Civil Engineer (Hydraulics), GS-0810-11/12 (11199)

About the role

This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD, Section 9905 to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service. Qualified candidates may be called for an interview.

Responsibilities

• Analyze the full range of hydraulic and hydrologic problems involved in complex flood protection planning for specified urban or rural areas, including the determination of design water surface profiles and interior flood control facilities pertinent to the study area.
• Conduct hydrologic and hydraulic studies for complex environmental enhancement projects. Evaluate existing hydrologic and hydraulic conditions at proposed environmental enhancement sites. This can include discharges, elevations, velocity vectors, ice cover, wave conditions and sediment transport. Conduct hydraulic evaluation and design of proposed environmental enhancement measures. Determine hydraulic design of features such as closing dams, modifications to wing dams, openings to backwater areas, islands, protection of threatened sites, and channel and wetland restoration. Evaluate the impact of any proposals on the hydrologic, hydraulic and sediment transport characteristics of the area. These evaluations will be used to determine the environmental benefits and to determine the impacts on flooding, navigation and safety.
• Conduct hydrologic and hydraulic studies for complex navigation projects and structures. Conduct hydraulic analysis and design of navigation structures including wing dams, submerged weirs, channel closures, and lock and dam features. Conduct hydraulic analysis of towboat and recreational craft traffic and their impact on river and backwater hydrodynamics and sediment transport. Conduct hydraulic analysis to determine the impact of modifications to the navigation project on towboat and recreational craft. Conduct hydraulic analysis and design of modifications to the navigation project to reduce dredging costs, reduce adverse impacts on the rivers ecological system, or to improve traffic efficiency and safety. Tools used for hydraulic analysis of navigation projects include multi-dimensional hydrodynamic and sediment transport computer programs and models. Also provide review and coordination for physical models of navigation projects.
• Throughout all assignments, prepare sketches and drawings required to illustrate and/or justify technical adequacy of assumptions and results. Records all computations according to established methods to permit technical review. Documents and files study results in an organized manner in compliance with appropriate guidelines. During course of assignments, make assignments to and provides technical guidance for lower-graded employees assisting in assignment. Participate in conferences with other District employees to discuss and establish technical hydraulic requirements and objectives for projects and individual features.
• Compose narrative reports concerning studies. Utilize concise form and language understandable to the audience it is planned to instruct (i.e., professional and/or non-professional). Prepare technical appendices of carefully organized data supporting and amplifying summarized data of main reports. Appendices are intended for use of technical personnel. Make oral presentations of hydrologic and hydraulic efforts to the study team and at public meetings.
• Provide technical guidance to, and review for technical adequacy the work of lower graded personnel peers and consulting engineers for hydrologic and hydraulic studies.

Requirements

GS-11: Specialized experience which includes meeting both of the following: 1) Interpret field data for use in civil engineering (hydraulic) design and investigations; and 2) assist with hydrologic and/or hydraulic analysis for flood risk management, environmental restoration/enhancement, navigation, and/or bank stabilization/erosion projects. OR Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Civil Engineering (emphasis in hydraulics and hydrology). OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.

GS-12: Using USACE Engineering Manuals and Engineering Regulations to conduct hydraulic/hydrologic analysis for flood risk management (levees, diversions, dams, spillways, outlet works, and floodwalls), environmental restoration/enhancement, navigation (river training structures, dredging), and/or bank stabilization/erosion projects; and perform hydrodynamic modeling (both 1D and 2D environments) using the Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC) suite of software, or similar modeling software.