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Ocean Acoustics Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Vatn Systems

Acoustic Systems Engineer

Bristol, RI · On-site

Familiarity with underwater or ocean acoustics, including propagation, array theory, or the sonar equation * Experience deploying sensor perception algorithms on embedded hardware (Jetson or similar ...

Vatn Systems

Acoustic Systems Engineer

Bristol, RI · On-site

Familiarity with underwater or ocean acoustics, including propagation, array theory, or the sonar equation * Experience deploying sensor perception algorithms on embedded hardware (Jetson or similar ...

L3HHCM20

Lead Systems Engineering

Millersville, MD · On-site

Expert fluency in ocean acoustics, including sound speed structure, volume and boundary interactions, signal propagation and coherence, ambient noise structure and coherence, and the traditional ...

US Department of the Navy

SCIENTIST

Newport, RI · On-site

$101K/yr

Specialized experience must demonstrate the following: experience using models or simulations to conduct analysis of sonar systems and/or ocean acoustics. Additional qualification information can be ...

U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)

SCIENTIST

Newport, RI

$101K/yr

Specialized experience must demonstrate the following: experience using models or simulations to conduct analysis of sonar systems and/or ocean acoustics. Additional qualification information can be ...

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Ocean Acoustics information

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How much do ocean acoustics jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average hourly pay for ocean acoustics in the United States is $35.10, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $25.96 and $42.79 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is ocean acoustics?

Ocean acoustics is the scientific study of how sound behaves in the ocean environment. It involves understanding how sound waves travel through seawater, interact with marine life, seafloor, and underwater structures, as well as how they can be used for communication, navigation, and monitoring ocean processes. Ocean acoustics is crucial for applications such as submarine navigation, detecting underwater earthquakes, studying marine animals, and monitoring environmental changes. Professionals in this field often use specialized equipment like hydrophones and sonar systems to collect and analyze acoustic data. The work can support research, environmental protection, and military operations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an ocean acoustics specialist?

To excel as an Ocean Acoustics Specialist, you need a strong background in physics, mathematics, and marine science, often supported by a graduate degree in oceanography or a related field. Familiarity with acoustic modeling software, signal processing tools, and data analysis platforms such as MATLAB or Python is typically required. Critical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication are important soft skills for interpreting data and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. These competencies are crucial for accurately assessing underwater sound environments and contributing valuable insights to marine research, environmental monitoring, and policy development.

What are some common challenges faced by ocean acoustics professionals when collecting and analyzing underwater sound data?

Ocean acoustics professionals often encounter challenges such as dealing with background noise from ships or marine life, equipment malfunctions in harsh ocean environments, and the complexity of interpreting acoustic signals affected by changing water conditions. Data collection can be impacted by weather, currents, and logistical constraints related to deploying and retrieving instruments. Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, including marine biologists and engineers, is essential for addressing these challenges and ensuring accurate data analysis.

What is the difference between Ocean Acoustics vs Marine Acoustic Engineer?

AspectOcean AcousticsMarine Acoustic Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Acoustics, Oceanography, or related fieldsBachelor's or Master's in Marine Engineering, Acoustics, or related disciplines
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, ocean observatories, field deploymentsShipboard, offshore platforms, research vessels
Industry UsageStudying sound propagation in oceans, marine life, submarine detectionDesigning and testing marine acoustic systems, sonar equipment

Ocean Acoustics focuses on understanding sound behavior in the ocean environment, while Marine Acoustic Engineers apply this knowledge to develop and optimize marine sonar and communication systems. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds but differ in their primary focus and work settings.

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Ocean Acoustics jobs near you
Infographic showing various Ocean Acoustics job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 76% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 16% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $73,007 per year, or $35.1 per hour.

Staff Scientist -- Marine Acoustics

Sofar Ocean

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$121 - $171/hr

Other

Re-posted 17 days ago

Job description

The Role:

Sofar designs, builds, and deploys ocean sensing networks at a global scale that provide unique observational knowledge of the ocean environment. We are expanding our sensing capabilities into underwater acoustics to detect, classify, and locate underwater objects, and to create an acoustic map of the marine environment. We are looking for an experienced scientist in ocean acoustics to help shape and advance Sofar’s underwater acoustics platform.

Responsibilities:
  • Help shape Sofar’s acoustics research and development strategy, contributing scientific and technical direction for an underwater acoustics platform that supports real‑world marine applications.
  • Develop capabilities to detect, classify, and localize underwater objects using passive and/or active acoustic sensing methods.
  • Advance methods for creating acoustic maps of the marine environment, including characterization of ambient soundscapes, propagation conditions, and relevant oceanographic context.
  • Provide an acoustics‑centric perspective on sensing system design, deployment strategy, data quality, and performance validation.
  • Collaborate with Sofar’s oceanic and sensing scientists, software engineers, and firmware teams to translate acoustic research into operational products.
  • Coordinate and conduct field experiments, data analyses, and simulation studies to evaluate acoustic system performance in real‑world ocean conditions.
  • Bring deep expertise in marine acoustics to complement Sofar’s ocean science, sensing, and forecasting teams.
  • Contribute to product requirements, technical roadmaps, and research priorities for new underwater acoustic capabilities.
  • Represent Sofar externally with customers, research partners, government agencies, and the broader ocean acoustics community.
Minimum Job Qualifications:
  • Deep expertise in underwater acoustics.
  • Experience developing acoustic sensing systems or algorithms for detection, classification, localization, mapping, or environmental characterization.
  • Strong understanding of marine acoustic propagation, ambient noise, signal processing, and the practical constraints of ocean sensing.
  • Experience working with real‑world acoustic datasets, field deployments, and/or operational sensing systems.
  • Experience applying statistical signal processing, machine learning, or modern AI methods to acoustic detection, classification, or environmental inference.
  • Excellent communication skills, and you excel working in a cross‑functional team.
  • Experience translating scientific research into operational products or customer‑facing capabilities.
  • Ph.D. in acoustics, ocean engineering, electrical engineering, applied physics, oceanography, or a related field, but we will consider highly qualified candidates of any education level with equivalent experience.
  • Strong reputation within the ocean acoustics community, with experience contributing to research programs, technical partnerships, or externally funded work.
  • Enthusiasm and experience in leveraging LLMs to magnify personal impact.
Bonus Points:
  • Familiarity with embedded sensing systems, firmware constraints, or edge processing for acoustic applications.
  • Familiarity with the constraints of autonomous ocean platforms, including limited power, bandwidth, onboard compute, sensor calibration, and long‑duration deployments.
  • Comfort working in production codebases when necessary to personally deliver changes.
Estimated Salary Range:
  • $121,000 - $171,000
  • The range listed is what we reasonably expect to pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and may be modified in the future. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, experience, and equity package.
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