Cartographer

Customs and Border Protection • Blaine, WA

2d • $119,630 - $155,521 • Onsite

About The Position

This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, Blaine Sector, Sector Intelligence Unit, in Blaine, Washington. The Cartographer serves as a senior Geographic Information System (GIS) analyst and technical advisor, developing geospatial and intelligence products that support tactical, operational, and strategic decision-making and advance the agency’s border security mission. The role provides expert technical support and guidance for agency-wide geospatial information system operations. Additional selections may be made for other organizational divisions and/or units within the listed duty location(s).

The salary range is $119,630 to $155,521 per year (GS-13, Steps 1–10). The position requires a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance. Work is mostly sedentary, with occasional physical exertion and frequent trips to the border, professional meetings, and other agencies. Field verification and data collection may involve travel by foot, vehicle, boat, and aircraft; some field work may involve extended strenuous exercise, hiking, or traversing rugged terrain.

Requirements

• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Meet the cartography individual occupational requirement through a cartography degree; a major supplemented by at least 30 semester hours in cartography and/or directly related science and mathematics, including 6–15 semester hours of college-level non-business mathematics or statistics; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, including experience applying geography, digital cartography, and geospatial technologies to GIS products; processing and analyzing remote-sensing data; developing, maintaining, or operating complex GIS systems; analyzing GIS themes, relational datasets, and geospatial models; and presenting GIS findings to stakeholders.
• Meet applicable time-in-grade requirements by 11/05/2026, if applicable to current federal employees.
• Meet the U.S. residency requirement of physical residence in the United States or its protectorates for at least three of the last five years, unless an applicable waiver applies.
• Complete pre-employment processes in English and pass a background investigation; drug testing may be required under DHS procedures.
• Obtain a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance.
• Register with Selective Service if male and born after 12/31/1959.
• Explicitly document qualifying specialized experience in the resume and provide supporting education documentation when applicable.

Responsibilities

• Apply advanced cartographic, surveying, geodetic, and spatial data technologies to develop and evaluate mapping systems and products.
• Manage national-level geospatial datasets, including compilation, analysis, maintenance, distribution, archiving, and quality control.
• Produce geospatial and intelligence products that identify trends, patterns, and operational insights.
• Coordinate geospatial activities and incident-mapping efforts with internal programs and government partners.
• Advise management on GIS standards, emerging technologies, analytical methods, and program requirements.
• Present complex GIS concepts and analytical findings to technical and nontechnical stakeholders in support of organizational programs or interagency efforts.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package available to employees and their families; specific eligibility depends on position type.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior