Cartographer - Maritime GIS Analyst

Interviews for this position are scheduled to take place May 30-31, 2026. Please note that availability during these dates is required for consideration. Alternative interview dates cannot be accommodated due to scheduling constraints. Candidates who advance in the selection process may be invited to participate in an in-person interview if they reside within a 50-mile radius of St. Louis, MO otherwise a virtual interview will be conducted.
Cover Letter
Applicants are not required to submit a cover letter for employment consideration with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. However, a cover letter is recommended. Applicants will have the option to attach a cover letter in the Qualifications - Attachments step of the online application.
Pay Band, Salary Range - Ext
2026 DC Salary:
Band 3 $85,447 - $158,322
Permanent Change in Station
PERMANENT CHANGE IN STATION: PCS expenses are not authorized.
NGA Marketing Message
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is the world leader in Geospatial Intelligence. We analyze imagery and data from many sources and incorporate it into visual displays of essential information for use in national defense, homeland security and safety of navigation. The extraordinary talents and skills of our teams of analysts and other professionals are vital to our success as the worldwide provider of GEOINT.
Know the World, Show the Way...from Seabed to Space!
Assignment Description
ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION: Cartographers acquire, compile, evaluate, and review geospatial data to develop a variety of products and/or data holdings in support of mission requirements for national security, military operations, and humanitarian relief. They select and apply techniques and methods to attribute, extract, format, manipulate, and symbolize geospatial information in accordance with NGA and international standards, typically specializing in a particular cartography domain (e.g., topographical, nautical). Topographic Cartographers analyze data sources (e.g., aerial photography, satellite images) to extra land surfaces features as foundation data, finish and symbolize topographic maps, and ensure finished products (e.g., Topographic and NAVPLAN products) meet safety, usability, and readability thresholds. Nautical Cartographers research, acquire, and evaluate data sources (e.g., imagery, nautical charts, hydrographic and bathymetric surveys, ship reports, Notice to Mariners) to extract and attribute land, littoral, and sea features critical for safe navigation in a littoral or sea-based environment. They apply full understanding of the cartography tradecraft to ensure the quality, accuracy, and currency of geospatial information and products produced internally or by external partners or contractors. They also collaborate within and beyond the work unit to improve work products and/or support the development of GEOINT standards.
Promotion Opportunity
PROMOTION OPPORTUNITY: Promotion opportunities allow applicants at all band levels to be considered. Qualifications for NGA positions do not include specific time-in-band requirements. NGA will emphasize quality of experience, rather than duration, and assess how the quality of the experience demonstrates possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary for successful job performance in the NGA occupational structure.
Additional Information
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) serves as the world leader in providing timely, relevant, accurate and actionable geospatial intelligence (GEOINT). NGA's civilian, military and contract personnel evaluate imagery, maps, charts, multiple layers of foundation data - such as terrain, elevation and gravity - and the full spectrum of visible and invisible light in order to help users visualize what is happening at a particular place and time. Our intelligence officers go beyond describing 'what, where and when' to revealing 'how and why.' our work enables decision advantage for our policymakers, warfighters, intelligence professionals and first responders. NGA uses a flexible, high mobility career model. Individuals are hired for their overall skills within a specialty such as Cartographer and then placed in various positions throughout the agency once they complete the clearance process. Although currently advertised as a supervisory, permanent, job posting with occasional travel, it is unknown which specific positions will be available after applicants complete the selection and clearance process. Because of this, aspects of the job such as travel, supervisory, etc. may change, depending on specific positions available at that time. It is also possible that applicants could be hired into a position with specific aspects and then change positions after serving for a period of time in that assignment. Applicants who have completed the clearance process receive final documentation about the nature of the specific position before they make the final commitment to join NGA.

The Maritime Safety Office of NGA's Source Operations and Management Directorate is recruiting for Cartographers to support digital nautical charting maintenance and production and generate mission-specific geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) datasets from continually maintained data. Applicants should be knowledgeable of many of the following disciplines: Geographic Information Systems (GIS), editing data in GIS, GIS database management. Applicants should be able to analyze and apply information from a wide variety of sources to include foreign nautical charts, foreign notice to mariners, imagery, survey and random track bathymetry, navigation publications, ship reports, and other forms of geospatial intelligence. Other responsibilities include research, analysis, and problem-solving in response to queries from the U.S. Navy, foreign hydrographic offices, and other users of our products and services. Interested personnel with a varied background in GIS, marine analysis, regional analysis, and geospatial analysis are encouraged to apply.

1. Under limited supervision, ensure quality, accuracy, and currency of cartographic information produced for national, international, military, and civil partners.
2. Under limited supervision, create, refine, enhance, assemble, and format GEOINT data, web services, standard maps, and non-standard low-complexity maps using cartographic principles in preparation for printing and georeferencing.
3. Under limited supervision research, acquire, analyze, and compile GEOINT data to support mission requirements.
4. Provide limited engagement with customers and partners to improve processes, as well as contribute to the modernization of the cartography tradecraft and development of GEOINT standards.

Additional Application Requirement: You may be asked to complete one or more assessments in addition to the application you submit on this website as part of your application to NGA. These assessments may include but are not limited to: 1) Online questionnaires or assessments that require you to describe your job-related knowledge, skills, abilities, or other characteristics that are aligned with the mandatory and desirable qualifications of this job posting. The information you provide in the application you submit must support the response you provide to this questionnaire. You will receive an email to describe any additional assessments required. Please monitor your emails and complete any required assessments as soon as possible.
Qualifications Mandatory
MANDATORY QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: For this particular job, applicants must meet all competencies reflected under the Mandatory Qualification Criteria to include education (if required). Online applications must demonstrate qualification by providing specific examples and associated results, in response to the announcement's mandatory criteria specified in this
vacancy announcement:

1. Demonstrated knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
2. Demonstrated knowledge of GIS software, data manipulation, and/or data editing.
3. Demonstrated knowledge of technical skills such as: scripting, coding, statistical analysis, data science, data analytics, or data visualization.
4. Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with others.
5. Experience applying knowledge of geospatial data requirements, sources, and standards to satisfy customer requirements.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: A. Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Cartography or a major that included, or was supplemented by, at least 30 semester (45 quarter) hours of coursework in Cartography and/or directly related Sciences and Mathematics. Coursework may include, but is not limited to, Astronomy, Cartography, Computer Science, Forestry, Geodesy, Geography, Geology, Geophysics, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Land Surveying, Photogrammetry, Physical and Geological Oceanography, Physical Geography, and Remote Sensing. Computer software classes associated with current technology, GIS courses, and information management classes may also be counted. The 30 semester (45 quarter) hours must have included at least 6 semester (9 quarter), but not more than 15 (22 quarter), 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- B. Combination of Education and Experience: A minimum of 30 semester (45 quarter) hours of coursework as listed in option A, plus applied experience in Cartography that includes the use of current GIS tools, or a related field that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the duties associated with this work. As a rule, every 30 semester (45 quarter) hours of coursework is equivalent to one year of experience. Candidates should show that their combination of education and experience totals 4 years. -OR- C. Experience: A minimum of 4 years' experience in Cartography that includes the use of current GIS tools, or a related field that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the duties associated with this work.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT: Distinguish principal colors and shades/hues of principal colors; Near visual acuity of 20/60 or better with or without corrective lenses
Qualifications Desirable
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: In addition to the mandatory qualifications, experience in the following is desired:

1. Experience managing and delivering solutions to problems (e.g. cleaning, filtering, and transforming data, as well as enriching data, especially by way of database joins or table lookups).
2. Experience applying knowledge of GIS for hydrographic, bathymetric, or maritime purposes.
3. Demonstrated ability to apply critical thinking to problem identification, analysis and resolution on challenging issues.
4. Experience with Enterprise GIS.
Special Info External
As a condition of employment at NGA, persons being considered for employment must meet NGA fitness for employment standards.

- U.S. Citizenship
- Security Clearance - Top Secret /Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)
- Polygraph & Drug Test
- Direct Deposit
- Trial Period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. We may consider: performance conduct; needs and interests of the agency; and whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government and the efficiency of the Federal service
Applicant Evaluation Process
APPLICANT EVALUATION PROCESS:

1) All applicants will be evaluated using the Mandatory Qualification Criteria,
2) Qualified applicants will then be evaluated by an expert or panel of experts using a combination of qualification criteria to determine the best-qualified candidates,
3) Best-qualified applicants may then be further evaluated through an interview process.

Military retiree applicants, if selected, may be impacted by the 180-day appointment restrictions of DODI 1402.01. HD personnel will provide additional information if applicable.

Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the Assignment Description, Additional Information Provided By the Selecting Official, and the Qualification Requirements; and then construct their resumes to highlight their most relevant and significant experience and education for this job opportunity. This description should include examples that detail the level and complexity of the performed work. Applicants are encouraged to provide any education or degree information referenced in the announcement that is relevant. If education is listed as a mandatory requirement, only degrees obtained from an institution accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the Secretary, US Department of Education will be accepted. You must use the NGA resume builder and limit your resume to 2 pages.

In accordance with section 9902(h) of title 5, United States Code, annuitants reemployed in the Department of Defense shall receive full annuity and salary upon appointment. They shall not be eligible for retirement contributions, participation in the Thrift Savings Plan, or a supplemental or re-determined annuity for the reemployment period. Discontinued service retirement annuitants (i.e., retired under section 8336(d)(1) or 8414(b)(1)(A) of title 5, United States Code) appointed to the Department of Defense may elect to be subject to retirement provisions of the new appointment as appropriate. (See DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 300). Reemployed annuitants must meet additional selection criteria as outlined in the DODI 1400.25, v300.

All candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation.

NGA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Applications will only be accepted online. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us at recruitment@nga.mil. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.
DCIPS Statement
NGA utilizes all processes and procedures of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). Non-executive NGA employees are assigned to five distinct pay bands based on the type and scope of work performed. The employee's base salary is established within their assigned pay band based on their unique qualifications. A performance pay process is conducted each year to determine a potential base pay salary increase and/or bonus. An employee's annual performance evaluation is a key factor in the performance pay process.

This position is a DCIPS position in the Excepted Service under 10 U.S.C. 1601. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are an external applicant claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must self-identify your eligibility.
Benefits
Pay is only part of the compensation you will earn working for the Federal Government. We offer a broad array of benefits programs and family friendly flexibilities to meet the needs of you and your family.

For more information on the array of benefits programs, please visit https://www.nga.mil/careers/Benefits_&_Pay.html.
How To Apply
Application submission involves applying using NGA's online application process at NGA Careers Portal. Additional information concerning NGA's hiring process can be found by visiting NGA Hiring Process.

All announcements close at 11:59PM EDT on the closing date listed. Be sure to complete and submit your application by that time in order to be considered.

ONLY ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Both applicants for employment and current employees of NGA are entitled to request religious accommodations from generally applicable employment-related rules and requirements, so long as the accommodation requested would not result in an undue hardship to the conduct of NGA’s business.
What To Expect Next
After visiting the NGA Careers Portal and applying via NGA's online application process, applicants can follow their status via that same NGA online application functionality. Several other topics relating to what is involved in the hiring process and how long it takes can be found by visiting the NGA Hiring Process.
Special Requirements
You must be able to obtain and retain a Top Secret security clearance with access to SCI. In addition, you are subject to a Counterintelligence Polygraph examination in order to maintain access to Top Secret information. All employees are subject to a periodic examination on a random basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Refusal to take the examination may result in denial of access to Top Secret information, SAP, or unescorted access to SCIFs.

Employees with SCI access and who are under NGA cognizance are required to submit a Security Financial Disclosure Report, SF-714, on an annual basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Failure to comply may negatively impact continued access to Top Secret information, Information Systems, SAP, or unescorted access to SCIFs.