Seismic Analyst

Employment and Social Development Canada; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 84,000 - 101,000; Full time

Job summary

Natural Resources Canada is seeking a Seismologist to conduct and support a broad range of earthquake hazard activities, including locating earthquakes, estimating magnitudes, and analyzing source mechanisms. The role involves developing software, handling large datasets, and producing high-quality catalogs.

You will participate in 24/7 Seismologist on Call and communicate information to government, media and the public. The two 2-year term positions are based in Ottawa, ON and/or Sidney, BC.

Qualifications

• Graduation with a degree in physics, geology or related science.
• Experience processing and interpreting geophysical data.
• Experience conducting seismological analyses and reporting results.
• Experience with Python or Matlab for scientific programming.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and support seismological and earthquake hazard activities.
• Develop and apply software and analysis methods for earthquake data.
• Manage large geophysical/geospatial datasets and maintain catalogs.
• Prepare reports and respond to technical inquiries; communicate science to the public.

Skills

Python

Matlab

Seismology

Data analysis

Education

MSc Geophysics

Tools

SeisComP

Antelope

ObsPy

SAC

Pyrocko

Job description

Natural Resources Canada- Geoscience and Earth Monitoring Sector - Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation - Canadian Hazards Information Service

Selection process number
2026-RSN-EA-GEMS-679924

Salary
$84,382 to $101,162

Level
PC-02

Who can apply
Persons residing in Canada, and Canadian citizens and Permanent residents abroad.

Duties
The role involves conducting and supporting a broad range of seismological and earthquake hazard activities, including precise earthquake location and magnitude estimation, source and focal mechanism analysis, and assessment of propagation and site effects. Duties include participation in planning and executing technical projects, developing and applying specialized software and analytical methods, managing large geophysical and geospatial datasets, and maintaining high-quality earthquake catalogues and databases. The role also involves independently and collaboratively interpreting earthquake data for reports, responding to technical enquiries from internal and external clients, and communicating earthquake information through presentations, media interviews, and public outreach. As part of the 24/7 Seismologist on Call team, the position provides timely and authoritative earthquake information to government, media, management and the public. The role further contributes to the development of software and methodologies for routine estimation of earthquake source properties.

Intent of the process
The immediate intent of this process is to staff two 2-year term positions in Ottawa, ON and/or Sidney, BC.A pool of (fully or partially qualified) candidates will be established through this process to staff identical or similar positions within Natural Resources Canada with various tenures, language requirements/ profile(s), security requirements, conditions of employment and for various locations.

Positions to be filled
2

Important messages
Ability to communicate effectively in writing will be assessed throughout the entire application process.

• Pre-employment medical.
• Willingness and ability to undertake travel.
• Available to perform standby during off-hours and work on-call on a rotational basis as duty-seismologist.

Operational Requirements

• May participate in field operations in urban, rural and wilderness environments.

You need (essential for the job)

Your application must clearly explain how you meet the following

• Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution, with acceptable specialization in physics, geology, chemistry or some other science relevant to the position. Note: The courses for the specialization must be acceptable and must have been taken at a recognized post-secondary institution, but not necessarily within a degree program in the required specialization.

• Experience in the processing and interpretation of geophysical data.
• Experience conducting seismological analyses (e.g., determining earthquake locations, analysis of earthquake source, propagation or site effects, seismic hazard studies, or seismograph characterization).
• Experience analyzing scientific data and writing scientific reports.
• Experience with scientific programming languages such as Python or Matlab.

• Ability to complete projects autonomously.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
• Ability to prepare reports of analysis and results.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally.
• Ability to confidently and effectively handle media enquiries and public speaking.

Applied / assessed at a later date

• Knowledge of earthquakes and tectonics.
• Knowledge of methodologies for the processing of earthquake data.
• Knowledge of digital signal processing.

Language requirements (essential for the job)

May be applied / assessed at a later date

• MSc from a recognized university with acceptable specialization in Geophysics or another discipline related to the duties of the position.
• Experience analyzing earthquake recordings.
• Experience with geophysical inversion.
• Experience working with and manipulating large geospatial datasets in a GIS framework.
• Experience working with data from Data Acquisition Systems (DAS).
• Experience with software packages used for earthquake data processing (e.g., SeisComP, Antelope, ObsPy, SAC, Pyrocko).
• Experience leading or managing scientific projects.
• Knowledge of Green’s functions and their use in forward modeling.

Our commitment

We're committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please contact the hiring organization below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the population it serves. We promote employment equity and encourage you to self-declare if you belong to one of the designated employment equity groups when you apply.

Selection may be limited to members of the following employment equity groups: Indigenous (Aboriginal) peoples, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, and women.

Preference will be given to veterans first, followed by Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of jobs located in Nunavut or Yukon. For positions located in Nunavut, qualified Inuit enrolled under the Nunavut Agreement will be appointed first. For positions located in Yukon, qualified Yukon First Nations will be appointed first, followed by qualified Indigenous persons.

We'd like to thank all those who apply. However, only the people selected for further consideration will be contacted.