Field Engineer - Alaska Earthquake Center; AEC

The Alaska Earthquake Center is hiring a Field Engineer to join the efforts of our team and contribute to our mission of strengthening Alaska’s resilience to earthquakes and tsunamis through monitoring, research and public engagement.

We seek an individual with the ability to manage a team of a half dozen staff with diverse skills who oversee the health and operations of the state’s 250‑station monitoring network. While a background in engineering, logistics, or geoscience is ideal, it is not required. This role is crucial to maintaining our network of remote seismic monitoring stations across the state, and we seek applicants with a wide range of backgrounds across STEM fields.

To thrive in this role the chosen incumbent would have experience with one or more of the following tasks: scientific equipment/instrument use or calibration, wire routing and installation, troubleshooting electronics, diagnosing communication/telemetry issues (radio, cellular, or satellite), installing or removing scientific equipment, and solar‑powered systems. They would be willing and able to travel in helicopters and small aircraft; comfortable working outdoors in very remote locations for extended periods, typically with a small team of two to three people while utilizing strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to work collaboratively in field and office environments.

The Earthquake Center is a mission‑driven organization set within the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The university offers an attractive work environment and strong benefits including retirement and health insurance, generous leave policies, and tuition waivers for UAF courses. The Earthquake Center’s values emphasize employee flexibility, the open sharing of different perspectives, a respectful inclusive environment, and a commitment to serving Alaska and Alaskans with strong applied science.

Career growth and professional development are expected and encouraged.

The Geophysical Institute is a research‑focused organization at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The university offers a competitive work environment with strong benefits, including retirement and health insurance, generous leave policies, and tuition waivers for UAF courses. The Geophysical Institute values collaboration, accountability, and the exchange of ideas. We foster a professional and respectful environment dedicated to serving Alaska through applied science.

Career growth and professional development are supported and encouraged.

As a public, regional, comprehensive university, UAF welcomes applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.

The successful candidate for field engineer will, with hands‑on training we will provide, be responsible for developing and maintaining reliable power, wireless communications systems, instrumentation, and robust infrastructure to support real‑time acquisition of seismic and other geophysical data (such as GNSS or meteorological data). Extensive travel to remote locations is required, with concentrated efforts during the summer field season. This position involves working collaboratively to ensure field operations meet organizational objectives, are conducted safely, and are thoroughly documented.

The position is physically located at the UAF campus in Fairbanks, Alaska. While occasional and limited hybrid work may be possible, the successful candidate will report to the UAF office and is an in‑person, full‑time staff position that assesses and fixes the Alaska Earthquake Center’s remote monitoring stations.

M.S. in engineering or related discipline and two years research experience at the postgraduate level in a field relevant to the research, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

This position is full‑time, Grade 80, term‑funded, exempt, 12‑month position complete with a competitive salary and UA employee benefits package. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and…