CARTOGRAPHER

Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, Blaine Sector, Sector Intelligence Unit (SIU), located in Blaine, WA. Additional selections may be made for other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above. This announcement has been amended as of 11/04/2026 to extend the closing date to 11/13/2026.

Duties

• In this position, you will serve as a senior Geographic Information System (GIS) analyst and technical advisor, developing geospatial and intelligence products that support tactical, operational, and strategic decision-making. Your work will directly advance the agency's border security mission by improving GIS capabilities and providing analysis that informs senior management decisions. This position starts at a salary of $119,630.00 (GS-13, Step 1) to $155,521.00 (GS-13, Step 10). GS Salary: Visit this link to view the locality pay tables by geographic area. If you do not see your geographic area listed, select the "Rest of United States" pay table. Some positions fall under a special pay rate depending on the series, grade level and location of the position. Please visit this link to view special pay rate charts. As a Cartographer, you will be responsible for providing expert technical support and guidance for agency-wide geospatial information system operations. Typical duties will include: Applying advanced cartographic, surveying, geodetic, and spatial data technologies to develop and evaluate mapping systems and products. Managing national-level geospatial datasets, including data compilation, analysis, maintenance, distribution, archiving, and quality control. Producing high-quality geospatial and intelligence products that identify trends, patterns, and operational insights. Coordinating geospatial activities and incident-mapping efforts with internal programs and government partners. Advising management on GIS standards, emerging technologies, analytical methods, and program requirements.

Qualifications

This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement. Basic Requirement: You must provide supporting documentation in your application to show you meet the Basic Requirement below. Degree: 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. 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- 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. You qualify for this position if you meet the basic requirement listed above and possess the experience or substitution of education, if applicable, as described below. Specialized Experience: You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Applying geography, digital cartography, and geospatial technologies to develop, evaluate, or maintain GIS products supporting program objectives; Processing and analyzing remote-sensing data, including aerial imagery, coordinate systems, georeferencing, and raster datasets; Developing, maintaining, or operating complex GIS systems using geospatial software, database-management systems, and related hardware or field tools; Analyzing GIS themes, relational datasets, and geospatial models to identify geographic relationships and produce geospatial or intelligence products; Presenting complex GIS concepts and analytical findings to technical and nontechnical stakeholders in support of organizational programs or interagency efforts. NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements. 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. You must: Meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process; and Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 11/13/2026. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and in…

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.