Meteorologist

Summary

This position is a Meteorologist, GS-1340-11/12 working in Missoula, MT for the US Wildland Fire Service. This position is also open to the public under announcement R6--WA-DE. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

As a Meteorologist your duties will include but are not limited to the following:

• Develops interagency program direction for fire weather products, smoke dispersion forecasts and services and monitoring systems sufficient to establish baseline information to improve fire weather and smoke management programs.
• Monitors and advises federal and state wildland fire agencies on quality control activities for the express purpose of ensuring the integrity of all weather observations provided by and for the wildland fire agencies including wildland fire agency owned automated weather stations.
• Conducts analyses to determine adequacy of skill and knowledge levels of wildland fire users and identifies shortages.
• Integrates all available meteorological data available, synoptic and meso-scale levels, to analyze, assess, and forecast weather pertinent to smoke dispersion.
• Reviews and determines adherence to regulations and instructions included in operational plans, monitors the condition, adequacy and viability of weather data collection equipment, systems, and personnel.

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart
  
  F.
• Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation.
• Driver's License:
  This position requires the incumbent to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of their official duties. Selectee must hold and maintain a valid state driver's license throughout their employment in this position.
• Uniform:
  Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform is required.
• A condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a [1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period] during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.
• Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.

Only experience and education obtained by 03/18/2026 will be considered.

In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification.

Basic Requirement: This position has a positive Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of Specialized Experience OR combination in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet the following requirements.

EDUCATION:

A. Degree: Meteorology, Atmospheric science, or other natural science major that included: 1. At least 24 semester (36 quarter) hours of credit in meteorology/atmospheric science including a minimum of: a. Six semester hours of atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics;
* b. Six semester hours of analysis and prediction of weather systems (synoptic/mesoscale);c. Three semester hours of physical meteorology; and d. Two semester hours of remote sensing of the atmosphere and/or instrumentation.2. Six semester hours of physics, with at least one course that includes laboratory sessions.
* 3. Three semester hours of ordinary differential equations.
* 4. At least nine semester hours of course work appropriate for a physical science major in any combination of three or more of the following: physical hydrology, statistics, chemistry, physical oceanography, physical climatology, radiative transfer, aeronomy, advanced thermodynamics, advanced electricity and magnetism, light and optics, and computer science.

* There is a prerequisite or corequisite of calculus for course work in atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics, physics, and differential equations. Calculus courses must be appropriate for a physical science major.

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks)…