HYDROLOGIST

About the company

You will serve as a HYDROLOGIST within the Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center located in Reston, VA, leading or participating on subsurface hydrologic studies of considerable scope and complexity or serving as a project leader or member of an interdisciplinary team.

Your tasks

At the full performance level (GS-13) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following: Conduct fundamental and applied research in subsurface hydrology, multiphase flow through porous media, poromechanics, and related geoscience disciplines. Design, develop, and execute numerical simulations of single- and multiphase fluid flow in geologic formations, including evaluation of physical and thermodynamic impacts associated with fluid injection. Translate data from real-world geologic systems into conceptual and computational models, applying sound scientific judgment while accounting for inherent uncertainties. Collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams to provide technical expertise, communicate scientific results, and prepare comprehensive written reports supported by tables, figures, and charts. Present complex findings on geologic energy resources to scientific audiences at national and international conferences. Apply artificial intelligence and machine learning methods to enhance numerical modeling and simulation workflows, integrating advanced computational tools into research activities. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level. You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 1-2 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. Salary: GS-12: $102,415 (step 1) - $133,142 (step 10) GS-13: $121,785 (step 1) - $158,322 (step 10) First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

Requirements

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-11/06/2026-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 minimum qualifications: Basic Educational Requirement AND/OR Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying.

Basic Educational Requirements: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following: A. Degree: physical or natural science, or engineering that included at least 30 semester hours in any combination of courses in hydrology, the physical sciences, geophysics, chemistry, engineering science, soils, mathematics, aquatic biology, atmospheric science, meteorology, geology, oceanography, or the management or conservation of water resources. The course work must have included at least 6 semester hours in calculus (including both differential and integral calculus), and at least 6 semester hours in physics. Calculus and physics, as described above, are requirements for all grade levels. You must submit transcripts. -OR- B. Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

-AND- To qualify for this position at the GS-12 grade level: Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience must include fundamental or applied research in subsurface hydrology or multiphase flow through porous media. Experience could include assisting in selecting, constructing, calibrating, and validating numerical groundwater models; integrating field observations, geologic data, and hydrologic measurements; and simulating groundwater flow, aquifer responses, and groundwater-surface water interactions under varying hydrologic and management conditions. At this level, experience should demonstrate a very good knowledge of the principles of hydrology and their application, and the ability to independently perform scientific work of considerable difficulty. You must include hours per week worked.

-OR- To qualify for this position at the GS-13 grade level: Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience must include leading a team in fundamental or applied projects of subsurface hydrology or multiphase flow through porous media. Experience could include selecting, constructing, calibrating, and validating numerical groundwater models; integrating field observations, geologic data, and hydrologic measurements; and simulating groundwater flow, aquifer responses, and groundwater-surface water interactions under varying hydrologic and management conditions. The complexity of this work typically required extensive modification and adaptation of standard procedures, methods, and techniques, and the development of totally new methods and techniques to address novel or obscure problems for which guidelines or precedents were not substantially applicable. At this level, experience should demonstrate extensive knowledge of the principles of hydrology and highly developed ability in their application, and wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment to perform scientific work of marked difficulty and responsibility. 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.

This position does not allow substituting education for experience. This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification

Other

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 pass a physical examination. You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority. 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.