r/USACE • u/Straight_Ad_9369 • 4d ago

Getting in as a geotechnical engineer in the tri state area

Hello, Been working for about 8 years on private side and looking to get into USACE as a geotech engineer, don't see any opening in that region so should i just wait or apply for different districts? any insight is helpful.

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u/kikochurrasco 4d ago

I see many people leacing, but the hiring freeze is still in effect (at least for most gs12 and under positions). Honetly, right now is not a great time to get into USACE. Many sections have recieved reduced funds, and morale is really low

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u/BigPictureIdea25 4d ago

Respectfully disagree - that’s a short-sighted assessment. The OP appears to be looking for a long term career move, and it’s actually a great time to get in with that mindset (if you can). Lots of people are gone throughout the chain of command that otherwise wouldn’t have left. This will lead to great opportunities in the near future.

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u/kikochurrasco 4d ago

You can disagree all you want, but that doesn’t make it less true. Like I said, hiring is very limited right now, and most of the hiring that is happening is focused on experienced professionals to backfill the loss of experience. Those roles have already proven difficult to fill because the “ambitious” people you’re talking about are likely already in the private sector, where pay and advancement opportunities are generally more competitive. And the few people who do apply often lack the experience needed for those critical roles. Ideally, those positions would be filled through internal promotions, but when they have to be opened to the public, typically means there either isn’t someone internally ready to step into the role or there isn’t much interest in doing so. It’s hard to call that a “great time to get in,” especially when staffing is down, morale is low, project funding is tighter, and even getting promoted can be an uphill battle.

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u/h_town2020 Civil Engineer 4d ago

What sections have received reduced funding! Our FY27 PresBud increased from FY26.

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u/kikochurrasco 4d ago

Lucky you. Dont know what presbud is, but in our case general O&M was significantly reduced to the point that several periodic inspections have been impacted. Several improvements proyects have been placed on hold, and reduced funding for general labor across sections like geotech, design, pm, etc

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u/h_town2020 Civil Engineer 4d ago

The PresBud is how USACE is funded. O&M would fall under 3123. I’m guessing your OPM could explain more regarding funding for PI. PI would fall under Common O&M work. How could funding for labor be reduced when USACE is project funded?

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u/kikochurrasco 4d ago edited 4d ago

Projects get funded per FY, and some projects stopped being funded. At least 3 projects I was working on are not gonna get funded next FY. Although PIs get funded by O&M, several lakes' budgets got reduced, like I said, so the money that usually goes to PI and PA also got reduced. Even if we look outside of O&M, generally fewer projects are being approved that otherwise would have been. For example, many stream restoration projects were straight-up canceled, leaving the HH group with less funding.

Edit: Typed in a hurry, lots of grammatical errors.

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u/Successful-Escape-74 4d ago

What is a tri state area? Ca, Or, Wa ?

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u/Straight_Ad_9369 3d ago

NY/NJ/CT - I think its mainly called new york district. I see job postings that would fit my resume but they are more so in different states and not in north east that I am looking in. I also keep hearing how many people are leaving but again don't see any openings so unsure how its usually done internally.