Environmental Lab Scientist- Field

Overview

This is a great opportunity for an energetic and enthusiastic person with excellent scientific and technical skills to join our team. The Field Science Unit is a group of active and innovative scientists. We are looking for an Environmental Laboratory Scientist, someone excited about science and the health of our region’s people and ecosystems.

Environmental sampling is conducted outdoors in all weather. The role involves field sampling, data collection, and in‑lab processing. Responsibilities include field assignments, maintenance of the Field Science Unit’s fleet of Sea‑Bird instruments, and participation in managing remote monitoring buoys and moorings.

The Field Science Unit (FSU) provides sampling and data collection services for King County’s Water and Land Resources, the Wastewater Treatment Division, and regional partners. FSU works within King County and beyond, utilizing vehicles and vessels to conduct operations on land and water. The position is demanding but rewarding and requires a good mix of fieldwork and lab tasks.

FSU is a team of approximately nine people. The candidate will work independently or as part of a team, bringing energy, curiosity, self‑motivation, and strong technical and problem‑solving skills. Experience with Sea‑Bird scientific instrumentation and water quality buoys and moorings is highly desirable.

King County is a diverse and vibrant community. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. As an Environmental Lab Scientist – Field, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work.

• Perform environmental sampling and data acquisition using a variety of equipment, instrumentation and methods, following SOPs, SAPs and QAPs.
• Act as a deck hand/scientist/technician on research vessels (e.g., R/V Sound Guardian), safely operate smaller boats and motor vehicles.
• Calibrate, operate, deploy, maintain, and troubleshoot field instrumentation; perform and document associated QC tasks.
• Collaborate with the FSU team, lab personnel and project planners/customers to achieve sampling and data quality objectives.
• Follow safety requirements, maintain situational awareness, and use appropriate PPE.
• Perform in‑lab tasks such as preparing instruments, preparing field sampling kits, entering field data into LIMS, scheduling sampling events, and collaborating on project planning and management tasks.

• Experience collecting environmental samples and data following SOPs, QA/QC protocols, SAPs, etc.
• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Chemistry, Biology or a similar scientific discipline, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Proficiency with water quality and other field instrumentation aboard scientific vessels; experience calibrating, operating, and troubleshooting Sea‑Bird Scientific instruments (e.g., Conductivity/Temperature/Depth packages, Hydro‑Cat EPS).
• Experience generating, processing, and reviewing large datasets from Conductivity/Temperature/Depth packages, water quality moorings, etc.
• Ability to understand and adhere to safety protocols, use PPE, and maintain situational awareness in complex and changing environments.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams.

• Experience troubleshooting telemetered instruments and equipment on moorings, buoys, and other sampling equipment.
• Experience with hydraulic lifting equipment.
• Captain’s license (OUPV/6‑Pack) or documented progress toward a license.
• Knowledge of research vessel systems and vessel maintenance procedures.
• Experience with Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

• Tech Savvy
  :
  Anticipate and adopt innovations in digital and technology applications.
• Action Oriented
  :
  Take on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency.
• Collaborates
  :
  Build partnerships and work collaboratively to meet shared objectives.
• Manages Complexity
  :
  Synthesize complex, high‑quantity information to solve problems effectively.
• Situationa…