Life Support Technician - Harborview Aquarium

zooceanariumgroupllc; City of Syracuse (NY); On-site; USD 49,594,000 - 55,793,000; Full time

Job summary

The Life Support Technician at Zoo Oceanarium Group LLC is responsible for the operation, maintenance and repair of life support systems used for live animal habitats, ensuring the well-being of marine life.

Responsibilities include commissioning and daily operation of LSS equipment, monitoring water quality, performing preventive maintenance, and coordinating with vendors. Compliance with OSHA/EPA/DEC and safety protocols is required.

Qualifications

• One year+ in a similar life support role.
• PADI Open Water certification or ability to obtain within 90 days.
• First Aid, CPR, Emergency O2, and AED certification (or ability to obtain within 90 days).
• Ability to adhere to OSHA standards and proper PPE use in aquarium environment.
• Proficiency with basic hand/power tools.
• Knowledge of water chemistry in aquarium settings.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist in commissioning life support systems, including startup and testing.
• Operate and maintain LSS equipment (pumps, filters, UV, ozone) and CO2 control platforms.
• Monitor water quality (temp, salinity, DO, ORP, pH, nitrogen cycle) and coordinate corrective actions.
• Perform preventive maintenance per manufacturers' schedule and document logs.
• Maintain logs, work orders, and performance data in the CMMS.
• Conduct routine testing of backup systems and assist with emergency drills.
• Support events, extended hours, and seasonal operations.

Skills

Attention to detail

Safety compliance

Verbal and written communication

Education

PADI Open Water or equivalent

First Aid/CPR/AED certification

Tools

CMMS

Hand tools

Power tools

Job description

Position Type & Salary

• Full Time Salaried
• $18/hour

Position Summary

The Life Support Technician is responsible for the operation, maintenance and repair of facilities and equipment associated with live animal habitats. Management and preventative maintenance of all life support system (LSS) equipment, including but not limited to pumps, sand filters, UV, ozone generators and other equipment that are critical to animal health.

Duties & Responsibilities

Pre-Opening / Commissioning Phase

• Assist in commissioning all life support systems, including system startup, performance testing, and documentation of baseline operating parameters.
• Participate in the assembly, start-up, and operations of standalone aquatic life support systems, including smaller independent systems serving specialized habitats and holding areas.
• Support the setup of spare parts inventory, maintenance tools, and vendor relationships.

Operational Phase

• Participate in daily inspection and operation of all LSS equipment including pumps, filtration systems, ozone generators, UV systems, chemical dosing, and control/automation platforms.
• Monitor water quality parameters (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, ORP, pH, nitrogen cycle stability, and clarity) and coordinate corrective actions with all responsible parties as needed.
• Maintain the preventative maintenance program of all LSS equipment through the manufacturers' scheduled maintenance for all equipment.
• Perform general building repair and maintenance in both guest-facing areas and back-of-house.
• Assist in making seawater for marine systems.
• Complete daily work orders and PM tasks.
• Perform advanced troubleshooting of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems; coordinate with contractors and vendors for specialized repairs.
• Maintain accurate system logs, work orders, and performance data in the CMMS.
• Conduct routine testing of backup systems and support emergency preparedness drills.
• Assist in coordinating facility support for special events, extended hours, and seasonal operations.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable OSHA, EPA, NY State DEC, USFWS, FWC, local Health Department, Fire Marshal, and AZA standards.
• Promote a safety-first culture; enforce lockout/tagout, confined space, respiratory protection, and chemical handling protocols at all times.
• Other duties as assigned.

Experience, Skills & Qualifications

• One year+ in a similar position required.
• PADI Open Water or equivalent (or able to obtain within 90 days of employment) required.
• First Aid, CPR, Emergency O2, and AED certification (or able to obtain within 90 days of employment) required.
• Ability to adhere to OSHA standards and proper use of personal protective equipment in an aquarium environment required.
• Working proficiency with basic hand tools and power tools.
• Skilled in general construction, troubleshooting mechanical systems and the safe use of tools required.
• Preferred certifications - AALSO Operator Level II and Water Quality Level II.
• Knowledge of water chemistry and monitoring in an aquarium environment required.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills required.

Abilities

• Requires walking/ standing for long periods of time, bending and crouching, climbing, working in small/tight spaces, and lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to read, listen and communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to access and accurately input information using a moderately complex computer system.
• Hearing and visual ability to observe and detect signs of emergency situations.
• Requires the ability to perform the physical, visual and hearing requirements in the working conditions above.

Other

• Upon employment all team members are required to comply with the standards, rules and regulations, which may be established by the Company and updated from time-to-time. Team members who violate property rules or have irregular attendance will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.
• The leisure business functions seven days a week. Due to the seasonal nature of the industry, team members may be required to work varying schedules, weekends, holidays and overtime to reflect the business needs of the property. Team members may also be required to attend group and/or department meetings in addition to the work shift as necessary.
• This job description is not an exclusive or exhaustive list of all job functions that a team member in this position may be asked to perform.