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Underwater Acoustic Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

ManTech

Electrical Engineer

Hollywood, FL · On-site

Engage with Senior Engineers for design reviews, troubleshooting, and implementing technical ... Hands-on experience in the buildup, testing, debugging, and calibration of underwater acoustic ...

L3HHCM20

Lead Systems Engineering

Millersville, MD · On-site

We are seeking a motivated individual to join our team as a Lead, Systems Engineer as an acoustics ... Demonstrated mastery of underwater acoustic propagation modeling using tools such as BELLHOP ...

MIKEL INC

Acoustic Signal Processing

Middletown, RI · On-site

Familiarity with sonar, underwater acoustics, or Navy systems. * Experience with systems engineering methods, software development, or test and evaluation. Work Location: Newport, RI MIKEL offers a ...

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Underwater Acoustic Engineer information

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$37.5K

$107.9K

$143K

How much do underwater acoustic engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for underwater acoustic engineer in the United States is $107,902.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $94,000.00 and $117,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an underwater acoustic engineer?

An Underwater Acoustic Engineer designs, analyzes, and improves underwater sound systems, such as sonar, communication networks, and acoustic sensors. They work in industries like defense, marine research, and offshore energy to study how sound propagates in water. Their role involves developing technologies for detecting objects, mapping ocean floors, and enhancing underwater communication. They use specialized software and testing methods to optimize acoustic performance. This field requires expertise in physics, signal processing, and fluid dynamics.

What types of projects or environments do underwater acoustic engineers typically work in?

Underwater Acoustic Engineers often work on diverse projects ranging from designing sonar systems for submarines and underwater vehicles to developing acoustic monitoring solutions for marine wildlife or offshore infrastructure. They may be employed by research organizations, defense contractors, oil and gas companies, or environmental agencies, splitting their time between office-based analysis and fieldwork at sea or in test facilities. Collaboration with oceanographers, mechanical engineers, and software specialists is common, requiring adaptability and teamwork. Depending on the employer and project, some roles may involve international travel or extended periods offshore, offering unique challenges and learning experiences.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an underwater acoustic engineer?

To thrive as an Underwater Acoustic Engineer, you need strong expertise in physics, acoustics, signal processing, and ocean engineering, typically supported by an engineering degree in a related field. Familiarity with simulation software, acoustic measurement equipment, and tools like MATLAB or LabVIEW is essential, and certifications such as Professional Engineer (PE) can be beneficial. Effective problem-solving, clear communication, and the ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams are key soft skills for this role. These competencies are crucial for designing, testing, and optimizing underwater acoustic systems used in fields like marine research, defense, and offshore construction.

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Underwater Acoustic Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Underwater Acoustic Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,902 per year, or $51.9 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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