Senior Oceanographic Technician – Benthic & Fisheries

Global Energy Network; Aberdeen City; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

INSPIRE Environmental seeks a Senior Oceanographic Technician to lead offshore field operations, deploy and maintain a range of environmental survey instruments, and contribute to marine science projects worldwide.

You will manage field logistics, mentor junior staff, and help advance innovative survey technologies while spending time at sea on UK and international vessels as needed.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years offshore field experience in marine science or hydrographic survey
• UK/EU waters offshore safety practices experience
• Experience operating offshore navigation software and USBL/ROV systems
• Ability to travel frequently and work extended offshore rotations
• Bachelor’s degree in oceanography, marine science or related discipline

Responsibilities

• Lead offshore mobilization, deployment, operation, and troubleshooting of oceanographic equipment
• Oversee data quality, QA/QC, and field documentation
• Mentor junior technicians and field staff
• Assist with survey planning, equipment maintenance, warehouse organisation, and logistics coordination
• Support development and improvement of marine survey technologies and workflows

Skills

Offshore field experience

Team leadership

Problem solving

Operations management

Technical troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in oceanography or related discipline

Equivalent combinations of education and offshore experience

Tools

USBL navigation

ROV operation

Underwater camera systems

Job description

About Us

INSPIRE Environmental, a leading global marine environmental consultancy and member of the London
based Venterra Group, is seeking a full-time Senior Oceanographic Technician to support offshore
environmental survey operations, lead field deployments, maintain specialized instrumentation, and
contribute to the continued development of innovative marine monitoring systems.

We combine cutting-edge marine science, advanced technology, and practical environmental solutions to
support offshore energy, fisheries, and marine development projects worldwide. As part of the Venterra
Group, our multidisciplinary team delivers integrated environmental services across benthic ecology,
fisheries science, marine acoustics, oceanographic instrumentation, and spatial data analytics.

The Role

As a Senior Oceanographic Technician and part of INSPIRE’s UK Data Acquisition Team, you will lead
field teams in the collection of offshore benthic and environmental data. You will be responsible for
management, operation, maintenance, and deployment of a wide variety of environmental survey
instrumentation, while contributing to marine science research, environmental and fisheries monitoring,
and offshore development projects. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced offshore
professional to bring hands-on technical expertise, problem-solving, and field leadership to a high
functioning and collaborative team.

In this role, you will be responsible for the deployment, operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of a
wide range of oceanographic instrumentation, with a focus on image-based techniques. This position
requires extensive hands‑on offshore experience and the ability, and desire, to spend time at sea aboard
UK and international vessels of opportunity for periods ranging from days to several weeks at a time.

While not offshore, INSPIRE’s Senior Oceanographic Technician will assist with project management,
and lead equipment maintenance and calibration, inventory management, survey planning, subcontractor
management, proposal development, and data processing and reporting. Training will be provided. In this
role, you will also be expected to contribute to continuous improvement of field procedures, operational
workflows, and technical capabilities across the organization. This is a role that offers variety,
responsibility, and opportunity for professional growth within a well-established and expanding marine
science company.

Essential Functions

• Actively demonstrate and promote HSSE awareness, compliance, and best practices in all work
  activities.
• Ability to lead teams in a high stress, fast-paced environment (i.e. shipboard).
• Capable of completing project management tasks and coordinating across diverse technical
  groups
• Lead offshore mobilization, deployment, operation, and troubleshooting, of oceanographic and
  marine survey equipment such as sonars, USBLs, CTDs, ROVs, drop‑down cameras, BRUVs,
  SPI/PV, environmental sensors, and sampling devices and navigation systems on vessels of
  opportunity.
• Supervise all offshore safety and operating procedures while upholding INSPIRE’s strong
  commitment to safety, operational excellence, and scientific integrity.
• Ensure that data collected meet scientific objectives and client requirements, while producing
  traceable, accurate field documentation, compliant metadata, and following documented QA/QC
  procedures.
• Contribute to maintenance and organization of warehouse and field equipment. inventory,
  including all documentation, parts inventory and rental equipment.
• Assist with survey planning, including leading the development survey documentation (e.g.,
  project execution plans, risk assessment methods statements), equipment testing, calibration,
  and logistics coordination.
• Participate in data processing and reporting workflow with INSPIRE scientists following data
  acquisition.
• Mentor and train junior technicians and field staff.
• Support development and improvement of innovative marine survey technologies and operational
  workflows.
• While not offshore, INSPIRE’s Senior Oceanographic Technician will assist with equipment
  maintenance and calibration, inventory management, survey planning, subcontractor
  management, proposal contributions, and data processing and reporting

About You

We’re looking for a practical, motivated Senior Oceanographic Technician who enjoys working with
diverse technical groups, across all aspects of environmental projects, and thrives in a dynamic marine
environment. We are looking for someone with:

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 3-5 years of offshore field experience in marine science, hydrographic survey,
  environmental monitoring, or oceanographic operations
• Strong understanding of environmental survey operations and offshore safety practices in UK and
  EU waters
• Experience operating offshore navigation software and USBL, underwater camera systems, and
  other benthic and sediment sampling equipment.
• Experience troubleshooting subsea instrumentation
• Ability to work safely and effectively in physically demanding offshore environments as part of a
  team
• Ability to effectively interface with vessel captains and survey crews
• Strong organizational and written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to travel frequently and work extended offshore rotations
• Valid driver’s license (and good driving record) and UK passport, and ability to travel
  internationally as needed
• Flexibility to adapt to changing schedules and priorities
• Ability to pass a 10-panel drug test
• Ability to pass medical examination and complete sea-survival training
  Required Education and Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in oceanography, marine science, marine technology, engineering technology,
  or related discipline; equivalent combinations of education, technical training and offshore
  experience will also be considered.
• 5+ years experience in marine science, hydrographic survey, environmental monitoring, or
  oceanographic operations with direct responsibility for directing staff, and operating and
  maintaining instrumentation.
• Experience operating under a rigorous Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE)
  Programs
• Permitted to work in the UK (UK passport)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience operating underwater camera systems and observation-class remotely operated
  vehicles (ROVs)
• Experience with shipboard navigation software (e.g., Qinsy, Hypack, etc.), USBL set‑up and
  operations
• GIS mapping
• Ability to repair electrical and electronic devices
• EU passport

We are building a progressive, flexible team to respond to new and exciting work, join us!
At INSPIRE, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment
opportunities are available to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national
origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender
expression, genetic information, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by
applicable law. INSPIRE believes that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success as a company,
and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool