POSITION: Cartographer
LOCATION: Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
STARTING SALARY: $56,715.00 to $109,122.00 Per Year
DEADLINE TO APPLY: Friday, August 14, 2026 at 11:59 pm (EST)
PAY PROGRESSION:
- 1st Year Salary $56,715-$73,731
- 2nd Year Salary $69,373-$90,190
- 3rd Year Salary $83,935-$109,122
Apply here: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/878582000
NOTE: Must apply on both Handshake & USAJOBS. Include resume and transcript (unofficial is acceptable). U.S. citizenship is required in order to qualify.
This position is part of the Army Fellows Program and is a CIVILIAN position with the Department of the Army.
This position is being filled under the Direct Hire Authority for Certain Personnel of the DoD Workforce.
The Army Fellows Program provides an exciting opportunity to embark on a developmental, accelerated career path as an Army Civilian including continued training and educational opportunities, with no military obligation. Fellows may also receive paid training, certifications, and rotational assignments. Apply to start your Civilian Army career today!
As a Cartographer, the incumbent will work under closer supervision performing assignments and completing training. At the full-performance level, you will be expected to.
In this role you will:
- Develop maps using Computer Aided Design and Drafting, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software, or other approved Commercial software.
- Assist in performing complex phases of cartographic compilation work in the construction, revision and maintenance of Real Estate maps, data, and charts.
- Assist in analyzing tract descriptions, real estate plat records and electronic data files from federal agencies to develop project reporting tools.
- Assist in reviewing engineering documents and drawings, such as design memoranda, construction plans and specs to determine real estate and location requirements for projects.
- Provide assistance with testimony in regard to boundary determination, Real Estate mapping procedures and land area calculations.
QUALIFICATIONS
*Must be a US Citizen
Who May Apply: To be eligible for consideration you must meet the definition of as defined below:
Basic Requirement for Cartographer:
A. Degree: Bachelor’s degree (or higher degree) in cartography, or a degree with a major that included or was supplemented by at least 30 semester hours in cartography and/or directly related science, and related mathematics. Such course work includes, but is not limited to, cartography, astronomy, geodesy, photogrammetry, physical and geological oceanography, computer science, land surveying, geophysics, physical geography, and remote sensing. The 30 semester hours must have included at least 6, but no more than 15, semester hours of college level, non-business mathematics or statistics (i.e., college level algebra, trigonometry, calculus, or scientific mathematics or statistics requiring equivalent college-level courses as prerequisites).
OR
B. Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to a major in cartography, or a major that included or was supplemented by at least 30 semester hours in cartography, and/or directly related science, and related mathematics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:
Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes assisting in preparing and compiling cartographic products using GIS, surveying, geodesy, photogrammetry, remote sensing and/or CAD mapping techniques; or provide assistance in developing geospatial digital databases and/or cadastral data products; or assist in reading, interpreting, reviewing, and/or preparing legal land descriptions. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05).
OR
Education: One full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: cartography, or a degree with a major that included or was supplemented by at least 30 semester hours in cartography and/or directly related science, and related mathematics. Such course work includes, but is not limited to, cartography, astronomy, geodesy, photogrammetry, physical and geological oceanography, computer science, land surveying, geophysics, physical geography, and remote sensing. The 30 semester hours must have included at least 6, but no more than 15, semester hours of college level, non-business mathematics or statistics (i.e., college level algebra, trigonometry, calculus, or scientific mathematics or statistics requiring equivalent college-level courses as prerequisites).
OR
Superior Academic Achievement: Successful completion of all the requirements for a bachelor’s degree with Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.). In order to be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled, such as that identified in Education above. Superior Academic Achievement is based on:(1) Class Standing – Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR(2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) – Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (“B” or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (“B+” or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.; OR(3) Honor Society Membership – Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achsnatl.org/)
NOTE: Grade point averages will be rounded to one decimal point. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0, and 2.94 will round to 2.9.
NOTE: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) was taken on a pass/fail or similar basis, your S.A.A. claim must be based on class standing or membership in an honor society and you must provide evidence of your class standing or honor society membership with your application.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages.