Acoustician – Cetacean Data Analysis & Processing Support

Lynker Corporation is seeking to hire three (3) Acousticians to support a contract with NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Protected Species Division (PSD). These are full-time positions that may be performed on-site or remotely, with anticipated travel in support of meetings, workshops, and field activities. The positions are anticipated to begin on September 30, 2026.

Hiring for these positions will be contingent on contract award. Lynker will be operating under its FLOAT joint venture, a NOAA Pro Tech Fisheries 2.0 prime contract holder.

PIFSC PSD uses passive acoustic monitoring data to support cetacean population assessments and analysis of ocean soundscapes across the Pacific Islands Region. The tasks for these positions will support larger analysis efforts k will include analysis of datasets collected from stationary, drifting, moored, towed, and autonomous platforms to evaluate cetacean vocalizations, behavior, occurrence, and relationships to habitat and environmental conditions.

• Conduct analyses of passive acoustic datasets to support detection, classification, and localization of cetaceans
• Characterize cetacean vocalizations and evaluate behavior, occurrence, abundance, seasonality, and habitat relationships
• Develop and validate automated detection and classification approaches, including call‑level annotation and manual validation
• Analyze datasets collected from multiple platforms, including
  • Long‑term stationary recorders
  • Towed hydrophone arrays
  • Drifting acoustic recorders
  • Autonomous systems (e.g., Seagliders)
• Apply statistical and quantitative approaches to support stock assessments and ecological analyses
• Support Seaglider and advanced acoustic analyses, including
  • Classification of cetacean sounds to species where possible
  • Validation of automated classifiers through manual review
  • Application of sound propagation models using Python and cloud‑based tools
• Process acoustic datasets for analysis, including
  • Conversion of raw data formats into usable files (e.g., WAV)
  • Debugging problematic data files
  • Performing quality assurance and quality control checks
• Archive and manage datasets, including
  • Storage on program and cloud servers
  • Preparation for submission to NCEI
  • Maintenance of dataset logs and issue tracking
• Maintain and update acoustic metadata databases (e.g., TETHYS, Makara, NCEI), including uploading and quality‑checking detection and classification data
• Conduct quantitative soundscape analyses, including computation of ambient noise metrics and evaluation of trends across multiple temporal scales
• Maintain logs of datasets analyzed, analytical methods, outputs, and issues encountered
• Maintain analysis code and workflows in repositories such as NMFS Git Hub Enterprise
• Assist with preparation of technical reports, manuscripts, presentations, and data visualizations
• Participate in meetings, workshops, and conferences to present progress and support collaboration

• Monthly progress reports summarizing accomplishments, issues encountered, travel and outcomes, and recommendations
• Maintenance of logs documenting analyzed datasets, analysis methods and outputs, and data issues and resolutions
• Maintenance of analysis code in publicly accessible repositories with appropriate documentation
• Draft reports or manuscripts documenting analytical methods and findings, including associated metadata
• Processed and archived datasets, including QA/QC documentation and updates to metadata systems

• Bachelor’s degree in marine biology, oceanography, acoustics, fisheries science, or related field
• Working knowledge of underwater acoustic theory and practice, including acoustic propagation, sound measurement, and standard signal processing techniques
• Experience developing, testing, and validating automated detectors and classifiers for use on passive acoustic datasets
• Experience processing acoustic data to extract soundscape and ambient noise measurements at hourly to yearly timescales.
• Ability to design, execute, and interpret statistical analyses of animal abundance to evaluate patterns in occurrence or associations with habitat or fishery…