Fisheries Acoustics Survey Technician

Job Description

Job Description

About the Role

The Fisheries Engineering & Acoustic Technologies Team (FEAT) at NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) is seeking a Fisheries Acoustics Survey Technician to support its Newport, Oregon field station. FEAT is one of only three groups within NOAA specializing in fisheries acoustics and advanced technologies - including broadband echo sounders, uncrewed surface vehicles, and underwater optics - applied to fishery-independent stock surveys and ecosystem research across the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME).

 

This position directly supports the annual Integrated West Coast Pelagics (acoustic-trawl) Survey for Pacific Hake (Merluccius productus) - the primary fishery-independent survey conducted under the U.S.-Canada Pacific Whiting/Hake International Agreement. The technician will work alongside FEAT and FRAM scientists throughout the full survey cycle: pre-survey staging, at-sea operations, and post-survey closeout.

 

Position Details

Organization: NOAA Fisheries - NWFSC, Fishery Resource Analysis & Monitoring Division (FRAM), FEAT

Location: Newport Laboratory, Newport, OR; at-sea aboard NOAA research vessel (up to 100 days/year, up to one month at a time)

Anticipated Start: 3rd Quarter FY2026

U.S. Citizenship: Required

* Position is Subject to Contract Award

 

Duties & Responsibilities

Core responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Support FEAT Newport Research Station staff through all phases of the annual acoustic-trawl survey - preparation, at-sea execution, and post-survey closeout.
• Maintain, inspect, stage, and de-stage biological sampling gear and survey equipment per FEAT protocols.
• Perform routine wet-lab processing of trawl catches at sea, including species identification and biological sampling.
• Track, store, and transfer fixed biological samples for analysis; maintain gear inventory.
• Analyze collected Pacific Hake stomach contents and enter diet data into FEAT databases.
• Lead standardized field sampling protocols and provide at-sea training to survey participants to ensure data integrity.
• Operate data collection software and devices at sea as needed (e.g., EK80 echo sounders, Echoview).
• Contribute to final survey reports and support additional FRAM surveys as directed by FEAT/FRAM staff.
• Submit progress communications to FEAT/FRAM staff regarding deliverable status.
• Complete all required NOAA, NMFS, NWFSC, and FEAT trainings.

 

Education & Experience

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Marine Biology, Fisheries, Oceanography, or a closely related field (or equivalent experience with minimum 2 years in fisheries).

• Demonstrated at-sea research vessel experience.

• Ability to obtain NOAA medical clearance for sea duty (medical information must be submitted 30 days prior to cruise departure).

• Ability and willingness to spend up to 4 weeks aboard a vessel, working up to 16 hours per day.

Preferred

• Minimum 90 days of demonstrated at-sea field experience, including extended trips of at least 7 consecutive days.

• Familiarity with Pacific Hake biology, West Coast pelagic species, or acoustic-trawl survey methods.

• Experience identifying Northeast Pacific fishes using taxonomic keys.

• Experience analyzing fish stomach contents.

• Background in data management, analytical reporting, or environmental/biological data.

• At least 20 undergraduate credits in science coursework.

 

Skills

Required

• At-sea biological sampling and data collection.

• Physical fitness and resilience for challenging at-sea conditions.

• Detail-oriented sample tracking and database entry.

• Adherence to established field protocols with thorough note-keeping.

• Team-oriented; effective collaboration with FEAT/FRAM staff and NOAA vessel crews.

Preferred

• Fisheries acoustics equipment operation (EK60/EK80 or equivalent echo sounders).

• Echoview or similar acoustic data processing software.

• Trawl net operations and wet-lab sample processing.

• Pacific Hake stomach content analysis and diet database entry.

• Contribution to ICES WGFAST products.

 

Certifications & Clearances

The following are required prior to or at the start of performance:

• Medical clearance for sea duty aboard NOAA vessels (must be submitted 30 days prior to cruise departure).
• Successful completion of NOAA background check (allow 60–90 days for processing).
• Valid U.S. Passport.
• Valid driver's license.
• Marine safety training (Basic Safety Training or equivalent; must be completed or recently completed prior to sailing).
• NOAA IT Security, Safety, SASH Prevention, and Records Management 101 training (can be completed after hire).

 

Desired certifications:

• NOAA small vessel operator certification.
• Defensive driving certification.
• First Aid / CPR certifications.

 

Work Conditions

This role involves physically demanding at-sea work in challenging open-ocean conditions. The technician must be capable of working extended shifts (up to 16 hours/day) for multi-week periods aboard a NOAA research vessel. Land-based work is conducted at the Newport Research Station. Overtime is anticipated and authorized during active survey periods.

 

Travel is required. All travel is pre-authorized per Federal Travel Regulations. Government-provided equipment, IT gear, field supplies, and vessel accommodations are furnished for the performance of work under this contract.

 

Additional Requirements

• US. citizenship required.
• Must pass a NOAA background check and be cleared for public trust classification prior to beginning performance.
• All data, images, notes, reports, and field records collected under this task order are the property of the U.S. Government.
• Contractor personnel may be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) for access to privacy information.
• Must comply with Department of Commerce Enterprise Cybersecurity Policy and NOAA IT security policies.