Autonomous Underwater Glider Technician, Level 2Lynker Technologies

Lynker Technologies


Autonomous Underwater Glider Technician, Level 2

US-CA-La Jolla

Job ID: 2026-1551
Type: Contract
# of Openings: 1
La Jolla, CA

Overview

Lynker is seeking to hire an Autonomous Underwater Glider Specialist, Level II to support a long-term federal fisheries and ecosystem science support program with NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). This is a full-time position anticipated to begin upon contract award. Hiring for this position will be contingent on contract award. Lynker will be operating under its FLOAT joint venture.

This program supports NOAA’s mission by collecting oceanographic and ecosystem data used to monitor marine environments along the U.S. West Coast and in Antarctic ecosystems. Autonomous underwater gliders (“gliders”) are used to collect environmental and biological data in the Pacific and Southern Oceans to support ecosystem monitoring, fisheries science, and long-term ocean observing efforts, including California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) surveys.

The program maintains and operates a fleet of gliders equipped with a variety of oceanographic and ecological monitoring instruments, including conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) sensors, dissolved oxygen sensors, optical instruments, acoustic systems, and camera systems. Additional field operations include deployment of acoustic Doppler current profilers with integrated echosounders (ADCP/Es) to support data collection on the distribution and movement of ecologically and commercially important marine species.

Glider deployments are conducted regularly throughout the year and range from short-duration missions to deployments lasting several months, requiring extensive operational preparation, maintenance, logistics coordination, at-sea support, and post-deployment data analysis.

The Autonomous Underwater Glider Specialist, Level II will support advanced operational, analytical, and maintenance activities associated with autonomous underwater glider deployments and oceanographic data collection systems. This role includes sensor calibration, mission planning, troubleshooting hardware and software systems, processing and analyzing glider datasets, maintaining deployment schedules and inventories, and supporting preparation of technical reports and presentations.

Responsibilities

Duties of the Autonomous Underwater Glider Technician, Level 2 will include the following:

• Perform all Level I glider preparation, deployment, piloting, and recovery tasks
• Calibrate oceanographic sensors, including CTDs and acoustic instruments
• Troubleshoot glider hardware and software systems
• Pilot gliders during active missions, including rotating monitoring shifts and responding to mission interruptions
• Process and analyze glider data collected during deployments
• Prepare post-deployment reports and technical documentation
• Maintain service records and inventories of glider components
• Prepare procurement packages for maintenance, calibration, and repair activities
• Develop and maintain glider deployment and piloting schedules
• Provide oversight and instruction to junior staff
• Prepare reports, presentations, and scientific materials
• Prepare hazardous materials shipping documentation, as required
• Support field operations, including deployment and recovery from small boats or research vessels

Qualifications

The Autonomous Underwater Glider Technician, Level 2 should have the following:

• Bachelor’s degree plus four (4) years of relevant experience; Master’s degree plus two (2) years of relevant experience; or Ph.D. in a related field
• Experience maintaining, preparing, deploying, and recovering autonomous underwater vehicles (gliders)
• Experience calibrating and programming glider-integrated scientific sensors
• Experience piloting gliders and troubleshooting mission issues
• Experience writing code to process and analyze real-time or delayed glider data

The ideal Autonomous Underwater Glider Technician, Level 2 will have the following:

• Experience working with oceanographic instrumentation (e.g., CTD sensors, ADCPs, acoustic systems)
• Experience processing and analyzing oceanographic or ecological datasets
• Experience maintaining equipment inventories and service records
• Experience coordinating deployments or operational schedules
• Experience preparing technical reports, presentations, or scientific documentation
• Experience providing oversight or instruction to staff

Place of Performance:

On-site in La Jolla, CA, with fieldwork at sea.

Travel:

Travel is required for vessel operations, field deployments, and recoveries.

About Lynker

Lynker is a growing, employee owned business, specializing in professional, scientific and technical services. Our continually expanding team combines scientific expertise with mature, results-driven processes and tools to achieve technically sound, cost effective solutions in hydrology/water sciences, geospatial analysis, information technology, resource management, conservation, and management and business process improvement.

We focus on putting the right people in the right place to be effective. And having the right people is critical for success. Our streamlined organization enables and empowers our talented professionals to tackle our customers' scientific and technical priorities – creatively and effectively.

Lynker offers a team-oriented work environment, and the opportunity to work in a culture of exceptionally skilled professionals who embrace sound science and creative solutions. Lynker's benefits include the following:

• Personalized career growth plans for every employee

Lynker is an E-Verify employer.

Lynker is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local laws.

* This position is advertised through our joint venture, FISH and Lynker Ocean Alliance Team (FLOAT), a partnership between Lynker and Fisheries Immersed Sciences Hawaii (FISH) serving the NOAA ProTech Fisheries 2.0 IDIQ contracting vehicle.

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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