Engineer II - Polar

Earthscope Consortium•Socorro, NM

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Engineer II (EII) manages and implements multiple field projects of varying complexity to provide technical support for geophysical instruments and networks. The incumbent will arrange logistics and participate in field operations at sites throughout the United States, polar latitudes, and other international locations. This position builds on instrumentation knowledge gained in previous engineering levels and works with members from their own team and other staff engineers from other projects and departments within the organization. Under supervision of the Engineering Manager, the incumbent will identify and propose new geophysical related technologies and assist with training of other staff and the user community. The EII will contribute to reporting and project documentation and ensure all work conforms to best practices and organizational standards. Engineers are ambassadors who represent these principles to scientists, landowners, sponsors, and other community members. The EII will report to the Engineering Manager or be tasked by a higher-level engineer within designated project and functional areas.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in engineering, geosciences, or related field with three (3) years of experience with geophysical sensors or networks OR Master’s degree or equivalent professional experience in engineering, geosciences, or related field and one (1) year of field experience with geophysical sensors or networks
Applicants must be authorized to work and physically reside within the 50 United States.
Technical knowledge of commonly used concepts, practices, and procedures for geophysical sensors.
Proficiency in the operation of hand and power tools (i.e., cordless drill, chop saw, grinder, etc.).
Ability to take initiative to learn assigned technical/engineering skills within established time frames.
Ability to work effectively in a team environment and independently to accomplish project goals.
Ability to ensure personal accountability for the successful completion of projects.
Ability to communicate effectively in speaking and writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Ability to apply logic and reasoning to solve moderately complex problems and make applicable decisions.
Ability to understand moderately complex problems and to collaborate and explore alternative solutions.
Ability to organize and prioritize work schedules for self and others.
Ability to compute, analyze, and interpret data.
Ability to make decisions which have modest impact on the job function and limited impact on the organization in general.
Ability to lead and engage in safety training under challenging field conditions.
A valid driver’s license is required.
Must be able to comply with the EarthScope Consortium’s Motor Vehicle Policy.
Frequent travel by commercial or contracted means including fixed and rotor winged aircraft, motor vehicle, boat, etc.
A valid passport is required for polar and international projects.
If deploying to polar environments, must be able to meet the Physical Qualification Determination for Arctic and Antarctic deployments (PESJ-POL_2000.09a).
May be subject to pre-employment and periodic fitness for duty evaluations including medical examinations

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with data quality analysis software.

Responsibilities

Implement individual geophysical projects and assists with the execution of multiple projects of limited complexity, which may include logistics, site reconnaissance, site selection, permitting, installation activities, maintenance, network configuration, instrument operation, station communications and/or data flow activities as part of a portfolio of geophysical technologies.
Identify and solve standard technical issues related to geophysical sensor hardware, firmware, software, metadata creation and management, and data communications and receive guidance on complex problems.
Seek direction when necessary.
Assist with the design and testing of new systems.
Under supervision of the Engineering Manager, evaluates instrument design and data/metadata to determine the adequacy of deployed and next generation systems.
Assists with specifying station configurations and data/metadata collection strategies.
Ensure appropriate documentation of activities and metadata using established tools, protocols, and databases as maintained by the organization.
Draft detailed technical reports for review by the Engineering Manager.
Assist with the development of technical documentation formats and feedback for projects.
As directed by an Engineering Manager, may have variable budgeting responsibilities, including developing cost estimates that impact individual projects, providing summaries of progress on statements of work, and tracking and submitting project expenditures.
Participates with other departments within EarthScope on collaborative projects/opportunities.
Develop and maintain good relationships with community members, suppliers, landowners, and business partners within areas of expertise and project assignments.
Manage polar field and warehouse operations, including inventory management, configuration, testing, and shipping of the following: satellite and point to point radio-based data communications equipment, GNSS receivers and antennas, including those in the OPP portable pool portable seismic sensors, digitizers, and associated power systems expendable materials (e.g., batteries and solar panels) other miscellaneous items to support GPS/GNSS station maintenance in the polar regions.
Manage geodetic imaging instruments (TLS, UAV-SfM) and supporting materials.
Other duties may be assigned as necessary for the successful operation of EarthScope.
Foster a professional culture through the use of strong interpersonal skills, verbal and written communications with an emphasis on team building.
Work with engineering and project teams.
Act as lead engineer and point of contact if they are the ranking engineer in the field.
Communicate clearly and effectively with other team members to ensure tasks are completed on time and with best practices.