Geospatial Fisheries Analyst – Salmon Habitat and Cycle Modeling

Overview

Lynker is seeking a Geospatial Fisheries Analyst – Salmon Habitat and Life Cycle Modeling to support NOAA Fisheries’ Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC), Fish Ecology Division, in conducting geospatial analysis of large salmon and habitat datasets. This proposed contract role will integrate spatial and remotely sensed datasets, compute spatial indices, and support incorporation of spatial data into fish life cycle models used to evaluate management scenarios.

Hiring for this position 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.*

The NWFSC Fish Ecology Division conducts ecological research on marine and anadromous species to support fisheries management, ESA‑protected species, habitat understanding, and ecosystem‑based management. Modern fisheries management requires advanced quantitative analysis, modern data stewardship, and transparent workflows that can transform large empirical datasets into defensible insights. This role supports geospatial data products and analyses used to evaluate salmon, habitats, and management scenarios across freshwater, estuarine, and nearshore marine environments.

• Integrate spatial and remotely sensed datasets across freshwater, estuarine, and nearshore marine habitats using advanced GIS analysis.
• Compute spatial indices from large datasets, including prey availability, predator abundance, and habitat conditions, for use in assessment tools.
• Contribute to incorporation of spatial datasets and indices into fish life cycle models used to evaluate management scenarios.
• Lead data processing and visualization.
• Share compiled data, comprehensive workflow protocols, and research products so others can easily interact with them and understand what was done.
• Collect fish and environmental data in freshwater, estuarine, and nearshore marine environments of the West Coast region.
• Conduct field work outdoors in or around water, including in sometimes harsh conditions.
• Drive vehicles and/or boats and trailers, and provide occasional assistance on ship surveys lasting days to weeks, as needed.
• Write reports, contribute to journal manuscripts, and present results at regional meetings and scientific conferences, as needed.
• Store datasets produced by geospatial analysis in an accessible and organized way.
• Support interactive data dashboards backed by code repositories, where appropriate.
• Document reproducible workflows in written reports and code repositories.
• Provide written status reports and other ad hoc communications, as needed.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university with a major in a field of study related to the requirements of the task order, with emphasis in fisheries, ecology, natural sciences, mathematics, statistics, oceanography, or hydrology.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience writing reports and publishing peer‑reviewed articles.
• Familiarity with common workplace software such as Google Suite and Microsoft Office.
• Strong quantitative skills, including familiarity with modeling and data analysis.
• Familiarity with software such as R and Git Hub, or GIS, and with open science concepts.
• Strong background using GIS, including Arc Pro, QGIS, etc., to collate and analyze large spatial datasets.
• Ability to manage workload, stay organized, and produce high‑quality work products efficiently.
• Ability to work both independently and on interdisciplinary teams.
• Valid driver’s license, maintained during the period of performance.

• Three years of experience related to the task order, including familiarity with the species and habitats managed by NOAA Fisheries in the West Coast region.
• Advanced degree, MS or PhD, in a related field may be substituted for two years of experience.

Work will be conducted on‑site at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, WA, or at one of its associated field stations in WA or OR. Work…