Geophysics Salary Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Summary
You will serve as a Interdisciplinary Geophysicist or Geologist with Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. This position provides subject matter expertise and guidance for all unitization issues and performs a variety of duties of moderate to complex range of difficulty and complexity.
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Duties
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BSEE/BOEM Wide - This is a Merit Promotion announcement for career and career conditional BSEE/BOEM employees, Career Transition eligibles (CTAP), and those who are eligible under the hiring paths listed above. Refer to Required Documents section for more information.
Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:
1. Serves as a principal advisor and advanced specialist in all matters of difficult and complex Geology & Geophysics interpretations using available interpretative tools and methods. As a specialist, provided guidance and recommendations to management.
2. Use advanced geological and geophysical concepts, principles, and practices in order to produce various types of subsurface geologic maps, including structure, amplitude, isopach/isocore maps, etc. The geoscientist analyzes, evaluates, and interprets geological and geophysical information and related data to independently carry out detailed, complex, and complete geoscientific investigations.
3. Works closely with the other technical professionals and the Unit Supervisor in obtaining the technical and statistical information needed to prepare unitization agreements and related technical documents necessary for reservoir development and production and the protection of equities among lessees and operators.
4. Reviews unit submissions and makes recommendations, to which a high degree of reliance is placed, as to whether or not the proposed documents meets the requirements of specific terms/sections of the Unit Agreement.
5. Act as a consultant or mentor to other geoscientists, engineers, IT specialists, and other professional and non-professional staff regarding complex geological/geophysical matters. Also, maintains a working knowledge and understanding of the rules and regulations applicable to the Unitization Unit specifically as prescribed by Subpart M, in 30 CFR 250.1301-1304 and any related NTLs.
6. Prepares recommendations for Regional Director for appeals by lessees and operators from decisions handed down by the Regional Director and/or the Regional Supervisor.
7. Initiates, develops, populates, maintains, and implements database systems, as necessary, to interface with existing software for use within the framework of the units' mission as well as other offices and entities. Instructs other unit personnel in the use and application of such databases.
Salary Range Information: $122,749 (Step 1) to $159,575 (Step 10)
First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.
Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• 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.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1 year probationary period or 2 year trial period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest.
This probationary or trial period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Qualifications
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 08/31/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.
Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:
Basic Educational Requirement AND Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying.
Basic Educational Requirements:
In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following:
Geophysicist, 1313
A. Degree: that included at least 30 semester hours in mathematics (including calculus) and the physical sciences (geophysics, physics, engineering, geology, astronomy, meteorology, electronics, etc.).
-OR-
B. Combination of education and experience: courses as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Geologist, 1350
A. Degree: geology, plus 20 additional semester hours in any combination of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological science, structural, chemical, civil, mining or petroleum engineering, computer science, planetary geology, comparative planetology, geophysics, meteorology, hydrology, oceanography, physical geography, marine geology, and cartography.
-OR-
B. Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Specialized Experience
To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:
1. Utilizing expertise in geology, geophysics or petroleum engineering related to oil and gas resource assessment, reserve estimation, and/or allocation over multiple blocks. Independently estimated oil and gas reserves and resource potential and generating structure maps, amplitude maps, isopach/isochore maps, and cross-sections
2. Understanding and evaluating oil and gas data and information, utilizing, but not limited to, various data sets such as: well log correlation, biostratigraphy data, regional stratigraphic and structural analysis, fluid and rock characteristics, seismic attributes, well test data and information, production history, and/or other geological and geophysical data.
3. Assists with analyzing and recommending solutions to difficult and complex problems concerning geophysical and geological analysis of the OCS, serving as a technical expert or advisor to management or other government personnel.
4. Creating presentations, briefings, and comprehensive written reports and/or oral presentations for stakeholders, specifically for geoscience related projects.
Must Meet All
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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Education
This position does not allow substituting education for experience.
This position has a mandatory education requirement.
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 that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications
Additional information
Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.
Related Non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630).
All DOI employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, DOI Ethics Prohibitions | U.S. Department of the Interior.
This is an interdisciplinary position. Position may be filled as: Geophysicist, 1313 or Geologist, 1350
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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.
Benefits
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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.
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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.