Acoustician Level 2 – Part Time, Cetacean Data Analysis & Processing Support

Role Overview

• Analyze passive acoustic monitoring datasets collected from stationary recorders, towed hydrophone arrays, drifting recorders, autonomous gliders, and other acoustic platforms.
• Develop, test, validate, and refine automated cetacean detection, classification, and localization approaches.
• Conduct quantitative analyses of cetacean occurrence, abundance, seasonality, habitat use, and acoustic behavior.
• Characterize cetacean call types and evaluate relationships between acoustic detections and environmental or anthropogenic factors.
• Perform statistical analyses supporting marine mammal stock assessments and ecological research.
• Analyze underwater soundscape datasets and compute ambient noise metrics across multiple temporal scales.
• Evaluate long-term acoustic trends and assess natural and anthropogenic sound sources within monitored ecosystems.
• Validate automated classifiers through manual review and annotation of acoustic datasets.
• Support acoustic analyses associated with autonomous Seaglider deployments and other emerging monitoring technologies.
• Contribute to acoustic propagation modeling and evaluation of species-specific detection performance.
• Maintain reproducible analytical workflows using MATLAB, Python, R, GitHub, and NOAA Fisheries data management standards.
• Document analytical methods, maintain analysis logs, and support preparation of reports, manuscripts, conference presentations, and technical summaries.
• Collaborate with NOAA scientists, project partners, and working groups to advance passive acoustic monitoring methodologies and research objectives.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in marine biology, oceanography, acoustics, fisheries science, statistics, computer science, or related field
• At least two (2) years of relevant experience
• Working knowledge of underwater acoustic theory and practice, including acoustic propagation, sound measurement, and standard signal processing techniques
• Experience developing, testing, and validating automated detectors and classifiers for passive acoustic datasets
• Experience processing acoustic data to extract soundscape and ambient noise measurements at hourly to yearly timescales
• Ability to design, execute, and interpret statistical analyses of animal abundance to evaluate patterns in occurrence or associations with habitat or fishery variables
• Prior experience drafting reports and presenting project results at scientific meetings
• Proficiency in MATLAB and R programming languages, including MATLAB-based acoustic analysis software Triton
• Current MS Office skills
• Proficiency with passive acoustic metadata databases such as TETHYS and Makara
• Proficiency in open science practices, including use of GitHub or other resources for maintaining and archiving analysis code

Tech Stack

• Python

Benefits

• Comprehensive healthcare for the employee at no monthly cost
• Personal Time Off (PTO) Policy plus paid holidays
• Highly competitive compensation plan regularly calibrated against industry and location benchmarks
• 401(k) retirement plan with company-matching
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – we’re all company owners!
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Short
• and long-term disability insurance
• Life and accident insurance
• Tuition assistance/Training/Workforce improvement reimbursement per year
• Spot bonuses for exceptional performance
• Annual Employee Recognition Awards with bonuses
• Employee Referral Program
• Free centralized, self-directed Learning Management System to learn at your own pace
• Personalized career growth plans for every employee