Electrical Engineer

POSITION DESCRIPTION :

The Electrical Engineer will support the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) by providing technical expertise for the development, maintenance, and deployment of electronic fisheries sampling instruments, including the HabCam v4 system and other advanced survey equipment. Responsibilities include preparing and configuring electronic and fiber-optic systems for use aboard research vessels, troubleshooting electronic data acquisition systems, and supporting survey operations through hands-on installation, repair, and testing of marine electronics. The engineer will lead the design and fabrication of components needed for data communication and sampling, including creating technical drawings and supporting shipboard operations by participating as a member of the scientific party. Additional duties involve ensuring all electronic systems are operational before deployment, managing interfacing software, and assisting with general sampling activities and post-cruise equipment maintenance. The role may require extended sea duty on NOAA vessels and frequent hands-on work with sensitive marine electronics in dynamic field conditions.

RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Assist with the preparation and maintenance of the NEFSC's HabCam v4 system, and / or for the development and maintenance of electronic devices as used for fisheries sampling activities.
• Participate on ESB research cruises when support for electronic fisheries sampling devices is required.
• Lead the development of electronic fisheries sampling instruments and associated software that are to be deployed during survey operations.
• Conduct maintenance and installation of electronic fisheries sampling instruments that are to be deployed during survey operations, including fiber-optic connections as required.
• Test all primary and secondary systems, ensuring that electronics are ready for deployment during survey operations.
• Prep and configure any interfacing software associated with electronic instruments prior to at-sea data collection.
• Serve as a member of the scientific party standing watch for up to 12 hours per day.
• Lead troubleshooting of electronic data acquisition systems.
• Assist with or lead general shipboard sampling activities, organization, and clean-up.
• Lead fiber optic termination of towed optical vehicles for communication between sampling equipment and survey vessels.
• Troubleshoot fiber optic or additional electronic and wiring issues for towed or uncrewed vehicles.
• Design vehicle machinery and materials required for proper maintenance of advanced technology sampling tools. This can include producing CAD drawings for machine work.

REQUIREMENTS :

• An undergraduate or graduate degree in Ocean Engineering, Electronics engineering, or other related engineering field.
• Experience with the use and maintenance of oceanographic instruments as deployed from research vessels.
• Experience independently leading fiber optic terminations.
• Experience diagnosing and repairing common hardware and electronics problems at sea.
• Significant experience with wiring of marine electronics, including fiber-optics.
• Familiarity with electronic data acquisition systems
• Current MS Office skills.
• Valid driver's license with the ability to operate Federal motor vehicles
• OMAO medical clearance for sea duty on NOAA vessels
• Be able to work at sea for 5-17 consecutive days