Geophysical Oceanographer

Special Instructions to Applicants Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for visa sponsorship. The University will not sponsor applicants for work visas (e.g., H-1B). Job Summary This position conducts applied oceanographic and geophysical research supporting autonomous underwater systems, seabed characterization, multi-sensor data collection, and environmental context modeling. The position plans and analyzes underwater survey data, characterizes seafloor and environmental conditions, and evaluates their impact on survey quality, sensor interpretation, and autonomous mission planning. Working collaboratively with AI/ML engineers, signal processing researchers, and field operations personnel, the position supports the research, development, testing, and evaluation of advanced underwater sensing and autonomous systems at the Center for Ocean Enterprise. Primary Job Duties and Responsibilities Conducts geophysical and oceanographic characterization for autonomous underwater sensing, including analysis and interpretation of seabed, bathymetric, environmental, sonar, magnetic, navigation, and other geospatial survey data. Plans, supports, and evaluates multi-sensor underwater data collection involving side-scan sonar, synthetic aperture sonar, multibeam echosounders, magnetometers, ROVs, navigation systems, and environmental sensors. Defines and evaluates environmental, seabed, and survey metadata needed to support AI/ML, signal processing, sensor interpretation, and autonomy workflows, including bottom type, bathymetry, acoustic context, navigation quality, survey quality, and sensor operating conditions. Evaluates the effects of seabed characteristics, environmental conditions, sensor geometry, vehicle motion, altitude, range, and survey design on data quality, sensor performance, interpretability, and model confidence. Develops and evaluates data quality standards and environmentally informed decision-support approaches for underwater survey products, translating oceanographic and geophysical conditions into model inputs, performance metrics, confidence factors, and operational guidance. Interprets georeferenced sonar, bathymetric, magnetic, ROV, and related datasets to support seabed classification, environmental characterization, reacquisition planning, and validation of autonomous perception and sensing outputs. Collaborates with AI/ML, signal processing, software, sensor engineering, and field operations personnel to incorporate real-world oceanographic and seabed conditions into model development, performance evaluation, testing, and mission planning. Prepares technical reports, maps, data summaries, survey assessments, research publications, presentations, and other documentation; remains current with advances in geophysical oceanography, hydrographic surveying, marine remote sensing, seabed classification, and autonomous underwater sensing.