Drill Rig Operator Job in Savannah, GA

Vacancy No. CERL-25-12830133-DHA Department U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Salary $32.02 to $37.33 Grade 11 to 11
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 11/7/2025 Close Date 11/24/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Savannah, GA


Summary

This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD Workforce to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.

About the Position: Principal operator on core drill party on assignments to subsurface investigation projects throughout the United States.

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Duties

  • Operate auger, sonic, mud rotary and direct-push drill rigs for the purpose of collecting soil, rock, and groundwater samples and to install instrumentation.
  • Operate various types of soil testing and sampling equipment including augers, drive samplers, direct-push samplers, piston samplers, denison-type samplers, CPT tools, and related direct-push tools.
  • Interpret drilling instructions to assure that the primary purpose of the mission is executed successfully.
  • Prepare for drilling jobs by selecting proper bits and devices to effect the most efficient borehole
  • Trains helpers in the operation of the equipment, demonstrating proper methods and procedures and observing and supervising periods of actual operation by each helper.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

  • Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
  • Class A Commercial Driver's License required.
  • Required to participate and pass the Districts, Hazardous, Toxic and Radioactive Waste (HTRW) Program and will be included in the Annual Medical Surveillance Program.
  • Annual Respirator usage Fitness Test.
  • This position has been designated as meeting the criteria for random drug testing under the Department of the Army Drug-Free Federal Workplace Program.
  • Pre-employment and annual physicals.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

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.

There is no specific length of training or experience required. However, you must be able to demonstrate, through experience shown in your written application materials that you possess the sufficient knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the work of this position without more than normal supervision.

Minimum Qualifications (Screen Out Element): Ability to do the work of a(n) Drill Rig Operator ~ without more than normal supervision. As it relates to drilling and subsurface exploration. Must be able to successfully accomplish the following tasks under normal supervision: advancement of borings into soil and/or rock at depths up to 50 feet, installing groundwater wells up to 4 inches in diameter, collecting split spoon, undisturbed, and rock core samples, perform routine maintenance on drill rigs in order to repair components such as hoses, pumps, and motors. - Failure to meet this Screen out Element will result in an ineligible rating.

Selective Placement Factor:

This position has a requirement to possess and maintain a Class A Commercial Driver License. (Must be included in the application package or you will be disqualified)

  • Physical Effort - Work involves standing for prolonged periods, walking, bending, pushing, reaching, pulling and lifting. Machinery control work is done in close proximity to rotating drill shaft or tool hammering operations, requiring quick reflex action to respond to drilling problems. Frequently handles objects weighing 20 to 60 pounds and occasionally, tools, samples, and equipment weighing over 60 pounds. Work requires lifting heavy loads regularly and often, sometimes with rapid repetitiveness, throughout the workday, which is from 8-12 hours.
  • Working Conditions - Works outside in all kinds of weather and temperature extremes on uneven surfaces, exposed to poison growth, reptiles and insects, and under noisy conditions. Is exposed to cuts and bruises, strains and danger of falling while working from river barges. Must be able to perform duties while wearing a respirator.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

  • Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
  • You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
  • One year trial/probationary period may be required.
  • Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
  • Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
  • If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
  • This is a(n) Engineers and Scientists-18 Career Field position.
  • Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
  • Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
  • Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position.

Veterans and Military Spouses will be considered along with all other candidates.?

Required Documents

The documents you are required to submit vary based on whether or not you are eligible for preference in federal employment. A complete description of preference categories and the associated required documents is in the Applicant Checklist for Public Announcements.

As described above, your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.

1. Your resume:

  • Your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.
  • For each relevant work experience, make sure you include the employer's name, job title, start and end dates (include month and year), for qualifications purposes, the number of hours worked per week, and a brief description that show you can perform the tasks at the required level listed in the job announcement. If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete, and you may not receive consideration for this position.
  • Use plain language. Avoid using acronyms and terms that are not easily understood. The hiring agency will not make assumptions about what's in your resume.
  • If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations, and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
  • For additional information, to include formatting tips, see: What to include in your resume.
2. Other supporting documents:
  • Cover Letter, optional
  • Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable
  • This position requires a job-related license or certification. You MUST submit a copy of your license or certification with your application package or you will be rated ineligible. See: Transcripts and Licenses
NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove another person's personal information before you submit your application. You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 11/24/2025 to receive consideration

  • To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application (https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12830133).
  • Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. As a reminder, your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. For additional information, refer to the 'Required Documents' section.
  • You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
  • You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. Your resume selected in USAJOBS will be included, but you must re-select other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application may be incomplete.
  • It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
  • Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://www.usajobs.gov/applicant/profile/dashboard/), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.

Agency contact information

Army Applicant Help Desk
Email
USARMY.APG.CHRA-NE.MBX.APPLICANTHELP@ARMY.MIL
Website
https://portal.chra.army.mil/hr_public?id=app_inq
Address
RL-W07405 US ARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT-SAVANNAH
DO NOT MAIL
Savannah, GA 31402
US

Next steps

If you provided an email address, you will receive an email message acknowledging receipt of your application. Your application package will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking (as applicable) for this position. If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, your application will receive no further consideration.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.