Senior Marine Electronics Technician

Senior Marine Electronics Technician

The Senior Marine Electronics Technician supports scientific research by maintaining, integrating, and troubleshooting marine electronic and hydroacoustic systems across the Batten School & VIMS research fleet. Reporting to the Port Engineer, this position plays a key role in vessel data acquisition, shipboard instrumentation reliability, and scientific mission readiness.

Responsibilities include (but not limited to):

• Coordinates and interfaces with research scientist regarding research vessel data products to ensure achievement of research objectives.
• Coordinates repair, maintenance, installation and purchase of marine electronic equipment, primarily for vessels.
• Partners with Port Engineer to ensure on-time completion of various projects.

Required Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Knowledge of hydro-acoustic equipment in scientific research settings, with the ability to calibrate data from hydroacoustic instruments.
• Working knowledge of Echosounder and hydroacoustic instrument operational theory.
• Working knowledge of operational theory and system integration of oceanographical instruments, including CTD, rosette bottle sampler, hydrographic winch, sea cable termination, fluorometer, ADCP, flow sensors and related devices
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to read wiring diagrams and schematics for cables and circuits.
• Demonstrated skills in cable construction, cable splicing and soldering (Cat-5, use of diagnostic equipment), sea cable waterproofing and termination.

Experience:

• Significant experience in troubleshooting and repair of electronic and software programs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Post High School degree in the technical or marine-related field.
• ABYC Certification or ability to obtain within a year.
• Sea Bird Certification
• Knowledge of QA/QC of data products from shipboard hydroacoustic and oceanographic systems.
• Proficiency in the use of common mechanical tools and measuring devices associated with electrical circuits and electronic equipment.
• Working knowledge and understanding of operations and maintenance of hydrographic and oceanographic equipment including single and split-beam echosounders, multibeam echosounders, CTDs, ADCPs, and SVPs.
• Knowledge of shipboard data interleaving via NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000 communications networks, with the ability to integrate various scientific data collection software to shipboard data network.
• Knowledge of budget and or fiscal processes, with the ability to management a budget for supply and equipment inventories.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to locate, trouble shoot, and mitigate sources of shipboard acoustical noise, and maintain and troubleshoot marine electronic equipment and devices operating on both AC and DC circuits.
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to operate and repair rosette bottle sampler, with CTD and bottle sampler deployment & instrument set up.

Experience:

• Extensive experience in computer systems and equipment interfacing.
• Experience using hydroacoustic post-processing software for scientific purposes

Salary - up to $65,000.00 commensurate with experience

Conditions of Employment:

• This is a non-exempt position eligible to receive overtime in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and University policy.
• ABYC Certification or ability to obtain within a year.
• Occasionally participate in at-sea research activity supporting the use of hydroacoustic equipment or other equipment in support of research operations.

Core

Duties and Responsibilities:

Marine Electronic Support – On Shore: 50%

Various shore-based tasks centered on the support of scientific missions (pre-cruise preparation, within cruise communications and troubleshooting, post-cruise data product delivery) - Coordinate and interface with research scientist regarding research vessel data products to ensure achievement of research objectives.

- Coordinates repair, maintenance, installation and purchase of marine electronic equipment, primarily for vessels.

- Partner with Port Engineer to ensure on-time completion of various projects.

Marine Electronic Support – At Sea: 30%

Participate in at-sea research activity during implementation of R/V Virginia multibeam echo sounder (approximately 50 days per year) - Perform mobilization and demobilization of hydroacoustic equipment in support of research operations - Design and implement and/or direct implementation of data acquisition protocols aboard research vessel. Develops data acquisition protocols for hydroacoustic data interfacing.

- Implements hydro-acoustic equipment in scientific research settings, including collection calibration of data from hydroacoustic instruments.

Marine Operations / Other Duties: 20%

Assist with general IT related issues in Marine Operations.

- Other Duties as needed.