Oceanographic Technician

About VOTO/Ocean Knowledge

The non-profit foundation Voice of the Ocean (VOTO) aims to increase public and scientific knowledge of the health of the oceans, specifically focusing on the Baltic Sea and connected seas. The Ocean Knowledge branch of VOTO, based in Gothenburg, focuses on supporting marine research and the research community through our infrastructure and expertise. We operate marine technology, collect scientific data and develop methodologies with all work openly available to the wider community. Our infrastructure includes 13 underwater gliders, four autonomous surface vessels, a micro AUV and two ROVs, as well as access to three 25m vessels equipped for research and survey work located around the Baltic and Kattegat.

Ocean Knowledge is adding an oceanographic technician to the team for technical and scientific support and to ensure the best possible data collection and operation.

Oceanographic Technician

The oceanographic technician will join our team in Gothenburg, working both in the workshop and on our vessels handling and maintaining scientific instruments and autonomous platforms. This includes a wide range of tasks such as configuration, calibration, deployment and recoveries, sampling, basic data management, monitoring, fault-finding, repairs and service.

Specifically, some of the tasks will include:

• As required, travel domestically and internationally to support fieldwork around the Baltic Sea.
• Validate, document and configure scientific instruments.
• Maintain, fault-find and repair our fleet of Gliders, ASVs, AUVs, ROVs and sampling equipment.
• Prepare and document missions.

Requirements:

• The duties of the technician (including fieldwork, monitoring and at sea) will require out of hours work and travel domestically and internationally up to 50 days per year.
• Experience with handling scientific instrumentation and/or survey equipment and data.
• Willingness to learn and develop skills in both technical and oceanographic aspects of scientific sensors, gliders and other autonomous vehicles
• Motivated and driven team player, willing to work night/weekends on a scheduled basis
• Experience working at sea.
• Interest in oceanography and marine environments.
• Driver’s license

Beneficial Skills:

• Background in academia and practical oceanography work, sampling and lab work.
• Experience with marine biological/chemical/biogeochemical sampling methods.
• Someone who is actively interested in finding, following and developing best practices and protocols for at-sea water sampling.
• Someone who is interested in finding the best solutions to answer scientific questions; collaborating with the team to think outside the box.
• Experience with larger research vessel operations.
• Experience with AUVs, ASVs, ROVs or Ocean Gliders
• Experience with hydrographic surveying
• Experience with oceanographic sensors
• Experience with oceanography or similar marine science

It’s important to us to build a supportive and diverse team with people who share our values to promote curiosity for the oceans and to work towards a better future. If you think this is you, but you maybe don’t fulfil all of the requirements, please still get in touch with us and we encourage you to apply!

Work environment

The Ocean Knowledge team is a close knit team of 12 working from the VOTO office in Gothenburg. We have a supportive and driven work environment, where we encourage all team members to innovate, push for our shared goals and problem solve together. It has taken good teamwork to set up and maintain our ocean observatories, and we learn from each other’s strengths.

Applications

The position is based in Gothenburg, Sweden. Applicants are expected to have the ability to live and work in the EU.

For further information, or to apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter by e-mail to Anna Willstrand Wranne at oceanknowledge@voiceoftheocean.org by 31 January 2025.