Geophysicist

These positions serve as Geophysicist's, GS-1313-12 with the Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Office of the Director, Rocky Mountain Region. This job is open to U.S. Citizens, Nationals, or those who owe allegiance to the U.S., as well as career transition-eligible federal employees (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).

About the role

These positions are located within the Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Rocky Mountain Region, Geology, Geophysics and Geochemistry Science Center, duty stationed in Lakewood, Colorado.

This is a TERM appointment not to exceed 13 months with the potential to be extended on an annual basis for no more than a total of ten (10) years. You may be allowed to telework on a situational basis at management discretion.

This position involves field work under arduous conditions and on-site emergency response. You will be required to pass a pre-employment medical examination to ensure you can perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the position, with or without accommodation.

Responsibilities

• Plan and organize the development of requirements and specifications for monitoring systems.
• Oversee geophysical instrumentation, data acquisition, processing, archiving, and retrieval activities for a complex, multi-station monitoring network that includes hundreds of channels of continuous seismic, geodetic, or other geophysical data.
• Coordinate with other monitoring networks, evaluate and interpret the nature of potential activities, and assess resulting hazards.
• Design and implement geologic, geophysical, and/or geochemical studies.
• Process and interpret large sets of multispectral and hyperspectral remotely sensed data—using both computer-based and manual techniques—for terrestrial or planetary systems.
• Perform routine geophysical work, which may include installing, calibrating, operating, repairing, and/or maintaining instruments and systems that record and collect geophysical data.

Work Environment

• Most work takes place in an office or laboratory setting with adequate heat, light, and ventilation. Office conditions do not require special safety precautions.
• Field conditions may include extreme heat or cold, rain or snow, and hazardous conditions such as exposure to extreme temperatures, noxious or toxic gases, ice, or flooding.
• Field work may involve encounters with snakes, bears, and other wilderness dangers.
• International field work may be conducted in culturally hostile areas.

Physical Demands

• Most work occurs in an office or laboratory setting with no special physical effort required.
• During emergency response, training, or field work, you may be expected to hike several kilometers over uneven terrain while carrying equipment.
• Field work may require the use of personal protective gear, working in dusty, hot, humid, or extreme cold environments, occasional off-road driving of 4-wheel drive vehicles, traveling to remote field sites via helicopters or small fixed-wing planes and/or boats, and lifting equipment or objects weighing up to 20 kilograms.

Requirements

• Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Must 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.
• Must serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.
• You will be required to travel for training, meetings, or site visits (including field work).

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement (08/14/2026).

Basic Education Requirement

Applicants must meet one of the following to satisfy the basic education requirement for Geophysicist:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s or higher degree that included at least 30 semester hours in mathematics (including calculus) and the physical sciences (geophysics, physics, engineering, geology, astronomy, meteorology, electronics, etc.).
• A combination of education and experience—at least 30 semester hours in mathematics (including calculus) and the physical sciences (geophysics, physics, engineering, geology, astronomy, meteorology, electronics, etc.), plus appropriate experience and/or additional education for a total of 4 years. The education or combined education and experience must be comparable in type, scope, and thoroughness to that acquired through successful completion of a 4-year course of study as described above.

You MUST provide transcripts (unofficial acceptable) to verify educational requirements. 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. Failure to provide this information may result in an "INELIGIBLE" rating.

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 specializing in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education.

Specialized Experience (GS-12)

In addition to meeting the Basic Education Requirement, to qualify for the GS-12, you MUST possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience in at least three of the following:

• Planning and conducting airborne geophysical surveys.
• Processing data using airborne geophysical processing software.
• Developing airborne geophysical contracts.
• Writing technical reports and data releases.

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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.