Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) seeks a Scientific Data Specialist (Passive Acoustics)

ONC seeks a skilled individual to contribute to the development of data quality standards and data products related to Passive Underwater Acoustics. The successful candidate will play a vital role in ensuring the integrity and usability of our vast acoustic datasets. They will possess a M.Sc. or (ideally) Ph.D. in a relevant oceanographic or engineering discipline, such as Marine Acoustics, Oceanographic Engineering, or a related field. 

The successful candidate’s expertise will be essential in several key areas, including:

• Hydrophone Calibration and Performance: Documenting calibration processes and associated issues, as well as any performance issues exhibited by hydrophones pre- and post-deployment.
• Acoustic Data QAQC: Apply a deep understanding of acoustic principles and measurement techniques, as well as property relationships and relevant transformations expressed in scientific code, to support acoustic data quality assurance / quality control.
• Data Product Development: Creating innovative passive acoustic data products, such as those that characterise the underwater soundscape according to community standards and that track the directionality of noise sources as measured by hydrophone arrays.
• AI-Driven Innovation: Developing advanced AI-based identification capabilities to automate the detection and classification of natural physical phenomena (such as rain, hydrothermal venting, geomorphic and seismic events) as well as anthropogenic noise sources (such as ship engines and underwater construction) using standard scientific programming languages.
• User Support: Providing technical support to researchers and other users, including data provisioning and limited assistance in data analysis.

This posting is for a two-year term position with the expectation of rolling over into a continuing position under the terms of the UVic PEA collective agreement, subject to continuing funding. If you are passionate about marine science, data analysis, and AI, and have a strong desire to contribute to cutting-edge research in the underwater acoustics world, please apply and come join our team of Scientific Data Specialists!

*This position is eligible for a Hybrid Work Arrangement*

The salary range for this position is:
•    Recruitment range:  $79,376- $87,518 starting salary determined by the PEA Collective Agreement.
•    Performance range: starting salary to max of $103,243 is available through annual performance increases.

The Data Quality and Products team prepares the user requirements for new data products and data access; creates prototypes of data products; implements data quality and integrity measures; and actively interacts with ONC staff and the user community to improve ONCs data product delivery and data services. 

The Scientific Data Specialist is responsible for the development of sophisticated data products, including verification and quality assessment of real-time and archived data. These data products enable scientific and non-scientific users to understand, interpret and analyze the information collected via the instruments on the network operated by ONC.

The Scientific Data Specialist will have a Master’s degree in Earth and Ocean Sciences or a related field and 2-3 years of experience working with data from oceanographic/geophysical instruments, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

Essential qualifications include excellent problem solving and interpersonal skills as well as a strong quantitative and technical background in relevant fields.

The following knowledge and experience are required:

• practical experience in Python, Matlab or experience developing data products using computational and data analysis/visualization tools in one or more of the following scientific programming languages: Python, Matlab, or R,
• experience with time series and spatial analysis
• excellent skills in quantitative data validation
• experience with handling oceanographic and seismic instruments and their data
• proven ability to take projects from conception to completion

Preferred:

• some knowledge of scientific data formats/standards such as netCDF, HDF, SensorML or other XML-based formats used in Earth and Ocean Sciences
• some practical experience in C/C++ or Java, XML or HTML and other scripting languages such as IDL, Mathematic is beneficial
• some experience with relational databases, modelling and simulation, and using query tools such as SQL    

Please apply through UVic Careers website at: https://uvic.mua.hrdepartment.com/hr/ats/Posting/view/11788