Summary This position is in the Technical Services Branch of the Western Federal Lands Highway Division. The position is responsible for performing geotechnical investigations, conducting analyses, and providing design recommendations. Projects involve a special emphasis in foundations, retaining wall design, embankment design, slope stability, and subsurface investigations as it relates to roadway and bridge construction. Responsibilities As a Civil Engineer (Geotechnical), you will: Represent the Geotechnical Section on Division cross-functional teams in providing geotechnical recommendations in support of roadway, bridge, and trail projects. Plan and oversee geotechnical site investigations and instrumentation programs, develop laboratory testing programs, complete geotechnical analyses, and provide geotechnical recommendations in support of the WFLHD Program. You will develop geotechnical design details, write construction specifications for geotechnical project elements, and complete geotechnical reports and memoranda. Develop and provide geotechnical recommendations in areas including but not limited to: shallow and deep foundations; earth retaining structures; reinforced soil slopes and reinforced embankments; embankment designs using both soil and rock; subsurface drainage; subgrade support; ground improvement; slope stability designs including landslide mitigation; and other geotechnical design areas. Provide technical advice and assistance to resolve geotechnical issues that arise during construction and provide field support and inspection assistance during construction of Geotechnical design elements. The ideal candidate is a geotechnical engineering professional with diverse experience in various aspects of field investigation planning and implementation, planning laboratory testing for soil and rock, analysis, design, preparation of geotechnical memos and reports, and providing support of their design in construction related to the construction of highway facilities, roads, and bridges. RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE MAY BE OFFERED TO SELECTEE OF THIS POSITION. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. citizen & meet specialized experience to qualify. Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date. Required documents must be submitted by the closing date. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: You may be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding. PCS/RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT: Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Relocation, and Recruitment Incentive authorization varies by position/selection and a service agreement may be required. PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Applicants may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed). GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only. TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: This position may be eligible for occasional and/or regularly scheduled telework. The number of telework days approved will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency’s telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position. RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE: If a recruitment incentive is offered, selectee will be required to sign a service agreement. Qualifications To meet the basic qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Mandatory Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of your transcripts or other applicable documentation for verification, AND (3) meet the specialized experience requirements, or education if applicable, for each grade you are applying to. Please review the following information before proceeding with the application process: For the GS-11: On Experience, you must have at least one year of specialized experience, equal or equivalent to the GS-09 grade level, which includes: Experience in various geotechnical aspects of transportation projects including the planning and implementation of subsurface field investigation programs, planning laboratory testing for soil and rock, familiarity and performance of geotechnical design analysis, and preparation of observations, methods employed, and findings in geotechnical memos and reports; AND Experience providing recommendations with senior level oversight for structure foundations, slope stability, and retaining wall systems to include cost considerations and constructability. Or on Education, you must have 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. For the GS-12: On Experience, you must have at least one year of specialized experience, equal or equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, which includes: Experience in all geotechnical aspects of transportation projects which include independent planning and implementation of subsurface field investigation programs, planning laboratory testing for soils and rock, performance of geotechnical design analysis, and preparation of observations, methods employed, and findings in geotechnical memos and reports; AND Experience in independently evaluating and determining structure foundations, slope stability, and retaining walls systems to include cost considerations and constructability while providing guidance in preliminary design decisions and construction support. Although you must first meet the mandatory education requirement, you cannot qualify for the GS-12 grade based on education, you must meet the specialized experience, which is cited above. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Geotechnical Engineering - Knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and methods related to the investigation and evaluation of subsurface soil or geologic conditions and properties for the purpose of designing stable foundation systems, earthen structures, or the remediation of subsurface conditions. Oral Communications - Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens effectively; clarifies information as needed. Written Communications - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience. 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). Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply to the GS-11 grade based on education if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of the closing date of this announcement. If selected, the final transcript must be received before your start date. Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date. Education A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor’s degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET); or (2) that included differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced that first year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials; (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials; and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics; OR B. Combination of education or training: college level education, training and/or technical experience that has furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: Professional registration or licensure - current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE). Written Test - Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination, or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Specified academic courses - Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences which included the courses as specified in Paragraph A above. Related curriculum - Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. There should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering type experience. This must be clearly described in your resume. For additional information, please refer to the OPM qualifications standard for GS-800: All Professional Engineering Positions qualifications at: You can also have a combination of graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application. Additional Information The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. Qualified CTAP/ICTAP candidates receive priority and will be referred to the hiring manager.