Hydrographer Intern

Job Description
Full-time, 12 months duration. Paid
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Coast Survey (OCS) is responsible for producing nautical charts and other products and services which promote safe, efficient, and environmentally safe navigation for vessels in US waters. The Hydrographic Surveys Division (HSD) of OCS is responsible for overseeing the acquisition of hydrographic survey data in support of this mission. Within HSD, the Pacific Hydrographic Branch (PHB) is responsible for the quality assurance, certification, and processing these hydrographic survey data acquired on the West Coast and Pacific Ocean. The Branch compiles information from the hydrographic surveys into chart products which support NOAA’s nautical chart production, and participates in hydrographic surveys in the field in support of this mission.
In support of the NOAA hydrographic survey effort, the intern will learn the basics of hydrographic surveying by spending 10 weeks per year aboard a NOAA vessel conducting hydrographic surveys at sea. This includes the acquisition and processing of hydrographic survey data using sonar, echosounders, oceanographic instruments, GPS, data acquisition and processing systems, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The intern will also learn the basics of hydrographic data processing, quality assurance, and creation of data products in the office environment. Once the intern has learned these fundamentals of hydrography, he or she will be eligible to participate in any number of projects in the office or at sea, including assisting in managing a hydrographic survey, participating in the development of new technology, systems, and procedures used in hydrography, or evaluating hydrographic surveys in the office and creating data products from those surveys. The intern will also spend up to 10 weeks aboard a NOAA survey platform at sea acquiring and processing hydrographic survey data.
The intern will be trained in the use of CARIS and MapInfo GIS software, hydrographic survey data acquisition and processing techniques, and quality control procedures, by participating in both formal training classes and on-the-job training.

Required Skills
Computer literacy - experience with personal computers and related office applications required. Courses or experience directly related to Geographic Information Systems, Engineering, and/or Computer Aided Design software are highly desired. Any experience with hydrographic surveys, data collection, data processing, quality control, and vessel operations a plus.

Education
Bachelor’s degree in geography or related earth science preferred.

Please email your resume and cover letter to: careers@ertcorp.com
ERT is an equal opportunity employer.