STEM Career Opportunities
Put your skills to work for a career that matters.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service create a chance to see some of the most beautiful places in the United States. It also lets you make a long lasting impact on the land and public as you help sustain the Nation's forests and grasslands.
We're hiring many positions across the Nation this October, including geographic systems (GIS) specialists, information technology (IT) specialists, civil engineers, and more!
Recruitment Events
We are attending a number of conferences this Fall to recruit for our upcoming STEM career opportunities. Come connect with a Forest Service recruiter to learn more about our available opportunities at one of the following events:
Please Note: You do not have to attend an event to apply.
Women of Color (WOC) in STEM 2023 Conference
To learn more about the WOC in STEM conference or to register, visit the Official WOC STEM webpage.
October 12 to 14, 2023
2023 American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) National Conference
To learn more about the 2023 AISES National conference or to register, visit the Official AISES webpage.
October 18 to 21, 2023
2023 Society for Advancing Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) Conference
To learn more about the 2023 SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Conference or to register, visit the Official SACNAS webpage.
October 26 to 28, 2023
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) 37th Annual Conference
To learn more about the HACU 37th annual conference or to register, visit the Official HACU webpage.
October 28 to 30, 2023
Job Opportunities
Engineering
Engineers with the Forest Service work in all types of environments-from offices to mountains, from lakes to laboratories, and from forests to grasslands. As an engineer for the Forest Service, you will work with the most modern equipment and techniques: satellite geodetic control systems, integrated computer systems with automated design analysis programs, and precision scientific equipment for research. You will have opportunity to plan, design, and maintain many diverse facilities. Examples range from small structures made of local materials to major modern offices or laboratories, water systems and waste-water facilities for developed sites with the Forest Service, water impoundments, cable systems for ski lifts and lodging, and so much more. Forest Service Engineers design, construct, and maintain thousands of miles of roads and trails, and encounter nearly every type of geographical, geological, and environmental engineering challenge.
Details About the Positions
Interns
Recent Graduate
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
GIS Specialists are technical experts who help the Forest Service develop and use GIS technologies and data for project planning, natural resource management, training, and public engagement. As a GIS Specialist, you are responsible for providing management, colleagues, and staff with advice on GIS processes, protocols, and solutions for creating and analyzing geospatial information and using geospatial technologies. You will use complex software to analyze, manipulate, and compare data to create important thematic map products and presentation materials to support management decisions, reports, planning, projects, and assessments. You will also develop and deliver training for fellow agency GIS users for how to develop, store, retrieve, and analyze data.
Details About the Positions
Recent Graduate
Information Technology (IT)
IT Specialists with the Forest Service perform a wide variety of work, from maintaining, implementing, repairing, or providing support on a number of IT systems. As an IT Specialist, you will work widely with Forest Service employees and provide advice and guidance from troubleshooting networks, webpages, work stations, or personal computers. You will also be responsible for performing regular maintenance of electronic files which include making tape or disk backup copies of hard disk information, retrieving files from backup tapes and disks, or using file transfer protocol software to add or update files on web servers. As an IT Specialist, you will play a critical role in protecting and maintaining the IT systems that keep the Forest Service running.
Details About the Positions
Recent Graduate
Physical Science
As a physical science student intern with the Forest Service, you will receive training in a number of physical science fields depending on your units needs. Physical science fields supported by Forest Service Physical Science Programs include hydrology, geology, cartography, land surveying, and other related physical science disciplines. As an intern you will gain specialized knowledge and skills from on-the-job training, which will lead you to a more technical position with the Forest Service.
Details About the Position
How to Apply
Check back closer to the vacancy opening date for the USAJOBS link.
Tips on How to Apply
- For videos, tips, and tricks, visit the How to Apply webpage.
- Be sure to attach transcripts if you base your qualifications on education, not experience. Remember, education is more than a certain number of years beyond high school. You also need enough credit hours in particular subjects.
- If you base your qualifications on experience, be sure your resume clearly states the month, day, and year when you started and stopped each period of employment and how many hours per week you worked.
- Keep in mind that unpaid volunteer work or internships may count as experience.
- Human Resources specialists make the final determination of whether your experience counts as general or specialized. Be sure your resume clearly describes your job experience to help them make an accurate determination.
Questions
For questions about career opportunities and applications call 1-877-372-7248 (select option 2 and follow prompts). We're open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Time and closed on all Federal holidays.
More Information
- Get the basics about Federal pay rates.
- Forest Service Employee Benefits and Balance
- All Hiring Events
- Forest Service Career Fields
- List of all openings.
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The USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer