Computer Scientist - Acoustic Telemetry Data Processing

PSMFC; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 54,000 - 83,000; Part time

Job summary

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission seeks a Computer Scientist - Acoustic Telemetry Data Processing for a part-time temporary role in Cook, WA. The candidate will process Innovasea HTI 307 kHz telemetry data, identify transmitter detections, and export time-stamped summaries for position estimation using LabVIEW.

Responsibilities include developing and maintaining LabVIEW applications, reviewing data quality, and supporting data processing workflows for acoustic telemetry datasets in a

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of experience developing applications using National Instruments LabVIEW.
• Demonstrated expertise processing Innovasea HTI 307 kHz acoustic telemetry fisheries data.
• Experience processing raw acoustic telemetry files for known transmitter detections.
• Ability to generate time-stamped detection data and summaries and prepare data for positioning algorithms.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain data management systems.
• Identify and extract detections from acoustic telemetry data.
• Generate time-stamped reports of detector results.
• Prepare data for positioning algorithms and support their execution.
• Develop and troubleshoot LabVIEW applications used in telemetry data processing.
• Ensure data quality and processing outputs for accurate position estimation.

Skills

LabVIEW development

Acoustic telemetry data processing

Data quality control

Tools

National Instruments LabVIEW

Job description

Computer Scientist - Acoustic Telemetry Data Processing

#26-1163

Cook, Washington, United States

Job Description

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is now accepting applications to fill the role of a Computer Scientist - Acoustic Telemetry Data Processing. This is a part-time temporary position located in Cook, Washington.

Project Description

We are seeking a Computer Scientist to support the processing and analysis of fisheries acoustic telemetry data. The position will work with Innovasea HTI 307 kHz acoustic telemetry data collected from a telemetry array used to monitor fish movement and location. The successful candidate will use National Instruments LabVIEW and related graphical programming tools to process raw acoustic data files and identify detections associated with known transmitters. Detection records will be summarized and exported with corresponding timestamps for subsequent analysis. These detection results will then be processed through a positioning algorithm to estimate fish locations within the telemetry array. The position requires substantial experience developing and maintaining LabVIEW applications and specialized expertise working with acoustic telemetry data.

Position Objective

The primary objective of this position is to process raw Innovasea HTI 307 kHz acoustic telemetry data into reliable, time-stamped transmitter detection records that can be used to estimate fish positions within an acoustic telemetry array.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

The Computer Scientist will:

• Process raw Innovasea HTI 307 kHz acoustic telemetry data files.
• Identify and extract detections associated with known acoustic transmitters.
• Generate and export time-stamped summaries of transmitter detection results.
• Prepare detection data for use in a positioning algorithm.
• Run or support processing of detection results through a positioning algorithm to estimate fish locations within the telemetry array.
• Develop, operate, maintain, and troubleshoot National Instruments LabVIEW applications used in telemetry data processing.
• Apply graphical programming techniques to support efficient processing, quality control, and analysis of acoustic telemetry data.
• Review processing outputs to identify data-quality or processing issues and ensure that resulting detection records are suitable for position estimation.

Schedule and Duration

Work schedule: Part Time - variable hours per week

Position duration: Not to exceed 520 hours total

About the Successful Candidate

The ideal candidate will combine advanced LabVIEW development skills with hands‑on experience processing Innovasea HTI acoustic telemetry data. This position is particularly suited to someone who can move comfortably between software development, large or specialized scientific datasets, and fisheries telemetry analysis while producing reliable data products for subsequent fish‑position estimation.

Essential Functions

The functions listed are characteristic of the type and level of work associated with this group and pay band. They are not all-inclusive. Individual positions may perform some or all, as well as other similar work.

• Design, develop, and maintain data management systems that meet current and future business requirements.
• Design, develop and maintain databases. Recommend new or modified standards, methods, and procedures.
• Define, allocate, and modify storage capacity.
• Develop data dictionaries, data models, metadata repositories, and other data management tools.
• Produce database design schema for integrating source data into data management systems.
• Ensure data compliance with data exchange formats and database structure.
• Monitor and optimize database performance and tune database operations.
• Troubleshoot database problems.
• Advise participating state and tribal agencies of new database features, provide technical guidance, and assist with database design and implementation.
• Generate complex queries and reports. Oversee data distribution systems, including user interface and reporting capabilities.
• Participate in the design of data mining and data warehousing systems.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

• Knowledge of the customary approaches, techniques, and requirements appropriate to database management.
• Knowledge of planning sequences necessary to accomplish assignments where this entailed coordination with others outside the organizational unit and development of project controls.
• Adaptation of guidelines or precedents to the needs of the assignment.

The Specialized Experience must equip the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, the Specialized Experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower level in the normal line of progression position.

Knowledge Required by the Position

• Database management concepts, principles, and methods including database logical and physical design, normalization, storage capacity management, and back up and recovery.
• Data flow design and business process design.
• Sources, characteristics, and uses of the organization’s data assets
• Database management systems, query languages, table relationships, and views.
• Data mining and data warehousing principles.
• The characteristics of physical and virtual data storage media.
• Data administration and data standardization policies and standards in developing and managing large-scale, multi‑agency databases.

At the upper end of the range, the employee uses mastery-level knowledge, skills and abilities in the above areas.

Physical Demands

The work is sedentary with moderate walking between workstations and carrying folders, reports, and similar light loads.

Work Environment

The work is performed in an office setting with adequate lighting, heating and ventilation. There are the normal risks of an office environment.

Qualifications

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

Candidates must possess:

• At least five years of experience developing applications using National Instruments LabVIEW.
• Demonstrated expertise processing Innovasea HTI 307 kHz acoustic telemetry fisheries data.
• Experience processing raw acoustic telemetry files for known transmitter detections.
• Experience generating time‑stamped detection data and summary outputs.
• Knowledge of data‑processing workflows associated with acoustic telemetry systems.
• Ability to troubleshoot software, data‑processing, and analytical workflow issues.
• Ability to work independently with technically specialized datasets and software applications.

Desirable Skills

Preference may be given to candidates with:

• Strong graphical programming experience.
• Experience developing or modifying algorithms and data‑processing routines within LabVIEW.
• Experience working with acoustic telemetry positioning algorithms.
• Experience analyzing fish movement or fisheries telemetry datasets.
• Experience performing quality assurance and quality control on acoustic telemetry detection data.

Location

Columbia River Research Laboratory

4 months or less

Position Type

Temporary

Travel Requirements

Up to 10%

Employees accrue sick time at a rate of 0.047/hour with a maximum of 96 hours per year. Employees also receive 12 paid holidays each year, paid time for jury duty and bereavement leave.

Driving

State Vehicle - Valid driver's license required. Offers of employment contingent upon passing driving records check.

Salary Target

$38.69-60.28/hour

Closing Date

Oct 14, 2026

PSMFC participates in E-Verify. We consider all qualified candidates legally authorized to work in the United States and able to provide proof of eligibility. PSMFC is unable to support visa sponsorships or extensions.

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is an Affluent (AA) and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer, and welcomes all qualified applicants. Applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, genetic data, or other legally protected status.

If you have a disability and need assistance completing the application form, you may call the PSMFC Human Resources office at [phone] between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. PT, Monday-Friday. Reasonable accommodations for interviews will be provided upon request to individuals with disabilities.

We maintain a drug‑free workplace.

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