Ocean Career: MBARI Research Technician

Research Technician Or Research Specialist

MBARI is hiring for one of two levels of career stage, Research Technician or Research Specialist with a focus on data management and cyberinfrastructure (DMAC) support for the Central and Northern California Ocean Observing System (CeNCOOS). The earlier career stage Research Technician will focus on data integration and visualizations, whereas the Research Specialist also entails management and coordination of CeNCOOS data systems and other responsibilities.

CeNCOOS is a Regional Association of the US Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) and works to address societal challenges to realize a safe, healthy and prosperous California coastal ocean powered by information solutions. We expect to appoint one of either the Research Technician or Research Specialist, and are accepting applications across two levels of qualifications and experience, with corresponding differences in roles, responsibilities, and career tracks.

In close collaboration with the CeNCOOS Director, Deputy Director, and diverse regional and national expert teams, the position will support the integration and processing of new and existing data streams. This work populates our website data products and portal systems California Ocean Observing Systems Data Portal, as well as related systems including the California Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Portal and a Harmful Algal Bloom Data Assembly Center.

It also supports DMAC efforts for CeNCOOS's role in the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network Program of IOOS. CeNCOOS focus areas include:

• Ocean & Weather Predictions – e.g. Collection of observations and use in forecasting
• Safe and Efficient Shipping and Navigation – e.g. Surface currents, search and rescue
• Preparedness and Risk Reduction – e.g. Harmful algal bloom monitoring
• Robust Ocean Resources – e.g. Information for aquaculture and fisheries management

This position will work across the domains of physics, biogeochemistry, biology, and ecosystem variables. As CeNCOOS enhances service delivery, this work will also benefit from understanding of the collective and the integration of data through forming and applying best practices, which make data findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR). This work includes authority to control, responsibility, and ethics (CARE) principles of data management.

The Research Technician will support oceanographic data integration, visualization, and analysis, including via the creation and maintenance of software code to (semi) automate data handling. This position is ideal for candidates with a strong technical background bridging environmental and data science and a willingness to learn and engage.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of new and improved data handling pathways
• Prepare data for integration into CeNCOOS DMAC systems including alignment of data to national and/or international metadata formats and standards (e.g. NetCDF, EML, OBIS-ENV-DATA)
• Develop capabilities to visualize or process CeNCOOS data holdings, including via knowledge and context gathering facilitated through work of the CeNCOOS Engagement Specialist
• Participate in data quality assessment and quality control as required, including flagging outlier data summary statistics analysis, aligning label and vocabularies in large and long-term datasets
• Maintain data and operations tools/dashboards and use this to drive identifying and executing solutions to issues, including through assistance from the Data and Information manager, data providers and others
• Contribute to the preparation of technical reports, summaries, protocols, and data analyses

• A master's degree (or equivalent experience) in oceanography, marine science, geology, geophysics, engineering, data science, or a related field
• Proficiency in working with oceanographic data
• Working skills in one or more of Python, R, JavaScript, Matlab, Structure Query Language (SQL) and geographic information systems (GIS)
• Proven ability to quickly adapt to and apply new software tools and technologies
• Capability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team
• Strong organizational abilities for managing projects, administration, and logistics
• Commitment to excellence, efficiency, and a strong work ethic

Salary range: $75,000 – $95,000

The post will be based at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute located in Moss Landing, CA, where CeNCOOS is housed. Opportunities for participating in fieldwork are expected, which can enhance system understanding.