Coastal Solutions Scientist

Surfline; San Diego (CA); Remote; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare (100% company-paid)

401(k) plan and match

Use What You Need PTO

Job summary

Surfline is seeking a Coastal Solutions Scientist to translate coastal data into actionable insights for partners. The role spans Americas and APAC, with a strong scientific voice in partnership conversations and the creation of reports that demonstrate measurable value.

Fully remote is possible under Surfline’s Work from Anywhere policy, with California-based candidates strongly preferred. The base salary ranges from $90,000 to $100,000, with comprehensive benefits including healthcare, a

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in oceanography, coastal engineering, or related coastal science.
• Experience applying wave, tide, or sea level data to real world coastal decisions.
• Ability to explain complex science clearly to expert and nonexpert audiences alike.
• Comfort answering hard technical questions live, without a script or safety net.
• Proficiency with Python, R, or GIS tools for fast, credible exploratory analyses.
• Intellectual honesty about SCI's data limits and capabilities.
• Collaborative style prioritizing partner decisions over argument.
• Strong writing skills for reports busy decision makers will read.
• Genuine interest in coasts and the communities that depend on them.

Responsibilities

• Join the SCI team on calls and meetings when partners raise complex scientific questions.
• Serve as SCI's scientific peer to coastal scientists and engineers on partner teams.
• Explain SCI's data sources, models, and methods clearly, including strengths and limits.
• Translate partner questions into SCI datasets, forecasts, and analyses that answer them.
• Build reports and light analyses showing measurable value of SCI capabilities.
• Define scientific success metrics and evaluate pilots with rigor.
• Prepare technical responses for RFPs, grants, and procurement requirements.
• Validate SCI outputs against partner data and published research to build credibility.

Skills

Science communication

Client facing

Strong writing

Collaborative style

Public speaking

Education

Graduate degree in oceanography / coastal engineering

Tools

Python

R

GIS

Job description

Surfline Coastal Intelligence turns decades of ocean and coastal data into insight that helps communities, engineers, and agencies make better decisions about the coast. As Coastal Solutions Scientist , you will be the scientific voice in our partnership conversations, joining the SCI team across the Americas and APAC whenever a partner's questions call for deep coastal expertise. You will translate SCI's data, models, and methods into clear answers for scientists and decision makers alike, and build the reports and analyses that show partners exactly where SCI makes a difference.

Under Surfline’s “Work from Anywhere” policy, this position may be performed on a full-time remote basis, with California-based candidates strongly preferred.

What You'll Do:

• Join the SCI team on calls and in meetings when partners raise complex scientific questions.
• Serve as SCI's scientific peer to coastal scientists and engineers on partner and prospect teams.
• Explain SCI's data sources, models, and methods clearly, including their strengths and limits.
• Translate partner questions into the specific SCI datasets, forecasts, and analyses that answer them.
• Build reports and light analyses that show partners where SCI's capabilities create measurable value.
• Support structured pilots by defining scientific success metrics and evaluating results with rigor.
• Prepare technical responses for RFPs, grant applications, and public procurement requirements.
• Validate SCI outputs against partner data and published research to build credibility in every deal.
• Bring partner questions SCI cannot yet answer back to product and data science as clear roadmap input.
• Create reusable case studies, technical briefs, and demo materials the whole BD team can use.
• Help the sales team qualify opportunities early by flagging where scientific fit is strong or weak.
• Partner with the dispersed SCI science team to bring the right expert into each conversation.
• Represent SCI's science at conferences, technical workshops, and industry events to build credibility.

What We're Looking For:

• A graduate degree in oceanography, coastal engineering, or a related coastal science.
• Experience applying wave, tide, or sea level data to real world coastal decisions.
• An ability to explain complex science clearly to expert and nonexpert audiences alike.
• Comfort answering hard technical questions live, without a script or a safety net.
• Proficiency with Python, R, or GIS tools for fast, credible exploratory analyses.
• Intellectual honesty about what SCI's data can and cannot support.
• A collaborative style that puts the partner's decision ahead of winning an argument.
• Strong writing skills for reports that busy decision makers will actually read.
• Genuine interest in coasts and the communities that depend on them.

You May Also Have:

• Experience in a client facing, consulting, or sales engineering role.
• Familiarity with NOAA, FEMA, or USACE coastal programs and standards.
• Passion for surfing or other ocean activities.

Compensation and Benefits:
The base salary range for this position is $90,000 - $100,000. In accordance with applicable state laws, the range provided is Surfline’s reasonable estimate of the base compensation for this role. The actual amount may be higher or lower, based on non-discriminatory factors such as experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and location. In addition, Surfline offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package including 100% company-paid healthcare (medical, dental, and vision), a 401(k) plan and match, ‘Use What You Need’ PTO, and more.

About Surfline

Millions of people around the world depend on Surfline’s products to enrich their experiences in and around the ocean. Since 1985, our company has connected people with the ocean. Starting with surfers and expanding to offshore cruisers, anglers and a myriad of other ocean enthusiasts, we’ve made it our mission to deliver peak maritime experiences. We provide those who work and play in the ocean with all the advanced tools, personalized insights and immersive content to make their lives better -- supplying them with the information they need to make smarter decisions, seek out new experiences and gain valuable knowledge.

We are dedicated to bringing people together across the globe, and we champion and encourage those who bring different perspectives, ideas, and creativity. At Surfline, we recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, gender identity, gender expression, age, veteran status, and any other protected status.