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Ocean Mapping Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Ocean View Elementary School District

Bus Driver

Oxnard, CA · On-site

$27.19 - $33.08/hr

Ocean View School District is located just north of the beautiful Santa Monica/Malibu area, and ... Ability to read maps. Skill in working with the public and school community. Professional demeanor ...

Blue Robotics, Inc.

Packer

Torrance, CA · On-site

$15.75 - $18.75/hr

As the Packer, each component that you package will go out into the world to help explore shipwrecks, study endangered species, map the ocean floor, and generally advance human understanding of the ...

Blue Robotics Inc

Packer

Torrance, CA · On-site

$15.50 - $18.50/hr

As the Packer, each component that you package will go out into the world to help explore shipwrecks, study endangered species, map the ocean floor, and generally advance human understanding of the ...

Seasats

Senior Front End Software Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$160 - $210/hr

... edge of ocean autonomy. About You * 5+ years of experience developing SPAs/PWAs with modern ... Familiarity with mapping APIs (e.g., Leaflet, Cesium, etc.) * Experience with data visualization or ...

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Ocean Mapping information

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$10

$29

$72

How much do ocean mapping jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 25, 2026, the average hourly pay for ocean mapping in California is $29.88, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.83 and $32.95 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an ocean mapping?

An Ocean Mapping job involves using specialized equipment and software to create detailed maps of the seafloor and underwater features. Professionals in this field collect and analyze data from sonar, satellites, and other sensing technologies to support navigation, environmental research, and marine resource management. Ocean mappers work in industries such as marine science, offshore exploration, and government agencies. Their work helps improve our understanding of ocean ecosystems, underwater hazards, and climate change impacts.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in ocean mapping?

To thrive in Ocean Mapping, candidates typically need a background in marine science, geography, or a related field, along with strong analytical and spatial data interpretation skills. Experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), multibeam sonar, remote sensing, and hydrographic survey equipment, as well as certifications like hydrographer accreditation, are often required. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are important soft skills in this role. These qualities are critical for accurately collecting, interpreting, and presenting complex seafloor data in support of marine navigation, research, and conservation efforts.

What are the typical work environments and team structures for professionals in ocean mapping?

Professionals in Ocean Mapping often split their time between fieldwork at sea and data analysis in office or laboratory settings. Fieldwork involves operating survey equipment aboard research vessels, sometimes for extended periods and in challenging weather conditions, while office work focuses on processing and interpreting collected data. Ocean Mapping specialists frequently collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including marine biologists, engineers, and GIS analysts, to ensure comprehensive project outcomes. Being comfortable working both independently and as part of a team is valuable, and opportunities for advancement often include moving into project management or research leadership roles.

What are the most commonly searched types of Ocean Mapping jobs in California?

The most popular types of Ocean Mapping jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Ocean Mapping jobs in California?

For Ocean Mapping jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Ocean Mapping jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Ocean Mapping jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Ocean Mapping jobs?

Cities in California with the most Ocean Mapping job openings:

Ocean Mapping jobs near you
Infographic showing various Ocean Mapping job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 11% Nights. Highlights an 95% In-person, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $62,146 per year, or $29.9 per hour.

Staff Scientist -- Marine Acoustics

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Sofar Ocean
Internet and IT • 11 - 50 employees
Learn more about Sofar Oceanexternal

$121 - $171/hr

Other

Re-posted 19 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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