Ocean Associates Inc. (OAI) anticipates multiple openings soon for full-time Oceanographic Technical Specialists to support the NOAA Ocean Service Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) in Silver Spring, MD.
OAI is a Virginia corporation established in 2003 that provides consulting and technical services to the U.S. government, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and the private sector. We specialize in scientific program and project management, strategic planning, professional and technical services and stakeholder engagement, supporting government contracts. In federal contracting, positions come open and must be filled quickly when an existing staff member departs or when a new contract to provide services is awarded.
CO-OPS is the authoritative source for accurate, reliable, and timely tides, water levels, currents, and other coastal oceanographic and meteorological information. Offering services that support safe and efficient maritime commerce and transportation, help protect public health and safety, and promote robust, resilient coastal communities. CO-OPS maintains ocean observing infrastructure, including more than 200 permanent water level stations on the U.S. coasts and Great Lakes, an integrated system of real-time sensors concentrated in busy seaports, and temporary meters that collect observations for tidal current predictions. Through these systems, CO-OPS provides the nation with historic and real-time data, forecasts, predictions, and scientific analyses that protect life, the economy, and the environment on the coast.
RESPONSIBILITIES, REQUIREMENTS:
- Review, analyze, and perform quality control water level data from observing systems.
- Process and analyze current meter data and prepare results for verification.
- Conduct statistical analyses in support of the annual High Tide Flooding Outlook report and quarterly High Tide Bulletin.
- Develop prototype products and visualizations of water level statistics and predictions using the MATLAB and Python programming language.
- Support development, analysis, and implementation of a new coastal model in the Southeast U.S., Puget Sound, Columbia River, or New York Harbor.
- Analyze output from coastal models (those in operation or development) to evaluate model predictions against observations or assess the integration of model output with other products and services.
- Review, enter, and verify metadata and data according to established CO-OPS SOPs for all newly installed or existing water level stations, current meters, and meteorological and oceanographic sensors.
- Review and assess the quality of bench marks, surveying leveling records, and other data submitted from personnel in the field. Enter the information into the database and station packages.
- Analyze datum values and harmonic constituents to assess the movement of total water levels through a body of water.
- Provide technical expertise and support to CO-OPS and its partners and customers in areas of geospatial data development and applications as well as the use of coding for scientific and technical analyses
- Support, create, and maintain data-manipulation, spatial analysis, decision- support, and data distribution tools
Required Qualifications/Skills:
- Master's degree in oceanography, meteorology, hydrology, physics, physical science, geophysics, civil engineering, or a closely related discipline, plus 4 years’ experience.
- Knowledge of oceanographic principles, theories, and practices sufficient to review and analyze data is required.
- Strong oral and written communication skills, as well as a demonstrated ability to work well independently and as part of a team, are required.
- General database and query experience and a working knowledge of MATLAB, Python, and/or ArcGIS may be required depending on what task(s) the position supports.
- Ability to work effectively both individually and collaboratively in a team/group setting.
- Ability to receive constructive feedback and implement appropriate action.
Location: Silver Spring, MD
Salary and Benefits: Full time. Salary commensurate with experience. Generous employee benefits
