Geophysical Oceanographer

The University of Southern Mississippi is currently accepting applications for the position of Geophysical Oceanographer.

Location Marine Research Center
1030 West Pier, Port of Gulfport
Gulfport, Mississippi, 39501
United States

Division Ocean Enterprise

Position Type Staff

Employment Status Full Time

Grant Funded Yes

Salary Range 70,536.

Pay Grade E14

Posting Close Date September 19, 2026

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for visa sponsorship. The University will not sponsor applicants for work visas (e.g., H-1B).

This position conducts applied oceanographic and geophysical researchsupporting autonomous underwater systems, seabed characterization, multi-sensor data collection, and environmental context modeling. The position plans and analyzes underwater survey data, characterizes seafloor and environmental conditions, and evaluates their impact on survey quality, sensorinterpretation, and autonomous mission planning. Working collaboratively withAI/ML engineers, signal processing researchers, and field operations personnel,the position supports the research, development, testing, and evaluation of advanced underwater sensing and autonomous systems at the Center for Ocean Enterprise.

• Conducts geophysical and oceanographic characterization for autonomous underwater sensing, including analysis and interpretation of seabed, bathymetric, environmental, sonar, magnetic, navigation, and other geospatial survey data.
• Plans, supports, and evaluates multi-sensor underwater data collection involving side-scan sonar, synthetic aperture sonar, multibeam echo sounders, magnetometers, ROVs, navigation systems, and environmental sensors.
• Defines and evaluates environmental, seabed, and survey metadata needed to support AI/ML, signal processing, sensor interpretation, and autonomy workflows, including bottom type, bathymetry, acoustic context, navigation quality, survey quality, and sensor operating conditions.
• Evaluates the effects of seabed characteristics, environmental conditions, sensor geometry, vehicle motion, altitude, range, and survey design on data quality, sensor performance, interpretability, and model confidence.
• Develops and evaluates data quality standards and environmentally informed decision-support approaches for underwater survey products, translating oceanographic and geophysical conditions into model inputs, performance metrics, confidence factors, and operational guidance.
• Interprets georeferenced sonar, bathymetric, magnetic, ROV, and related datasets to support seabed classification, environmental characterization, reacquisition planning, and validation of autonomous perception and sensing outputs.
• Collaborates with AI/ML, signal processing, software, sensor engineering, and field operations personnel to incorporate real-world oceanographic and seabed conditions into model development, performance evaluation, testing, and mission planning.
• Prepares technical reports, maps, data summaries, survey assessments, research publications, presentations, and other documentation; remains current with advances in geophysical oceanography, hydrographic surveying, marine remote sensing, seabed classification, and autonomous underwater sensing.

Master’sdegree from an accredited college or university in Geophysical Oceanography,Physical Oceanography, Geophysics, Hydrography, or a related field and six (6) years of related experience; or a Ph.D. from an accredited college or university in Geophysical Oceanography, Physical Oceanography, Geophysics,Hydrography, or a related field and four (4) years of related experience. U.S.Citizenship with the ability to obtain a government security clearance. Valid driver’s license and eligibility to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).

• Knowledge of geophysicaloceanography, seabed characterization, hydrographic surveying, and/ormarine remote sensing principles and practices.
• Knowledge of underwater survey data interpretation, including sonar imagery, bathymetry, navigation, andgeospatial data.
• Knowledge of the effects ofseabed characteristics, water-column conditions, sensor geometry, surveydesign, and operational conditions on underwater sensing and data quality.
• Knowledge of environmental andgeophysical metadata used in AI/ML, signal processing, sensorinterpretation, and autonomous systems.
• Knowledge of underwater sensingtechnologies, including side-scan sonar, synthetic aperture sonar,multibeam echo sounders, magnetometers, ROVs, and related systems.
• Skill in analyzing and evaluating large geospatial, oceanographic, acoustic, bathymetric, andremote-sensing datasets.
• Skill in evaluating underwatersurvey quality, including resolution, coverage, navigation consistency,altitude, range, motion effects, acoustic artifacts, and georeferencing.
• Ability to translate…