A current United States Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) with Radar Observer Endorsement for all weather small boat operations.
In addition to the required licensing above, you must have the ability to perform common tasks of a Small Craft Operator. Under normal supervision. Have some experience performing Small Craft Operator skills to include: operating a variety of boats, work boats, or towboats, ranging in size up to 104 feet in length, line handling and electronic navigation systems.
Ability to work under normal supervision of a work leader or journey-level employee who observes tasks in progress and upon completion to make sure they are properly performed. Working Conditions: Work is normally performed inside pilothouse but some time is spent on deck where there is exposure to all types of weather and water conditions with the danger of drowning by falling into a river or the ocean. Much of the time will be spent operating in unprotected coastal waters, the Puget Sound and adjacent waters as well as estuaries and rivers which increases dangers to operator and craft, and is subject to the hazards of sudden storms, rough water, tides, wind, and abnormal currents.
Incumbent is exposed to noise in excess of 80 decibels, and the effects of acids, solvents, and paints on a regular and recurring basis. Employee is required to observe established safe working procedures. Appropriate protective clothing and/or equipment is provided to minimize or eliminate hazardous conditions, and its use is mandatory.
Incumbent is required to operate a motor vehicle in order to get to and from the vessel or transfer vessel from worksite to worksite. Physical Demands: Incumbent is required to exert moderate to heavy physical effort in maintaining equipment on boat, and to handle survey equipment. Incumbent must possess depth and color perception and be able to see in low visibility conditions in order to operate a boat.
Employee may be required to stand for prolonged periods and climb narrow, steep stairways and ladders. Incumbent is required to operate a motor vehicle in order to get to and from the vessel.
Major Duties
Operates powered survey boats under 65 feet in length during all phases of hydrographic survey work.
Maintain exact speeds and courses required for the survey and utilize computer aided peripheral devices such as steering indicators or monitors to follow exact courses and keep the vessel within prescribed tolerances.
Maintains a daily log of events, survey areas, transits, fuel use and equipment hours.
Coordinates with Chief of Waterway Maintenance Unit for necessary supplies and services, in emergencies, procures equipment for repairs by use of acquisition procedures.
Leads and assists with motorboat operator licensing courses for the district.
Perform preventative maintenance/repair on all survey boats including minor repairs, adjustments to diesel engines, generators, air compressors and auxiliary equipment.
Prepares scopes of work and government estimates for contracted vessel service and maintenance.
How You Will Be Evaluated
Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. 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.
Veterans and Military Spouses will be considered along with all other candidates.
Additional Information
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.
This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
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 a(n) Engineers and Scientists (Resources and Construction) Career Program position aligned under the Construction, Analysis, Science, Infrastructure & Engineers (CASIE) Career Management Directorate. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest. Not eligible for telework. The following incentives may be authorized: Student Loan Repayment, Advanced In-hire, Relocation Incentive, Recruitment Incentive or Advanced Leave Accrual.
Management may select at any grade level announced, XF-08 or XF-09 Noncompetitive promotion potential to the XF-10 and XF-11 grade levels.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 10/26/2026 to receive consideration To begin, click Apply to access the online application.
You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application (https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13085340).
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. As a reminder, 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 additional information, refer to the 'Required Documents' section.
You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted.
Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position.
Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
Your resume selected in USAJOBS will be included, but you must re-select other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application may be incomplete. It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://www.usajobs.gov/applicant/profile/dashboard/), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated.
For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.
Required Documents
The documents you are required to submit vary based on whether or not you are eligible for preference in federal employment. A complete description of preference categories and the associated required documents is in the Applicant Checklist for Public Announcements. As described above, your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your 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.
- Other supporting documents: Cover Letter, optional Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable 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.