Who May Apply: Positions are open to:
- Recent graduates who have completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution. Short-term training programs (e.g. several two-week programs completed) are not considered an academic course of study.
- Current students who will graduate no later than Nov 2025.
- Preference eligible veterans who were precluded from applying due to their military service obligation begin their two-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty. Eligibility for these veterans cannot exceed six years after degree or certificate completion
Applicants can be selected at either the GS-5 or GS-7. The target grade of this position is GS-11.
After Program completion, Department of the Army Recent Graduates MAY be converted to a permanent position or to a term position (a project-based term of employment lasting between one and four years).
To be eligible for conversion to a permanent or term position, Recent Graduates must:
- Be a U.S. Citizen
- Successfully complete all the requirements of the Recent Graduate Program as defined in the Agency Participant Agreement.
- Demonstrate successful job performance.
- Meet the Office of Personnel Management qualification standard including any applicable positive education requirements and/or selection placement factors and any other designated special qualifications requirements and conditions of employment (e.g. medical standards) appropriate for the position to which being converted.
To learn more, please visit the Office of Personnel Management webpage,
Hiring Authorities: Students & Recent Graduates.
In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is
in this document.
Basic Requirement for Civil Engineer (Hydraulics): see
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf
In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:
GS-5:
You have successfully completion of a full 4 year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering. The number of semester hours required to constitute a major field of study is the amount specified by the college or university attended. If this number cannot be obtained, 24 semester hours will be considered as equivalent to a major field of study.
OR
You have a combination of experience and education that equals 100%. The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field. In addition to courses in the major and related fields, a typical college degree would have included courses that involved analysis, writing, critical thinking, research, etc. These courses would have provided an applicant with skills and abilities sufficient to perform progressively more responsible work in the occupation. Therefore, creditable experience should have demonstrated similarly appropriate skills or abilities needed to perform the work of the occupation. (50% of the education requirement) and 6 months of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level (50% of the experience requirement). When combined, your total qualifying education and experience is equivalent to 100% of the qualification requirements (i.e. six months of graduate level education and six months of professional experience.)
GS-7:
You have at least one year of Professional Civil Engineering experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to GS-5 level work in the Federal service. Professional civil engineering experience is defined as experience assisting in the design or construction of civil engineering projects.
OR
You have at least one full academic year of graduate education in the appropriate field, civil engineering.
OR
You have a combination of education and experience as described in (a) and (b) above, which when combined, equals 100% of the qualification requirements described above. For example, you have 9 semester hours of related graduate courses (50% of the education requirement) and 6 months of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level (50% of the experience requirement). When combined, your total qualifying education and experience is equivalent to 100% of the qualification requirements (i.e. six months of graduate level education and six months of professional experience.)
OR
You have successfully completion of a 5-year program of study (i.e., one designed to be completed in no less than 5 years) of at least 160 semester hours leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering in an accredited college or university.
OR
Superior academic achievement in a professional engineering curriculum. To qualify for superior academic achievement, you must have one of the following: (1) A standing in the upper third of your college class or major subdivision (e.g. school of engineering) at the time you apply. (2) A grade point average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) as recorded on your official transcript or as computed based on courses completed during the last 2 years of the curriculum. (3) A grade point average of B+ (3.5 on a 4.0 scale) based on the average of the required courses completed in a qualifying major field of study during the last 2 years of your curriculum. (4) Election to membership in one of the national honorary scholastic societies (other than freshman societies) that meets the requirements of the Association of College Honor Society. To qualify based on education, submit an unofficial copy of transcripts or list of courses with credit hours, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Submit proof of your education with a transcript or list of courses with credit hours, major(s), and grade point average or class ranking.
Use verbiage from the Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific Positions for this series in conjunction with the Individual Occupational Requirements described above and found within the 'Additional Experience and Training Provisions for Graduates of Engineering Programs.
You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:
- Civil Engineering
- Oral Communication
- Technical Competence