Junior Survey Technician / Hydrographer / Geophysical Surveyor

Description

Location: Muskegon, MI or surrounding Great Lakes area
Worksite: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory – Lake Michigan Field Station
Status: Full-time or Seasonal

Travel: The role includes extensive travel around the Great Lakes region, especially during the main field season of April into October.
Pay Range: $27 - $29 per hour, depending on qualifications and experience 

Cardinal Point Captains, Inc. (CPC) is seeking a junior survey technician with hydrographic / geophysical survey experience to support multibeam and ground-truthing survey efforts for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) around the Great Lakes region. 

NOAA GLERL and its partners conduct innovative research on the dynamic environments and ecosystems of the Great Lakes and coastal regions to provide information for resource use and management decisions that lead to safe and sustainable ecosystems, ecosystem services, and human communities.  GLERL vessels provide safe and capable multi-disciplinary platforms to study the Great Lakes by deploying instruments, collecting samples, and conducting surveys. This role is an opportunity to work with the Federal Government, supporting the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Lakebed 2030 mission.

A qualified person is required to safely and efficiently perform field survey operations, data processing, and reporting as part of overall GLERL research services. The survey technician role will conduct field survey operations and perform extensive field activity for the months of April to October, with a focus on data processing and report writing in the winter months. 

GLERL’s operations are run out of their Lake Michigan Field Station in Muskegon, MI. However, the junior survey technician can reside anywhere in the Great Lakes region if willing to travel for field work and operations throughout the Great Lakes.

Tasks

• Support vessel-based field research, deployment of instrumentation, data collection, and the associated processing to meet product requirements as required by GLERL survey plans.
• Assist with the installation and maintenance of scientific equipment and support infrastructure. 
• Ensure that field surveys are conducted in accordance with NOAA GLERL procedures. Data collection, management, and post-processing shall be in accordance with NOAA and industry standards.
• Process collected survey data and submit final report in format as required by NOAA.
• Archive metadata and post-processed data in accordance with NOAA directives.
• Help maintain records of software updates, equipment inventory, calibrations, and certifications.
• Support hydrographic multibeam survey efforts, including mobilization, calibration, acquisition, data processing, and reporting. 
• Support ground-truthing/ validation efforts, including acquisition of sediment grab samples. 
• Be willing and able to travel to sites around the Great Lakes. 

Requirements

• Experience in marine technology, field physical science or at least one year of experience in hydrographic surveying.
• Demonstrated proficiency in equipment operation and vessel-based science activities. Familiarity with GIS, sonar and remote sensing instruments and data acquisition.
• Preferred that candidate has completed a US Coast Guard Boating Skills and Seamanship course, or similar training/ certification in vessel operations. 
• Maintain current First Aid, CPR and AED certifications.
• Maintain a valid driver's license and safe driving record throughout employment.
• Physically able to lift and carry 75 pounds to assist with mission mobilization and operations.
• Willing to travel regionally throughout the Great Lakes.

AAP/EEO Statement 

CPC is an EEO employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.