Engineering Technician

Job Summary

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is currently searching for an Engineer Technician to join the Oceanographic Systems Lab (OSL). This is a full time/non-exempt position and is eligible for benefits. This position will provide direct operational and technical engineering support to the development and employment of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV’s) at WHOI and around the world.   These REMUS vehicles are designed at OSL and heavily utilized by the science and military community with field projects or science survey cruises ranging from a week to several months.   Shoreside responsibilities include the general maintenance and testing of the vehicle systems and the implementation of engineering changes or upgrades. The position will fully expose candidates to all aspects of vehicle systems and operations while working alongside world leaders within the field of underwater robotics.   The applicant is expected to be proactive at learning new skills, able to work in an at-sea environment and utilize available resources to solve associated technical issues.  Hands on experience operating and maintaining complex electro-mechanical assemblies and instrumentation in a hard job that requires grit is a plus. As a point of reference, it typically takes 2 years of on-the-job training for a dedicated person to be trusted with a REMUS vehicle solo. Once you do – you are a worldwide commodity.

  

Engineering Assistant II

With supervision, applies a broad knowledge of established procedures to the assembly, testing, or calibration of REMUS and its payloads developed and used in support of engineering projects related to ocean operations.

 

Engineering Assistant III

With little supervision, applies a broad knowledge of established procedures to the assembly, testing, or calibration of REMUS and its payloads developed and used in support of engineering projects related to ocean operations. Has leadership qualities. Has vehicle operator knowledge, preferably REMUS based.

 

Sr. Engineering Assistant I

With minimum supervision and often solo at sea, applies a broad knowledge of established procedures to the assembly, testing, or calibration of REMUS and its payloads developed and used in support of engineering projects related to ocean operations. Has significant leadership qualities but is still willing to do solo field work at sea. Is an experienced vehicle operator, preferably REMUS based.

 

This position will require extended time at sea, up to 4 months per year, depending on vehicle scheduling.   The ability to work cooperatively with others within a team based environment is a must.

The internal working title for this position could be either Engineering Assistant II, Engineering Assistant III, or Sr. Engineering Assistant I. The final level of the position will be determined commensurate with the selected candidate's level of education & experience. 

 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

ENGINEERING ASSISTANT II

• Assists the team in performing maintenance, testing and repairs to vehicle electrical systems; to include vehicle power distribution, acoustic navigation systems, imaging sensors and data acquisition instrumentation. This includes the reading of engineering drawings and using lab instrumentation to assist in troubleshooting.
• Assists the team in troubleshooting vehicles computer and logic systems; to include embedded hardware and operating systems, networking, serial device communications protocols. Learns to use software applications and utilities as related to performing needed work.
• Participates in all aspects of vehicle operations at sea to include, mission programming, pre-mission checkout, vehicle tracking and post mission analysis.
• Learns to do all tasks about solo as quickly as possible.

This position will require extended time at sea, up to 4 months per year, depending on vehicle scheduling.   The ability to work cooperatively with others within a teambased environment is a must.

 

ENGINEERING ASSISTANT III

• Performs non-routine maintenance, testing and repairs to vehicle electrical systems; to include vehicle power distribution, acoustic navigation systems, imaging sensors and data acquisition instrumentation with guidance in the lab. This includes the reading of engineering drawings and using lab instrumentation to assist in troubleshooting.
• Troubleshoots vehicles computer and logic systems; to include embedded hardware and operating systems, networking, serial device communications protocols. Uses software applications and utilities as related to performing needed work in the lab and assisted at sea.