Autonomous Underwater Glider Technician, Level 2
About The Position
Lynker is seeking to hire an Autonomous Underwater Glider Technician, Level 2 to support a contract with NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC), Ecosystem Science Division (ESD). This is a full-time position anticipated to begin upon contract award. Hiring for this position will be contingent on contract award. Lynker will be operating under its FLOAT joint venture. The SWFSC supports NMFS’s mission by collecting data to monitor the species and health of marine ecosystems on the U.S. West Coast and in Antarctica. We use autonomous technology, specifically autonomous underwater gliders (“gliders”), to collect data on the pelagic environments in the Southern and Pacific Oceans. These data are used to understand the ecological impacts of fishing in Antarctica, and will augment data collected on quarterly California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) surveys in the California Current. The SWFSC maintains and operates a fleet of gliders that use a variety of novel instruments to observe the ocean ecosystem. These systems include standard oceanographic instruments (conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) sensors, dissolved oxygen sensors, optical instruments), as well as active and passive acoustic systems and camera systems. The SWFSC aims to conduct glider deployments approximately every other month for durations between 2 and 120 days, which requires substantial preparation and logistics coordination. SWFSC also deploys acoustic Doppler current profilers with integrated echosounders (ADCP/Es) in the Southern Ocean to collect data on the distribution and movement of ecologically and commercially important species. The Autonomous Underwater Glider Technician, Level 2 will support NOAA’s autonomous glider program by performing advanced operational, analytical, and coordination activities associated with deployment, piloting, maintenance, and data processing of oceanographic gliders and associated instrumentation.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree plus four (4) years of relevant experience; Master’s degree plus two (2) years of relevant experience; or Ph.D. in a related field
- Experience maintaining, preparing, deploying, and recovering autonomous underwater vehicles (gliders)
- Experience calibrating and programming glider-integrated scientific sensors
- Experience piloting gliders and troubleshooting mission issues
- Experience writing code to process and analyze real-time or delayed glider data
Nice To Haves
- Experience working with oceanographic instrumentation (e.g., CTD sensors, ADCPs, acoustic systems)
- Experience processing and analyzing oceanographic or ecological datasets
- Experience maintaining equipment inventories and service records
- Experience coordinating deployments or operational schedules
- Experience preparing technical reports, presentations, or scientific documentation
- Experience providing oversight or instruction to staff
Responsibilities
- Perform all Level I glider preparation, deployment, piloting, and recovery tasks
- Calibrate oceanographic sensors, including CTDs and acoustic instruments
- Troubleshoot glider hardware and software systems
- Pilot gliders during active missions, including rotating monitoring shifts and responding to mission interruptions
- Process and analyze glider data collected during deployments
- Prepare post-deployment reports and technical documentation
- Maintain service records and inventories of glider components
- Prepare procurement packages for maintenance, calibration, and repair activities
- Develop and maintain glider deployment and piloting schedules
- Provide oversight and instruction to junior staff
- Prepare reports, presentations, and scientific materials
- Prepare hazardous materials shipping documentation, as required
- Support field operations, including deployment and recovery from small boats or research vessels
Benefits
- Comprehensive healthcare for the employee at no monthly cost
- Healthcare benefit covers medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision
- Personal Time Off (PTO) Policy plus paid holidays
- Highly competitive compensation plan regularly calibrated against industry and location benchmarks
- 401(k) retirement plan with company-matching
- Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – we're all company owners!
- Flexible spending accounts
- Employee assistance program (EAP)
- Short- and long-term disability insurance
- Life and accident insurance
- Tuition assistance/Training/Workforce improvement reimbursement per year
- Spot bonuses for exceptional performance
- Annual Employee Recognition Awards with bonuses
- Employee Referral Program
- Free centralized, self-directed Learning Management System to learn at your own pace
- Personalized career growth plans for every employee
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
