Job Opportunity - Lead Hydrographic Surveyor & Coastal Research Specialist

[Caroline Lowcher]

Lead Hydrographic Surveyor and Coastal Research Specialist

Northeast New Hanover Conservancy
Wilmington, North Carolina

About Northeast New Hanover Conservancy

The Northeast New Hanover Conservancy (NNHC) is a non-profit dedicated to marine conservation, coastal research, and environmental stewardship along the North Carolina coast. The NNHC is launching a significant research initiative that includes coastal monitoring and is in collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility (FRF) in Duck, North Carolina, and other research organizations. 

We are focused on understanding the coastal processes that lead to short term and long-term changes of barrier islands, beaches, marshes, and coastal ecosystems. This includes long-term monitoring of waves, currents, bathymetry, shoreline change, inlet dynamics, and storm impacts using advanced oceanographic and hydrographic instrumentation. The work conducted through this initiative will directly influence future coastal management, resilience, and shoreline protection strategies throughout North Carolina.

Position Summary

NNHC seeks a Lead Hydrographic Surveyor and Coastal Research Specialist to serve as the technical lead for hydrographic surveying and be heavily involved in the field operations within our coastal research program. This position will serve as the organization's primary expert for multibeam hydrographic surveying and will be responsible for planning, mobilizing, calibrating, operating, troubleshooting, and processing data collected using our dual-head multibeam echosounder system. The successful candidate will lead all hydrographic survey operations and will be responsible for maintaining the highest standards of survey quality, calibration, and data management.

Beyond hydrographic surveying, this position will play a central role in the deployment, maintenance, troubleshooting, and operation of a broad suite of oceanographic and coastal monitoring instrumentation including Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs), Acoustic Doppler Velocimeters (ADVs), wave buoys, bathymetric LiDAR, topographic LiDAR, meteorological sensors, and other environmental sensor packages.

This is a rare opportunity to help build a major coastal research program, use state-of-the-art hydrographic and oceanographic technologies, and work alongside university researchers, federal scientists, engineers, and conservation professionals.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Survey Operations: Serve as the organization’s technical lead for hydrographic surveying acting as the primary operator of the dual head multibeam echosounder system. 
• Multibeam Mobilization: Mobilize, install, and demobilize the dual-head multibeam echosounder system aboard research vessels. 
• Multibeam Calibration: Perform patch testing, system calibrations, and quality control. 
• Data Processing & Analysis: Manage all aspects of hydrographic data acquisition and processing including performing object detection, managing data structures, and generating final products. Must be comfortable using software programs like QPS Qinsy.
• Data Integration: Assist with bathymetric and topographic LiDAR surveys and merge them with hydrographic survey products.
• Data Management: Maintain hydrographic survey standards (e.g., IHO) and optimize multibeam data management workflows. Help manage hydrographic and oceanographic data archives.
• Instrument Operations: Assist with deploying, servicing, recovering, and troubleshooting ADCPs, ADVs, wave buoys, meteorological sensors, tide gauges, and other environmental monitoring instrumentation.
• Standard Operating Procedures: Help develop and improve field deployment procedures for long-term coastal monitoring equipment.
• Reporting & Documentation: Contribute to data products, technical reports, presentations, and research products.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in hydrographic science, ocean mapping, surveying, geomatics, oceanography, geology, geography, geophysics, oceanography, ocean engineering, marine science, environmental science, or a related field. 
• 5 years or more of hands-on experience in hydrographic surveying preferred, with a strong emphasis on multibeam echosounder data collection and dual head systems. Exceptional candidates with less experience and strong multibeam backgrounds will be considered.
• Demonstrated experience operating and processing multibeam echosounder systems.
• Strong understanding of survey planning, vessel integration, patch testing, and calibration.
• Proficient with hydrographic data acquisition and processing software suites (QPS Qinsy/Qimera/Fledermaus preferred). 
• Exceptional troubleshooting skills for survey instrumentation, marine electronics, and navigation systems.
• Experience working in various ocean conditions, with strong knowledge of maritime safety and navigation.
• Valid driver’s license and the ability to travel for fieldwork as needed.
• Ability to lift 70 pounds of equipment, work in extreme weather conditions, and endure full-day field deployments (8–10 hours) on the water for multiple consecutive days during active survey windows.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Teledyne RESON multibeam echosounder systems.
• Familiar with oceanographic and hydrographic instruments including ADCPs, ADVs, wave buoys, single beam echosounders, and meteorological sensors.
• Background in processing topographic and bathymetric LiDAR data.
• Experience utilizing GIS software (ArcGIS Pro/QGIS) for spatial analysis, map production, and advanced data visualization.
• Competency in analyzing hydrographic and oceanographic datasets.
  
  

Compensation and Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits, including full health insurance, retirement plan with employer match, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.
• Opportunity to work in a mission-driven, collaborative environment with access to state-of-the-art marine technology.

You will have the opportunity to build and lead hydrographic operations within a long-term coastal research initiative that combines cutting-edge technology, applied science, and environmental stewardship. If you are passionate about hydrography, marine technology, coastal science, and applied research, we encourage you to apply.

The Northeast New Hanover Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all candidates who share our commitment to marine and coastal conservation. To apply, submit your resume, cover letter, and references to Dr. Caroline Lowcher at clow...@futurecoastlines.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.