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Soil Physics Jobs (NOW HIRING)

$148K - $192K/yr

... physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Combination of education and ...

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Soil Physics information

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How much do soil physics jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for soil physics in the United States is $20.06, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $12.50 and $25.48 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is soil physics?

Soil physics is a branch of soil science that focuses on the study of the physical properties and processes of soil. It examines how soil interacts with water, air, heat, and mechanical forces, which are essential for plant growth and environmental management. Soil physicists investigate soil structure, permeability, water retention, and movement of gases to better understand and improve agricultural practices, land use, and environmental conservation.

What are the main collaborative opportunities and challenges for a Soil Physicist working within interdisciplinary research teams?

Soil Physicists frequently collaborate with agronomists, hydrologists, ecologists, and environmental engineers to address complex issues like water management, soil conservation, and crop productivity. Collaboration enhances research by integrating diverse expertise, but it can also present challenges such as differing research priorities, methods, and communication styles. Successful Soil Physicists are adaptable and proactive in fostering clear communication and shared goals within teams. This interdisciplinary work environment not only broadens professional skills but also opens pathways for career advancement in both academia and industry.

What is the difference between Soil Physics vs Soil Science?

AspectSoil PhysicsSoil Science
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Soil Science, Environmental Science, or related fields; often includes coursework in physics and chemistryBachelor's or Master's in Soil Science, Agronomy, or Geology; broader focus on soil properties and classification
Work EnvironmentLaboratories, field sites, research institutions, environmental agenciesResearch farms, laboratories, government agencies, academia
Industry UsageFocuses on physical properties of soil, water movement, and soil behavior under different conditionsEncompasses soil composition, fertility, classification, and land use management

Soil Physics primarily concentrates on the physical aspects of soil, such as water movement and soil behavior, while Soil Science covers a broader range of topics including soil composition, fertility, and land management. Both roles often require similar educational backgrounds and are used in research, environmental, and agricultural settings, but they focus on different aspects of soil study.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Soil Physicist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Soil Physicist, you need a solid background in soil science, physics, mathematics, and typically a degree in soil science, environmental science, or a related field. Familiarity with laboratory instruments, soil modeling software, GIS, and data analysis tools is commonly required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication are valuable soft skills for interpreting data and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. These skills and qualifications are essential for accurate research, practical problem-solving, and advancing sustainable land and water management practices.
More about Soil Physics jobs
What states have the most Soil Physics jobs? States with the most job openings for Soil Physics jobs include:
Infographic showing various Soil Physics job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 54% Full Time, and 44% Part Time. Highlights an 92% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $41,731 per year, or $20.1 per hour.
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER/ELECTRONICS ENGINEER/PHYSICIST

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER/ELECTRONICS ENGINEER/PHYSICIST

National Air and Space Intelligence Center

On-site, Remote

$148K - $192K/yr

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

Summary
The primary purpose of this position is: To serve as a Principal Intelligence Analyst performing electronic warfare S&TI analysis using engineering, mathematics, statistical and intelligence analysis, modeling and simulation, and on-the-job learned knowledge.
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Duties
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DUTY 1: The Principal Intelligence Analyst (PIA) will pro-actively lead the analytic enterprise for the assigned mission area and define the scope of the intelligence Program of Analysis (POA) for their analytical team.
DUTY2: The PIA is responsible to manage intelligence production tasks for the assigned mission areas, negotiating deadlines and response content with customers, and ensuring tasks are completed in a timely manner.
DUTY 3: Performs all-source S&TI analysis using intelligence means, engineering methods and computer
models/simulations to best estimate the current characteristics, capabilities, limitations and vulnerabilities of foreign airborne Electronic Warfare (EW) systems.
DUTY 4: The PIA provides analytical leadership and professional coaching to their team. Assists Flight Chief in developing and executing a training program for each team member to advance their technical skills, Intelligence Community Directives tradecraft, knowledge of foreign threat systems and professional development.
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • All new DCIPS employees are required to complete a two-year DCIPS trial period.
  • If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
  • This posn is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
  • Must be registered for Selective Service, see Legal and Regulatory Guide
  • Employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends and/or holidays
  • Shift work and emergency overtime may be required
  • Employee must maintain current certifications
  • Disclosure of Political Appointments
  • Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit
  • Advance in hire may be authorized if there is demonstrable proof provided on your resume
  • Recruitment Incentive may be authorized for this position
  • Relocation Incentive may be authorized for this position
  • Leave accrual may be authorized upon request
  • Depending on the type of position (competitive/excepted) you are selected for, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period.
  • Upon completion of your probationary/trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
  • Incumbent may be subject to psychological screening/polygraph testing as an inherent primary requirement of their position.
  • Employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends and/or holidays. Shift work and emergency overtime may be required.
  • Prior experience systems, radio frequency/electronic warfare data processing, electrical engineering, and analysis is highly desired.
  • A Bachelor's degree in electronics, electrical, or physics is required to understand the operating concepts and characteristics of a wide variety of aerospace weapon subsystems and testing procedures.

Qualifications
This is a GG-14 position in the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). The GG-14 duties for the "Professional" work category are at the "Senior" work level and are equivalent to those at the GS-14 level. The selectee's salary will be set within the grade equivalent to a GS/GG grade based on the selectee's qualifications in relation to the job.
In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized} experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Professional and Scientific Positions.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS: 0855/0850 Successfully completed a professional engineering degree: The curriculum must be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum or include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.
Combination of education and experience that is college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering; and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: (1) current registration as an Engineer Intern(EI), Engineer in Training (EIT) or licensure as a Professional Engineer(PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico, (2) evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board(3) successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included courses specified in the basic requirements or (4) successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field, e.g., physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance.
AND
Click on the following link to view specialized experience for this position http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800/
BASIC REQUIREMENTS: 1310 PHYSICIST: Physics; or related degree that included at least 24 semester hours in physics.
Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study or specific course requirements in physics; or a related degree that includes at least 24 semester hours in physics.
AND
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Your resume must reflect the quality level of experience which demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary for successful job performance required for this position. Examples of creditable experience include knowledge of engineering or physics principles and practices demonstrated through the attainment of a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent in electrical engineering or related engineering fields. Experience in conducting system engineering assessments of electronic warfare systems using all-source intelligence, computer-based modeling and simulation tools, and scientific means. Mastery of knowledge of aircraft avionics, airborne electronic and radar systems, and airborne electronic warfare systems. Knowledge of intelligence requirements, taskings, analyses, evaluations, interpretations, reporting, collection, production and dissemination; and knowledge of security practices for ensuring the safeguarding of classified information. Note: Creditable experience may include previous military experience, experience gained in the private sector, or experience gained in another government agency.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
  1. Professional knowledge of engineering or physics principles and practices demonstrated through the attainment of a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent in electrical engineering or related engineering or physics fields. Experience in conducting system engineering assessments of electronic warfare systems using electronic engineering, physics, computer-based modeling and simulation tools, and scientific means.
  2. Background knowledge of aircraft avionics, airborne electronic and laser/radar systems is necessary; working understanding of various airborne electronic warfare systems is highly desired. Knowledge of intelligence production requirements process, tasking methods, S&Tl analyses, source evaluations, interpretations, reporting, collection requirements processes, tradecraft production and dissemination is necessary; knowledge of the Flight's databases, models and customer interfaces is desirable.
  3. In-depth knowledge of radio frequency (RF) transmission theory, to include DSP principles, electronic signal reception, electronic signal analysis, laser physics, optics engineering, electro-optical systems, cognitive emitters, photonics and emerging EW technology, directed energy weapons, as well as electronic attack (EA) concepts and effects of EA techniques on victim systems depending on specific topics assigned.
  4. Skill and ability to create predictive roadmaps on foreign EA equipment; engineering modeling and simulation of EW threats to determine design trade-offs in order to determine the most likely foreign design options selected; and foreign employment tactics, techniques and procedures for EW systems.
  5. Skill and ability to independently carry out assigned projects from inception through completion, meeting all reasonable deadlines.
  6. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, tailor presentations and publications for specific customer set; and maintain good working relationships with local analysts as well as IC and Allied intelligence analysts.

***Conditions of employment continue in education section***
PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.
VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Education
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT CONT.
  • This position is covered by the DCIPS, and as such will subject the incumbent to those examinations and or tests that are necessary to obtain and retain a security clearance and any special access required by the position in accordance with AFI 36-1101. This position is a testing designated position and as such requires periodic urinalysis testing. Failure to comply with any of the special requirements when required, will subject the incumbent of this position to reassignment or disciplinary adverse action, including demotion or removal.
  • Position is designated special-sensitive and requires ability to obtain and retain a TOP SECRET (TS) security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), other intelligence-related Special Sensitive information, or involvement in Top Secret Special Access Programs (SAP) to fully perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. A non-disclosure agreement must be signed.
  • Drug Testing: This position has been designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TOP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program. Employee must pass initial and periodic short notice drug testing. Illegal drug use by employees in sensitive positions presents a clear threat to the mission of the Air Force, national security, and public safety.
  • The employee may be required to travel in military and/or commercial aircraft to perform temporary duty assignments. Prolonged periods of sitting, reading and intense data analysis are typical. This work is mostly sedentary performed in an office setting.

POSITIVE EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: This position has a positive education requirement. If transcripts are not provided, your resume MUST list the appropriate academic field (e.g. biology, mechanical engineering, economics, sociology, etc.) and all courses you have taken (including those failed), which appear to satisfy the qualification requirements of the position for which you are applying. List graduate and undergraduate courses separately. Include the descriptive title and course code, completion date, grade, number of semester, quarter or classroom hours (for education completed at business, secretarial, technical school or military schools) and graduate and undergraduate classes. **As of 1 Sep 2016, current internal AF employees must attach their transcripts. Failure to do so will result in not being referred for the position
IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcriptswith the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the ...