Ocean Career: MOTE Ocean Engineer

Marine Instrumentation Engineer

The successful candidate will be responsible for designing, prototyping, and implementing marine instrumentation and autonomous systems for oceanographic research. This role requires a hands-on engineer with expertise in marine technology, system integration, and field deployment in coastal and offshore environments.

• Design, develop, and test oceanographic instruments, sensor systems, and autonomous marine platforms.
• Integrate hardware and software for real-time data acquisition and communication systems.
• Perform field deployments of ocean technology, including autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), gliders, buoys, and fixed sensor platforms.
• Develop and implement power and communication solutions for remote sensing platforms.
• Conduct troubleshooting, maintenance, and calibration of oceanographic instruments and electronic systems.
• Collaborate with scientists and engineers to support interdisciplinary research on biogeochemical processes, optics, and oceanographic modeling.
• Contribute to national and regional ocean observing initiatives, including the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) and Mote's Sarasota Operations – Coastal Ocean Observing Laboratory (SO-COOL).
• Document methodologies and results in technical reports, grant proposals, and peer-reviewed publications.
• Participate in professional conferences, technical working groups, and industry organizations.
• Mentor student interns and engage in outreach activities to promote ocean technology research.

• Education:
  
  B.S. or M.S. (preferred) in Ocean Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Marine Science, or a related field.

• Hands-on experience with oceanographic instrumentation, autonomous vehicles, and marine sensor integration.
• Background in mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering for harsh marine environments.
• Proficiency in CAD, mechanical design, and rapid prototyping.
• Familiarity with programming languages (e.g., Python, MATLAB, C++) for data processing and automation.
• Experience with embedded systems, microcontrollers, and real-time sensor interfacing is a plus.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills for troubleshooting complex systems.

• Ability to work in field conditions, including vessel-based deployments and at-sea operations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for technical documentation and research dissemination.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in a research-driven team environment.

Location:

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, Sarasota, FL