Physical Oceanography Technician

Responsibilities

• Field Operations Plan and execute mooring deployments and recoveries in estuarine and coastal shelf environments
• Operate and maintain ADCP systems (moored configurations) and current meters
• Support additional oceanographic instrumentation (e.g., CTDs, temperature/salinity loggers, meteorological sensors)
• Participate in small boat and research vessel operations under variable field conditions
• Data Processing & Analysis Process and quality-control ADCP datasets (e.g., velocity profiles, backscatter)
• Manage and analyze time-series environmental data from moorings and shipboard surveys
• Develop reproducible workflows for data organization, QA/QC, and visualization
• Contribute to the interpretation of circulation patterns, stratification, and mixing processes
• Collaboration & Reporting Work closely with interdisciplinary teams (biogeochemists, ecologists, modelers)
• Contribute to reports, manuscripts, and data products
• Assist with training students and supporting field campaigns
• Required Qualifications
• M.S. in Physical Oceanography, Ocean Engineering, Marine Science, or related field
• Demonstrated experience with:
• ADCP data collection and processing
• Environmental time-series data analysis
• Mooring design, deployment, and recovery
• Proficiency in at least one scientific programming environment (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or R)
• Experience working in field-based marine environments, including small boat operations
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
• Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Requirements

• Experience in coastal or shelf systems
• Familiarity with: Data QA/QC standards and metadata practices
• Oceanographic sensors (CTD, ADCP, wave meters) turbulence sensors, wave/current meters
• Small boat operation experience (or willingness to obtain certification
• Ability to work in physically demanding field conditions
• Driving Required
• Salary Range
• $50,000 + depending on qualifications
• Working Conditions
• Regular fieldwork in hot, humid, and/or windy conditions, including small boat operations
• Occasional multi-day research cruises
• Ability to lift and handle field equipment (~20-50 lbs)
• Required Materials
• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest
• Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Pro

Additional Information

Job Posting Title: Physical Oceanography Technician ---- Hiring Department: Marine Science Institute ---- Position Open To: All Applicants ---- Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40 ---- FLSA Status: Exempt ---- Earliest Start Date: May 31, 2026 ---- Position Duration: Expected to Continue Until Apr 30, 2028 ---- Location: PORT ARANSAS, TX ---- Job Details: General Notes We are seeking a highly motivated physical oceanographer with experience in Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) measurements, environmental data processing, and mooring deployment to support interdisciplinary coastal and shelf research in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. The successful candidate will contribute to field-based and data-driven efforts focused on circulation, mixing, and physical-biogeochemical coupling across estuarine, nearshore, and continental shelf environments of the Texas Coastal Bend. This position involves a balance of fieldwork, data analysis, and collaboration The purpose of this role is to advance understanding of the physical drivers of coastal and shelf ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico, including the links among circulation, mixing, and biogeochemical processes. This position is located in Port Aransas, Texas. The position is originally for two years but could be renewed based on performance and funding.

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