Job Listings

The Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering Department is searching for an instrumentation engineer to join the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) Coastal and Global Scale Nodes (CGSN) team. This is a regular full-time, exempt position and is eligible for benefits. The internal working title for this position could be either Engineer I or Engineer II. The final level of the position will be determined commensurate with the selected candidate's level of education & experience.   The role of the position primarily consists of working with a range of oceanographic instruments from initial testing through deployment and recovery for the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI). OOI is an NSF funded project with the purpose of deploying and maintaining data collection moorings to measure physical, chemical, and biological processes for the scientific community.  

The Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering Department is searching for an instrumentation technician to join the Ocean Observatories Initiative team. This is a regular full-time position and is eligible for benefits. The internal working title for this position could be either Engineering Assistant II/III, or Sr Engineering Assistant I. The final level of the position will be determined commensurate with the selected candidate's level of education & experience.   The role of the position primarily consists of working with a range of oceanographic instruments from initial testing through deployment and recovery for the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI). OOI is an NSF funded project with the purpose of deploying and maintaining data collection moorings to measure physical, chemical, and biological processes for the scientific community.  

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is the world's leading, independent non-profit organization dedicated to ocean research, exploration, and education. Our scientists and engineers push the boundaries of knowledge about the ocean to reveal its impacts on our planet and our lives.   The Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering Department is currently searching for a Sensor Development Engineer to work with a cross-disciplinary team focused on developing biogeochemical sensors and instrumentation for ocean and environmental applications.  Areas of interest include the ocean carbon system, coral reef health, microplastics, sea level rise, and deep ocean exploration. This is a broad posting targeting engineers with interest/experience in various aspects of sensor development.  Significant duties include designing, prototyping, testing, and characterizing various sensor systems on the lab bench, and subsequently deploying and validating them at sea.  Familiarity with optics or optical sensing is beneficial but not essential.  A desire to propose and pursue novel ideas and technologies is encouraged.  This is a 1 year assignment and is a regular, full-time position.    Job Level  This is an entry to mid career level position designed to encourage the connection and application of academic training to results-oriented projects in support of scientific and research activities. Initially this position will have direct supervision to achieve structured and assigned objectives, and is expected to later expand to broader and more independent tasks.  The candidate will be expected to work on tasks requiring creativity and independent thinking, along with a proven understanding of fundamental research and engineering principles.  The ideal candidate will have at least one area of specific engineering expertise (electrical, mechanical, ocean technology, computer science, or software), with demonstrated basic familiarity in a second area.  Entry level candidates will be expected to learn new skills rapidly.    The internal working title for this position could be either Engineer I or Engineer II or Research Engineer.  The final level of the position will be determined commensurate with the selected candidate's level of education & experience.    

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is currently searching for an Mechanical Engineer to join the Alvin Submersible Engineering and Operations Group. This is a temporary, full-time, exempt position, and is eligible for limited benefits.    Alvin is the world’s most renowned human occupied submersible, continually operating since its commissioning in 1964. For over five decades, and 5000+ dives Alvin has advanced our understanding of the Earth’s ocean environments, uncovering many significant scientific discoveries along the way. Alvin was recently certified to 6500m and now has the ability to explore over 98% of the ocean floor.   The Alvin Group is currently seeking a highly motivated, technically competent and responsible Mechanical Engineer to join our operations team. With supervision, a successful candidate applies electronic/electrical aptitude and acquired knowledge of established procedures to the maintenance, troubleshooting and repair of vehicle related equipment used in the operation and support of the Alvin submersible.   This is a physically demanding position requiring the ability and willingness to spend six-to-eight months per year at sea. The remainder of the year’s workload would be at the institution and may require a local residence. After an initial training period, the position would allow for minimally supervised maintenance on the vehicle, and additional qualifications to perform key submersible support roles. Exceptional candidates will be entered into the Alvin Pilot in Training program with the goal of completing qualifications as Alvin Pilot in Command.   The internal working title for this position is Engineer I

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is currently seeking seasonal Engineering Technicians to join the Applied Ocean Physics & Engineering Department for the 2024 summer period (May - August 2024).   These are temporary, casual, non-exempt positions and are eligible for casual benefits.    Summer hiring positions provide technical assistance to mechanical and electrical design engineers by performing maintenance, testing, and repairs to electrical or mechanical systems.      Engineer Assistant I Level: With close supervision, uses established procedures to perform prescribed tasks related to the engineering support of oceanographic research.   Engineer Assistant II Level: With some supervision, applies acquired knowledge of established procedures to the assembly, testing, and use of equipment in support of engineering projects related to oceanographic research.   Engineer Assistant III Level: With little supervision, applies a broad knowledge of established procedures to the assembly, testing, or calibration of equipment developed and used in support of engineering projects related to oceanographic instrumentation.   The internal working titles for these positions could be Engineering Assistant I, II, or III.  The final level of these positions will be determined commensurate with the selected candidate's level of education and experience.  

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is searching for a highly motivated and enthusiastic Embedded Systems Engineer to join the Oceanographic Systems Lab (OSL) within the Applied Ocean Physics & Engineering Department (AOPE). This is a regular full-time, exempt position, and is eligible for benefits.     OSL is a world leader in Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) technology and operation in many complex oceanographic environments.  Military and scientific applications of AUVs are supported by OSL including biologic and physical surveys, mapping, under-ice operations, environmental anomaly detection, and filming megafauna.  OSL works with REMUS AUVs developed at WHOI and equipment designed elsewhere, expanding capabilities of the AUVs and the sensors they support.  The OSL team operates in a creative and exciting workspace from creation of ideas to deployment in the field.   OSL is recruiting qualified candidates for a position in electrical engineering in underwater robotics, communication, and navigation with a heavy emphasis on applied applications in the ocean. The work will involve support of existing systems, electronic design and development of new systems, and troubleshooting at all levels.  Specifically, it will require support and development of electronic designs for embedded, microcontroller-based systems and their firmware, and of software for general purpose computers.  The position will also involve going to sea to support data collection and experimentation, and post-processing and analysis.   A successful candidate, with some on the job training and supervision, works creatively to establish objectives, meet deadlines, and complete engineering assignments by demonstrating full competency in one or more engineering areas; assists substantively in planning technical aspects of new developments, as well as design, testing, and use of major system components. The candidate must be a self-starter that can take a task and make progress under a deadline.   The internal working title for this position could be either Engineer I or Engineer II.  The final level of the position will be determined commensurate with the selected candidate’s level of education and experience.  

The Ship Operations Department is currently searching for a Port Engineer to join their team. This position is responsible for designing and overseeing installation and/or repair of marine power plants, propulsion systems, heating, ventilating and all other mechanical and electrical systems on research vessels. This is a regular, full-time, exempt position, and is eligible for benefits.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is searching for a highly motivated and enthusiastic Embedded Systems Engineer to join the Oceanographic Systems Lab (OSL) within the Applied Ocean Physics & Engineering Department (AOPE). This is a regular full-time, exempt position, and is eligible for benefits.     OSL is a world leader in Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) technology and operation in many complex oceanographic environments.  Military and scientific applications of AUVs are supported by OSL including biologic and physical surveys, mapping, under-ice operations, environmental anomaly detection, and filming megafauna.  OSL works with REMUS AUVs developed at WHOI and equipment designed elsewhere, expanding capabilities of the AUVs and the sensors they support.  The OSL team operates in a creative and exciting workspace from creation of ideas to deployment in the field.   OSL is recruiting qualified candidates for a position in electronic and software engineering in support of applied research and development in underwater robotics, communication, and navigation. The work will involve support of existing systems, electronic design and development of new systems, and troubleshooting at all levels.  Specifically, it will require support and development of electronic designs for embedded, microcontroller-based systems and their firmware, and of software for general purpose computers.  The position will also involve going to sea to support data collection and experimentation, and post-processing and analysis.   A successful candidate, with little supervision, works creatively and independently to establish objectives, meet deadlines, and complete difficult engineering assignments by demonstrating full competency in one or more engineering areas; assists substantively in planning technical aspects of new developments, as well as design, testing, and use of major system components.   The internal working title for this position could be either Engineer II or Research Engineer.  The final level of the position will be determined commensurate with the selected candidate’s level of education and experience.