Instrumentation and Data Systems Specialist

Instrumentation and Data Systems Specialist

Job Duration: 2-year renewable contingent on funding

SSSC Status: Regular, Full Time, Overtime Exempt

Supervisor: Research Director

Location: 834 Lincoln Street, Sitka, AK 99835

Pay Rate: $58,000-$65,000

Start Date: Summer 2026 preferred

The Sitka Sound Science Center is seeking an Instrumentation and Data Systems Specialist to support a regional effort to strengthen environmental monitoring systems and advance understanding of landslide initiation processes in Southeast Alaska. This position will play a central role in maintaining and improving instrumentation used to study atmospheric rivers, precipitation, wind, hydrology, and landslide initiation processes in remote coastal mountain environments.

The Specialist will lead installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, calibration, and operation of environmental monitoring equipment across Southeast Alaska while also supporting development of standardized workflows for environmental data management, quality control, and integration across multiple agencies and partners. The position combines field instrumentation, environmental data systems, technical problem solving, and collaborative applied research.

The position supports a multi-year cooperative project involving the U.S. Geological Survey, Tribal partners, local communities, and regional agencies focused on strengthening landslide monitoring and environmental data infrastructure in Southeast Alaska. The work directly supports hazard assessment, forecasting, and community resilience efforts in landslide-prone communities across the region.

Environmental Monitoring and Instrumentation

• Install, maintain, calibrate, and troubleshoot environmental monitoring equipment and stations
• Conduct routine station inspections and preventative maintenance
• Offer both in-person and remote diagnostics of instrumentation failures and coordination of repairs or replacement
• Maintain physical and virtual field logs, calibration records, and maintenance documentation
• Assist with development of monitoring system standards and best practices
• Conduct approximately 2-5 extended field deployments annually throughout Southeast Alaska

Data Systems and Quality Control

• Develop and maintain workflows for environmental data acquisition, formatting, quality assurance, and archiving
• Compile and integrate datasets from multiple organizations and monitoring networks
• Implement QA/QC procedures to identify data gaps, sensor drift, telemetry issues, and anomalous observations
• Support metadata management and standardized documentation practices
• Help produce analysis-ready environmental datasets for hazard assessment and scientific research
• Support integration of monitoring datasets with regional data-sharing platforms and repositories
• Contribute to reproducible and version-controlled data workflows using Git Hub or similar platforms

Research and Technical Support

• Support field experiments investigating landslide initiation, atmospheric rivers, orographic precipitation, wind-driven slope instability, and others as directed
• Participate in field measurements during storm events and other environmental monitoring campaigns
• Collaborate closely with scientists, Tribal partners, emergency managers, and technical staff across the region
• Contribute to public-friendly user guides and SOPs, technical reports, data products, presentations, and scientific publications
• Effectively and appropriately communicate technical information pertaining to instrument maintenance to a variety of audiences (scientific, community members, etc.)

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in environmental science, geology, engineering, hydrology, atmospheric science, geography, physics, computer science, or related field; or equivalent professional experience
• Experience installing, maintaining, or troubleshooting scientific or environmental instrumentation
• Experience working with environmental datasets, sensors, telemetry, or data loggers
• Experience planning and leading field work in remote settings under challenging weather conditions
• Ability to hike 1-5 miles with 30-50 lbs of pack weight on uneven terrain
• Familiarity with QA/QC procedures and environmental data management workflows
• Ability to travel throughout Southeast Alaska by small boat, ferry, or aircraft
• Strong organizational and documentation skills
• Valid driver’s license
• Ability to pass a standard federal volunteer background check

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Python, R, GIS, or scientific data processing workflows
• Familiarity with hydrologic, meteorological, or geotechnical instrumentation, including supporting software and programming of data loggers
• Experience using Git Hub or version-controlled workflows
• Wilderness field experience in Alaska or other remote environments
• Experience building relationships with and working collaboratively with Tribal governments, agencies, and/or community partners
• Interest in landslide hazards, atmospheric rivers, mountain hydrology, or…