Lynker Corporation is seeking a Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Survey Lead to support the Southeast Fisheries Science Center’s Population and Ecosystems Monitoring Division and Gulf and Caribbean Reef Fish Branch. This proposed role will coordinate at-sea survey operations, lead an assigned survey or data component, support underwater video annotation and data management, and assist with scientific analyses, reports, publications, and presentations. *Hiring for this position will be contingent on contract award.

The Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities program conducts restoration-related surveys of reef habitats at depths ranging from approximately 50 to 1,800 meters. Research activities use remotely operated vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles, uncrewed underwater vehicles, acoustic mapping, visual ground truthing, and other methods to evaluate deep benthic habitats and the abundance, composition, distribution, and condition of associated fauna.

Duties of the Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Survey Lead will include the following:

• Serve as a Field Party Chief, Watch Leader, or Survey Watch Stander during Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities surveys aboard NOAA ships and small research vessels.
• Participate in other Population and Ecosystems Monitoring Division resource surveys, as requested.
• Assist project management leads with survey preparation, execution, and completion.
• Help establish survey schedules, coordinate equipment and supply requirements, and support the selection of survey vehicles such as autonomous underwater vehicles.
• Prepare cruise instructions and cruise reports and complete required participant-clearance documentation.
• Lead or support at-sea mapping and visual ground-truthing missions in accordance with established survey standard operating procedures.
• Complete pre-survey and post-survey inventories and maintain survey equipment and gear.
• Coordinate daily vessel activities, field personnel, vessel positions and movements, ports of call, and weather and sea-condition considerations.
• Conduct biological and environmental sampling and log and process data or samples under field conditions.
• Provide weekly progress updates to project leads and promptly report issues that may require changes to the survey plan.
• Complete incident-reporting procedures for applicable NOAA small-boat operations.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert and component lead for an assigned aspect of the survey or associated data activities.
• Identify marine fishes in all life stages from mesophotic and deep reef habitats in the Gulf of America.
• Annotate, review, and perform quality assurance and quality control on remotely operated vehicle video footage.
• Review data entry and manage annotation review and tracking sheets.
• Lead or support data projects involving Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities databases, associated applications, metadata, and survey procedures.
• Help ensure data standardization, quality, delivery, backup, and security.
• Compile existing bathymetric and biological information for mesophotic and deep benthic reefs in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone of the Gulf of America.
• Coordinate applicable bathymetric data activities with the National Centers for Environmental Information and National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Biogeography Branch.
• Work with program personnel to integrate automated data outputs and support the interoperability of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms and libraries.
• Manage video annotation data-entry projects and maintain project management tools.
• Prepare and validate data for scientific analyses.
• Assist with statistical approaches and the synthesis of survey data, including species-density calculations, graphs, and other scientific products.
• Maintain knowledge of relevant scientific literature and develop data summaries.
• Develop reports and presentations and assist with manuscripts prepared for publication.
• Coordinate abstracts, presentations, and resulting publications.
• Attend professional meetings and present or publish scientific results, as required.
• Participate in marine science outreach and education activities, including school programs, science fairs, laboratory and ship tours, fairs, and festivals.

The Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Survey Lead should have the following:

• A master’s degree in marine science or a related field of study; or a bachelor’s degree in marine science or a related field of study and at least three years of relevant experience.
• Computer literacy and experience with common word-processing, database, statistical, and graphics programs.
• Ability to prepare reports at the college level and deliver oral presentations.
• Knowledge of ArcGIS, including the Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst extensions, for mission planning and evaluation of spatial distributions.
• Knowledge of Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities field-sampling protocols sufficient to lead or participate in surveys.
• Functional knowledge of remotely operated vehicle, autonomous underwater vehicle, and uncrewed underwater vehicle operations.
• Ability to develop logistical plans for at-sea operations involving remotely operated, autonomous, or uncrewed underwater vehicles.
• Experience serving as the lead data collector during at-sea surveys.
• Knowledge and skill using shipboard software that manages hydrological and biological data streams.
• Proficiency using fish, invertebrate, and protected-species identification books and keys.
• Knowledge of and ability to identify reef taxa from the Gulf of America.
• Expert knowledge of major structure-forming invertebrates found in mesophotic and deep benthic communities of the Gulf of America.
• Knowledge of procedures to follow when encountering endangered or threatened species.
• Ability to coordinate field personnel and troubleshoot operational issues with limited resources while at sea.

Work Environment

The position is based at the Southeast Fisheries Science Center laboratory in Panama City, Florida. Work will be performed in laboratory, office, field, dockside, scientific-meeting, and at-sea environments aboard NOAA ships, charter vessels, and small research vessels.

Personnel participating in research cruises aboard NOAA ships must complete applicable NOAA medical and tuberculosis screening requirements and maintain a current tetanus vaccination. Domestic and international travel may be required for at-sea surveys, scientific meetings, project workshops, and working-group meetings. Nighttime, weekend, and overtime work may be required before, during, and immediately following surveys or other field activities. All overtime and travel must receive the required advance authorization.

About Lynker

Lynker is a growing, employee owned business, specializing in professional, scientific and technical services. Our continually expanding team combines scientific expertise with mature, results-driven processes and tools to achieve technically sound, cost effective solutions in hydrology/water sciences, geospatial analysis, information technology, resource management, conservation, and management and business process improvement.

We focus on putting the right people in the right place to be effective. And having the right people is critical for success. Our streamlined organization enables and empowers our talented professionals to tackle our customers' scientific and technical priorities – creatively and effectively.

Lynker offers a team-oriented work environment, and the opportunity to work in a culture of exceptionally skilled professionals who embrace sound science and creative solutions. Lynker's benefits include the following:

• Comprehensive healthcare for the employee at no monthly cost
• Healthcare benefit covers medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision
• Personal Time Off (PTO) Policy plus paid holidays
• Highly competitive compensation plan regularly calibrated against industry and location benchmarks
• 401(k) retirement plan with company-matching
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – we're all company owners!
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life and accident insurance
• Tuition assistance/Training/Workforce improvement reimbursement per year
• Spot bonuses for exceptional performance
• Annual Employee Recognition Awards with bonuses
• Employee Referral Program
• Free centralized, self-directed Learning Management System to learn at your own pace
• Personalized career growth plans for every employee

Lynker is an E-Verify employer.

* This position is not currently funded and is contingent upon contract award. Employment is subject to successful completion of any required background checks and security processing required by the customer.

Lynker is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local laws.