Job Announcement

Overview

  • Title

    Hydrographic Senior Survey Technician

  • Announcement Number

    OMAO-SHIPS-HSST-2025-EX-001

  • Salary

    $62,900.00 to $67,323.00

  • Open and Closing Dates

    July 17, 2025 to January 09, 2026

  • Pay Plan

    WM

  • Series and Grade

    9901-40

  • Appointment Type

    Excepted Service

  • Open to all qualified United States citizens. Relocation expenses are not authorized for this position. 

    Base Salary listed; salary does not reflect Overtime Earned.

    Recruitment Incentive may be authorized.  OMAO is authorizing a Recruitment Bonus up to $10,000.00 for eligible applicants for a two (2) year service commitment. 

    The Referral Bonus is only available to eligible NOAA employees.

    Permanent position(s) may be assigned to either full time non-rotation, full time 60/30 rotation, or within Relief Pool. No guarantee what assignment may be offered at the time of pre-employment clearance.

  • Serves on a ship, launch/small boat, or field party conducting hydrographic survey operations. Serves as Survey Manager for complex surveys without close supervision.   Oversees, trains, and mentors junior personnel in data acquisition and processing tasks. Serves as a launch/small boat crewmember and assists coxswain as a line handler, visual lookout, and radio watch as required.  Trains junior personnel in crew functions.  Serves as a Hydrographer-In-Charge (HIC) on survey launch and shipboard acquisition stations for all types of data acquisition, including near-shore investigation.  Oversees and trains junior personnel assigned as Hydrographer-in-Charge in Training (HIC-IT).  Serves as Officer-in-Charge when conducting remote or autonomous system operations to include small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS), remote operated vehicles (ROV), and Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV). Mentors junior personnel in survey management.  May review survey products prior to submission to Chief of Party.

  • LICENSING AND/OR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:  Must possess a current United States Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential with Entry Level ratings – OS, Wiper, Steward Department.  Must possess a United States Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential with Medical Certificate.

     

    and

     

    EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION REQUIREMENT(S):

     

    Applicants must have One (1) year of experience at the Hydrographic Survey Technician level or equivalent engaged in the hydrographic field and three years of experience in a survey related field, including: hydrography, oceanographic research, or other related field


  • As a conditional of employment, your position will be a Mixed Tour position. Mixed Tour of duty is a combination of full time, part time and intermittent work schedules which allows the best utilization of resources based on the work requirements of the organization. You will be required to sign a Mixed Tour Agreement.

     

    Once selected, you may be sent to any vessel nationwide. There is no guarantee that you will be assigned to any particular vessel or geographic location, however, your duty location will be determined by your home of record or ship’s home port. Duty locations are Norfolk, VA; Charleston, SC; Woods Hole, MA; Pascagoula, MS; Newport, OR; Kodiak, AK; Ketchikan, AK; San Diego, CA; Honolulu, HI; Newport, RI; New Castle, NH.

     

    Must be suitable for Federal employment.  (Pass pre-employment drug test, security and physical examination).

    Salary will be determined by locality and class of vessel.

    A two-year Trial period may be required.

    Applicant must be able to obtain and hold a US Passport. 

    Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable www.sss.gov 

    Applicant must be a United States citizen of at least 18 years of age. 

     

    PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:  Physical requirements in accordance with OMAO Medical Policy.  USCG Medical Clearance examinations are required to include a pre-placement examination(s) as a condition of employment per OMAO policy.  All Mariners must meet immunization requirements.   Position is subject to Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Transportation (DOT) randomized and pre-employment drug testing.

    SECURITY REQUIREMENTS: Employee must obtain and maintain appropriate security clearance for the Hydrographic Senior Survey Technician position. Position is designated as a Safety-Sensitive.

    Attend and successfully complete all mandatory training courses.

    Be ready, willing, and able to physically perform the duties of this position.

    Be ready, willing, and able to work in a shipboard environment and wear protective equipment.

     

    NOTE: The tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to report to any of the scheduled appointments - fails the physical examination, fails the drug test, suitability or unable to obtain the required security clearance. 

  • Applicants who meet the minimum eligibility requirements described above will be further evaluated. Documented knowledge, skills, and abilities, education, training, and awards contained in the application package and resume will be reviewed and rated to determine the degree to which applicants possess the required knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below that are essential to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position for which applications are being considered.

    KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, AND/OR ABILITY REQUIRED TO PERFORM DUTIES:

     

    1. Knowledge of Shipboard terminology, alarm signals, standard commands, and nomenclature. 
    1. Knowledge of Seamanship, to include line handling and knots, for normal as well as complex evolutions involving survey launch and ship operations, particularly when operating in near shore environments or in abnormal conditions of visibility, sea-state, or winds. 
    1. Knowledge of software systems, such as HYPACK, Triton ISIS, MapInfo, ArcInfo, ArcView or Caris; computer skills to operate various software and hardware systems necessary to complete hydrographic survey operations without supervision. Computer coding and network troubleshooting. 
    1. Ability to operate any of the following types of hydrographic equipment: Recording echo sounder, side scan sonar, multi-beam sonar, recording CTD.  This includes advanced knowledge of physical properties in the water column which affect the transmission of sound, use of positional systems and correctors to minimize uncertainty, and ability to measure and apply vessel offsets to support software/equipment calibrations or configuration. 
    1. Skill in computer, oral, and written communication.


    • Applicants must submit their application through OMAO's Wage Mariner Hiring Portal.

      Any questions may be directed to the Civilian Personnel Management Division via email at moc.recruiting@noaa.gov

      In addition to meeting the minimum conditions of employment, you will be required to scan and upload files of the following documents:

      1. All pages of the United States Coast Guard Merchant Mariner’s Credential (MMC), United States Coast Guard license, and STCW certificate.

      2. Relevant professional certificates as applicable for this position i.e. American Culinary Federation (ACF), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Universal, Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), Security Plus, college transcripts, etc.

      3. If you are a current or former federal government employee, a copy of your most recent Notice of Personnel Action (SF-50).

      4. If you served in the U.S. military service, you must provide a copy of your Certificate of Discharge (DD-214) that shows the type of discharge you received. This information is located under the “Character of Service” block of your DD-214. If you are claiming 10 points or higher veteran’s preference you must provide supporting documentation such as a completed Application for Preference (SF-15) www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf.

      Additional information on veteran’s preference is available at http://www.fedshirevets.gov/

      You will also be required to provide a copy of the VA Rating Decisions for 10point consideration.

      5. Job related honors, awards, and special accomplishments; for example, military, government or recognized professional organizations related to the maritime field and performance awards. You will be able to upload and store versions of these documents in your secure online profile.

      NOTE: It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the documents scanned and uploaded are legible.

      Applicants may be interviewed prior to being selected for employment.

      This vacancy announcement is open continuously with periodic cutoffs when vacancies occur within the fleet.

    • Failure to provide the required information requested for this position will adversely affect your eligibility. Federal job applicants who make a false statement in any part of the application could be turned down for the job; removed after beginning work; or subject to fine, imprisonment (U.S. Code, title 18, section 1001), or other disciplinary action


    Announcement Number

    OMAO-SHIPS-HSST-2025-EX-001