Primary Function:
The Glider (AUV) Technician I will support the Southwest Fisheries Science Center’s (SWFSC) Ecosystem Science Division in the preparation, deployment, recovery, piloting, and data analysis of autonomous underwater gliders used to monitor pelagic ecosystems in the Southern and Pacific Oceans. The position supports NOAA’s mission to collect ecosystem observations that characterize the physical environment and marine organisms, providing data used for fisheries management, Antarctic conservation, and California Current ecosystem assessments.
Duties/Responsibilities:
- Ballasting gliders and cleaning/sealing them in preparation for deployment
- Performing pre-deployment system checks and test flights in the SWFSC tech tank
- Defining mission parameters and preparing mission files for deployment
- Calibrating and preparing ADCP/Es, CTD sensors, and mooring buoys for deployment
- Piloting gliders throughout deployments on rotating 24-hour shifts, monitoring flight performance, and responding to mission interruptions
- Going to sea on small boats or research vessels to deploy and recover gliders
- Maintaining clean, organized, and accessible glider workspaces
- Submitting monthly progress reports reflecting status and progress of all tasks
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university with a major in natural or physical science, computational science, mechanical engineering, or electrical engineering, plus one (1) year of experience in a related field; or a combination totaling five (5) years of combined education and experience.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Familiarity with oceanographic instruments including CTD sensors, dissolved oxygen sensors, acoustic and optical systems
- Prior experience with California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) survey operations
- Experience preparing hazardous materials shipping documentation
Location: La Jolla, CA
