Senior Coastal Geomatics Scientist (Natural Resource Scientist 4)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Senior Coastal Geomatics Scientist (Natural Resource Scientist 4) within the Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) program.

Location Options:

This position can be based at any of the following duty stations:

• Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.

Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the selected duty station.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• In-office presence in Lacey is expected to the extent necessary to conduct the assigned job duties (several times per week).
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• April 27, 2025
• This position will remain open until filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hire at any time after application review begins. Applications received after April 27, 2025 may not be considered.

You will join Washington’s Applied Coastal Research and Engineering (ACRE) team, which delivers high-quality data, science-based information, technical expertise, and innovative solutions to support Washington’s coastal communities and Tribes. Through monitoring, research, and collaboration, ACRE bridges the gap between data, decision-makers, and the public to advance informed coastal management decisions that promote resilient shorelines and nearshore habitat functions.

In this role, you will be the agency’s designated expert in geomatics and remote sensing equipment and methods. You will lead scientific research campaigns in support of ACRE’s mission and be responsible for operating, maintaining, and innovating ACRE’s suite of specialized topographic and hydrographic surveying equipment.

What you will do:

Advance coastal monitoring and data collection methods

• Drive innovation in survey technologies by researching, developing, and integrating new methods into Unit’s data collection framework. 
• Manage grants and contracts including research project funding. 
• Lead strategic planning for technology adoption and ensure alignment with ACRE’s scientific objectives. 
• Engage with vendors and research institutions to assess emerging technologies, obtain product information, and negotiate purchasing agreements.  

Research survey planning and execution

• Lead planning and logistical coordination for field surveys, considering environmental conditions, research objectives, and operational constraints. 
• Establish and maintain partnerships with external institutions (e.g., USGS, Oregon State University, University of Washington) for collaborative research and data sharing. 

Field data collection and processing

• Oversee high-precision coastal monitoring surveys, including topographic, hydrographic, UAV-based, and vessel-based data collection. 
• Operate and maintain advanced surveying instruments, ensuring quality control in data acquisition and processing. 
• Coordinate data processing workflows for topographic GNSS data, multibeam bathymetry, lidar point clouds, and sediment sample analysis. Support data processing and cataloguing efforts, which may include processing sediment samples, photogrammetric data, topographic GNSS data, multibeam bathymetric data, and/or LIDAR point cloud data. 

Coastal operations safety & emergency preparedness

• Serve as ACRE’s designated Safety Officer, developing, defining, and enforcing comprehensive safety protocols for all survey operations, considering the unique hazards of remote fieldwork, marine operations, and extreme weather conditions.
• Develop and maintain ACRE’s emergency response protocols, including:
• First Aid & Remote Medical Response: Ensure staff have adequate first aid training with designated responders equipped to handle medical incidents in isolated field locations.
• Tsunami & Extreme Weather Preparedness: Develop and implement tsunami evacuation plans, extreme weather contingency protocols, and emergency communication strategies for field teams working in coastal areas.
• Emergency Equipment & Communications: Maintain and oversee field medical kits, emergency beacons, and satellite communication devices for use in areas with limited connectivity.

Management of ACRE’s suite of specialized topographic and hydrographic survey equipment

• Oversee the operation, maintenance, and calibration of ACRE’s specialized survey systems, including GNSS receivers, unmanned aerial vehicles, lidar, radio frequency identification systems, multibeam echosounders, and related hardware. Maintain equipment maintenance records. Maintain equipment maintenance records. 
• Direct and document routine maintenance of survey vehicles and vessels (truck(s), ATV(s), AUV(s), 28-ft landing craft, ATV and boat trailers), ensuring operability prior to field surveys. 
• Diagnose and resolve complex technical issues related to sensors, serial and network communications, data loggers, and software related to data acquisition. 

 Facility and laboratory oversight

• Oversee organization and functionality of ACRE’s storage and workspace facilities. Serve as ACRE representative in agency discussions on lab space planning and development.  
• Develop, define, and implement safety protocols for laboratory and storage management in compliance with agency standards. 

Ten years of combined education and professional research or consulting experience in coastal geomatics, remote sensing, coastal processes and geomorphology, coastal monitoring, surveying, engineering technology, or other work related to the essential functions and key activities of the position. Experience must include three or more of the following:

• Coordinating and/or leading high-precision coastal monitoring surveys, including topographic, hydrographic, UAV-based, and vessel-based data collection.
• Experience with a range of remote sensing data collection techniques and data processing (lidar, photogrammetry, sonar, aerial and satellite imagery, etc.). 
• Experience working with and troubleshooting geomatics survey equipment (GNSS Trimble survey equipment, mobile laser scanner, and/or sonar technology). 
• Experience diagnosing and resolving complex technical issues related to sensors, serial and network communications, data loggers, and software related to data acquisition. 
• Curating and publishing environmental datasets and scientific papers in geomatics-related topics.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

• Must possess a valid driver's license. 

• Washington State Boater’s Safety Education Card.

• Oregon ATV Safety Education Card.

• Ability and willingness to spend extended time in travel status (2-10 days) during fieldwork campaigns.

   

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or PhD coursework and work experience in broad range of geomatics topics with applications in oceanography, geology, hydrography, or environmental science. 
• Experience writing scientific reports and publications, presenting at scientific conferences, and presenting technical topics to the public. 
• Familiarity with coastal monitoring or other type of environmental data collection.
• Experience operating small powerboats in shallow coastal conditions.
• Washington State Boating License (or equivalent or higher Boating License valid in another state)
• Licensed or interest in obtaining a license to operate commercial unmanned aerial systems under the Federal Aviation Administration’s Small UAS Rule (Part 107).

If you are excited about this role but not sure if your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. You may just be the needed candidate for this or other roles.

Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Our Commitment to DEIR

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology's work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions.

Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive.

Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work.

Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement.

We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued.

Application Process

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified job seekers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Click “Apply” at the top of this page. Complete the entire application, including full work history and responses to all supplemental questions, and attach:

• Cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position
• Resume

Because we base our selection on the information you provide, it is in your best interest to complete the application thoroughly. A resume will not substitute for the “work experience” section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields or supplemental question responses with comments such as “see resume” may be considered incomplete.

Application Attestation: By submitting an application, you are affirming that the information contained in your application and on all attachments is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information, and any false or misleading answers may result in rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.

Need an Accommodation?

If you need reasonable accommodation during the application and/or screening process, including this job announcement in an alternate format:

• Please contact us at 360-407-6186 or careers@ecy.wa.gov
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 711 or 1-800-833-6384.

Questions?

• For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact Michelle Gostic at: Michelle.Gostic@ecy.wa.gov 
• If you need assistance applying for this job, are inquiring about the status of your application, would like to request the full position description, or have any other questions, please contact the Recruitment Team at careers@ecy.wa.gov

The mission of the Shorelands & Environmental Assistance Program is to create community conservation partnerships to protect and restore our shorelands, wetlands, and floodplains.

About the Department of Ecology

As the State of Washington’s environmental protection agency, we are deeply committed to protecting, preserving, and enhancing Washington’s environment for current and future generations. Joining Ecology means becoming part of a team dedicated to protecting and sustaining healthy land, air, water, and climate in harmony with a strong economy. A career in public service at Ecology allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following: Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver,  Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP),  Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information 

To learn more about Ecology, please visit our website, explore Working at Ecology, check out our Strategic Plan, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or our blog.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.  

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.

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Salary : $80,460 - $108,252