Physical Science Technician (Field Assistant)

Physical Science Technician (Field Assistant)

Department: Department of the Interior

Location(s): Moffett Field, California, Seattle, Washington

Salary Range: $21.94 - $31.72 Per Hour

Job Summary: What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position? Salary: Moffett Field, CA $24.40 hourly (Step 01) to $31.72 hourly (Step 10); Seattle, WA $21.94 hourly (Step 01) to $28.52 hourly (Step 10); NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01.

Major Duties:

• Duration of Appointment: This is a temporary excepted service position not-to-exceed 1 year but may be extended without further competition. Employment may not exceed 1,039 hours in a service year. All qualified applicants, with or without Federal status may apply and be considered. Appointment to this position, however, will not convey permanent status in the Federal service. As a(n) Physical Science Technician (Field Assistant) within the Southwest Region, some of your specific duties will include: Collects and prepares field data for a variety of project types Operates or assists in the operation of data collection stations Monitors and evaluates conditions in assigned areas Prepares sediment and rock samples for physical or chemical analysis Performs chemical analyses and physical measurements of samples applying various techniques to a wide variety of materials May operate a government motor vehicle or boat as an incidental driver Physical Demands: Laboratory work requires prolonged periods of standing and manual dexterity to operate equipment. Field work requires moderate to strenuous outdoor activities such as hiking, digging, lifting, and driving a vehicle. Work is physically demanding and includes walking, bending, climbing, and lifting of equipment and/or carrying samples up to 100 pounds when in the field, sometimes during adverse weather conditions. Work Environment: Field work involves moderate risks and discomforts, exposure to conditions such as rain, cold/hot weather, and rapidly running or icy streams and rivers. Laboratory work involves exposure to moderate risks or discomforts such as high levels of noise and vibration, dust, grease, exposed moving parts of machinery, or irritant fumes and chemicals. Work requires protective clothing, gear, and observance of safety precautions.

Qualifications: Applicants must meet one of the following to qualify at the GG-05 level: Possess 9 months of field party experience. OR Possess 3 years sub-professional experience. OR Possess 3 years college study (equivalent 90 semester hours/135 quarter hours) plus 3 months of lab or field work experience. Definitions of Experience: Field Survey Party - Experience with a field survey party includes activity associated with making and recording geologic, hydrologic, biologic, or topographic field observations; collecting geologic, biological, or water samples for laboratory analysis; applying accepted data collection techniques and methods in the performance of field work in support of scientific investigations; and using a variety of surveying instruments and electronic or mechanical instrumentation in the making and recording of field measurements and observations designed to collect data for physical/ biological science investigations. Only time actually spent in the field can be credited when qualifying individuals under the field party experience option. Sub-professional Experience - Sub-professional experience is defined as technical work performed in support of field or laboratory investigations relating to the biological sciences, physical sciences, or closely related disciplines which provided basic knowledge or skills in gathering, recording, and assembling scientific or engineering data; using scientific instruments to measure angles, degrees, weights, strengths, intensities, etc.; setting up and operating test apparatus, and manipulating quantitative data. Experience may include assisting professional employees with such duties as calibrating and operating measuring instruments mixing solutions, making chemical analyses, setting up and operating test apparatus, and compiling and processing scientific data. Experience as a laboratory mechanic or in a trade or craft may be credited as experience when the work was performed in close association with physical or biological scientists or other technical personnel and provided a good working knowledge of appropriate scientific principles, methods, and techniques. Professional Experience - Professional work experience in the physical and biological sciences may be credited in lieu of or in conjunction with sub-professional experience as defined above. Please note that if qualifying based on education; unofficial transcripts MUST be submitted as part of the application in order to receive consideration. You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement. Resume Length: Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

How to Apply: --Applications (resume and application questions) for this vacancy must be received on-line via USAJOBS BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, D.C. time) on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete online resume, you will not be considered for this position. Requests for extensions will not be granted. Most libraries, employment offices, and all USGS personnel offices can provide access to the Internet. If applying online poses a hardship for you, you must speak to someone in the Servicing Human Resources Office listed on this announcement PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE for assistance. --Instructions for Applying Online for this Vacancy Announcement: 1)Click the blue "Apply Online" button. 2)If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application process. If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile. 3)As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to attach to your application. 4)Check the "Certification" box and click the "Apply for this position now!" button located at the bottom of the screen. 5)Address the eligibility questions as well as the questionnaire containing questions and/or task statements that address the knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies for this vacancy. 6)Submit required documents. 7) If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk.

Application Deadline: 2026-03-24