Underwater Acoustician

A.I.S., Inc. (AIS) is a national scientific services firm supporting maritime activities requiring certification of compliance with environmental regulation ns as well as collecting data for use by Federal, State, Municipal, and other government agencies along the US coastline. AIS is seeking an Acoustician to support NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center’s (SEFSC) Advanced Technology and Innovation Branch

Primary Function:

This role supports the collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of passive acoustic datasets to assess marine soundscapes, species distribution, and anthropogenic impacts. The position integrates data processing, scientific analysis, and collaborative research to inform fisheries science and ecosystem management. This position is contingent upon contract award and available funding.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Manage and analyze passive acoustic datasets collected across the southeastern U.S., ensuring continuity of long-term monitoring efforts
• Coordinate with project partners to support year-round data collection, deployment planning, and data integrity
• Assist with field collection of passive acoustic data as required
• Perform QA/QC of acoustic datasets using established scientific and community standards
• Maintain organized records of data availability, quality, and metadata
• Manage and track datasets using structured data systems (e.g., spreadsheets, tracking tools)
• Package and deliver acoustic datasets, metadata, and analytical outputs to national data archives (e.g., NCEI Passive Acoustic Archive)
• Analyze acoustic data to characterize marine soundscapes, including biological, geological, and anthropogenic components
• Assess occurrence and distribution of marine species, including fishes and marine mammals, using manual and automated detection methods
• Analyze vessel noise and acoustic signatures to support ecosystem and anthropogenic impact studies
• Support development of scientific products including reports, manuscripts, and proposals
• Participate in interdisciplinary working groups and collaborative research efforts
• Assist in proposal development for extramural funding opportunities
• Support outreach and stakeholder engagement activities related to passive acoustic monitoring
• Prepare for and participate in scientific meetings, workshops, and symposia

Compensation: Candidates will be paid an hourly rate to be negotiated and total compensation will vary depending on candidates’ depth of experience. This is a full–time position. AIS benefits package includes health and dental insurance, vacation, sick and holiday benefits.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in marine biology, oceanography, data science, or related field, OR Bachelor’s degree with 1+ year of relevant research experience
• Experience analyzing passive acoustic data or working with acoustic datasets
• Ability to participate in fieldwork and data collection activities
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Experience working collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams
• Basic programming or data analysis experience (e.g., R, MATLAB, Python, or similar)
• Experience managing or working with large datasets
• Ability to process and interpret complex acoustic datasets
• Strong attention to detail in QA/QC and data validation workflows
• Ability to manage multiple data streams and project priorities
• Effective communication of technical findings to diverse audiences

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD in marine biology, acoustics, or related field
• Extensive experience analyzing passive acoustic data
• Experience with acoustic analysis tools (e.g., Raven Pro, MATLAB, R)
• Experience with Python and/or cloud-based data platforms
• Knowledge of signal processing techniques
• Experience contributing to scientific publications or leading analyses

Travel:

• Travel required (limited) for field data collection, collaboration meetings, and scientific conferences.

Location:

• 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, NC 28516 - Southeast Fisheries Science Center’s Beaufort Laboratory

Contact:

If you would like to apply for this exciting new opening, please visit our Careers Page to submit the required information:

• Resume
• Cover letter detailing relevant experience.
• 3 professional references (name, email address and phone number)

All documents must be submitted for your application to be considered. If you have any questions pertaining to this opening, please reach out to our Talent Team or call 774-770-5833.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of A.I.S. to recruit, hire, train, promote, transfer and compensate our employees and provide all other conditions of employment including Company sponsored events without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, lawful alien status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law.

Must be able to work in the U.S. • VEVRAA Federal Contractor • Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals • Equal Opportunity Employer