Autonomous Underwater Glider Technician, Level 2

Overview

Lynker is seeking to hire an Autonomous Underwater Glider Specialist, Level II to support a long-term federal fisheries and ecosystem science support program with NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). This is a full-time position anticipated to begin upon contract award. Hiring for this position will be contingent on contract award. Lynker will be operating under its FLOAT joint venture.

This program supports NOAA’s mission by collecting oceanographic and ecosystem data used to monitor marine environments along the U.S. West Coast and in Antarctic ecosystems. Autonomous underwater gliders (“gliders”) are used to collect environmental and biological data in the Pacific and Southern Oceans to support ecosystem monitoring, fisheries science, and long-term ocean observing efforts, including California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) surveys.

The program maintains and operates a fleet of gliders equipped with a variety of oceanographic and ecological monitoring instruments, including conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) sensors, dissolved oxygen sensors, optical instruments, acoustic systems, and camera systems. Additional field operations include deployment of acoustic Doppler current profilers with integrated echo sounders (ADCP/Es) to support data collection on the distribution and movement of ecologically and commercially important marine species.

Glider deployments are conducted regularly throughout the year and range from short-duration missions to deployments lasting several months, requiring extensive operational preparation, maintenance, logistics coordination, at-sea support, and post-deployment data analysis.

The Autonomous Underwater Glider Specialist, Level II will support advanced operational, analytical, and maintenance activities associated with autonomous underwater glider deployments and oceanographic data collection systems. This role includes sensor calibration, mission planning, troubleshooting hardware and software systems, processing and analyzing glider datasets, maintaining deployment schedules and inventories, and supporting preparation of technical reports and presentations.

• Perform all Level I glider preparation, deployment, piloting, and recovery tasks
• Calibrate oceanographic sensors, including CTDs and acoustic instruments
• Troubleshoot glider hardware and software systems
• Pilot gliders during active missions, including rotating monitoring shifts and responding to mission interruptions
• Process and analyze glider data collected during deployments
• Prepare post-deployment reports and technical documentation
• Maintain service records and inventories of glider components
• Prepare procurement packages for maintenance, calibration, and repair activities
• Develop and maintain glider deployment and piloting schedules
• Provide oversight and instruction to junior staff
• Prepare reports, presentations, and scientific materials
• Prepare hazardous materials shipping documentation, as required
• Support field operations, including deployment and recovery from small boats or research vessels

• Bachelor’s degree plus four (4) years of relevant experience;
  Master’s degree plus two (2) years of relevant experience; or Ph.D. in a related field
• Experience maintaining, preparing, deploying, and recovering autonomous underwater vehicles (gliders)
• Experience calibrating and programming glider-integrated scientific sensors
• Experience piloting gliders and troubleshooting mission issues
• Experience writing code to process and analyze real-time or delayed glider data

• Experience working with oceanographic instrumentation (e.g., CTD sensors, ADCPs, acoustic systems)
• Experience processing and analyzing oceanographic or ecological datasets
• Experience maintaining equipment inventories and service records
• Experience coordinating deployments or operational schedules
• Experience preparing technical reports,…