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Advanced Field Operations & Data Modernization Scientist

Location: Seattle, WA

Position: Advanced Field Operations & Data Modernization Scientist Reports To: FLSA: Exempt Location: Seattle, WA Posted: 7/15/26

Job Description

Embrace the opportunity to join Innovate! Inc. and become a valued member of our team. We are seeking driven individuals who are passionate about leveraging technology to tackle environmental challenges and drive positive change. If you thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment and are eager to contribute your skills and expertise to innovative projects, we invite you to explore this exciting opportunity further. Read on to learn more about how you can be part of our dynamic team.

Innovate! Inc. is seeking a highly experienced Advanced Field Operations & Data Modernization Scientist to modernize NOAA Fisheries’ long-term marine and estuarine field programs by integrating digital data collection technologies, rigorous eDNA sampling, automated ship-to-shore workflows, standardized scientific databases, and rapid data products while protecting survey continuity and scientific integrity.

*Contingent upon contract being awarded*

Location: Work will be conducted on-site at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, Washington (WA) or at one of its associated field stations in WA or Oregon

Salary Range: $115,000 - $135,000

Position status: Full Time; with benefits

Benefits include: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K with match, Life Insurance, and PTO

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead biological and environmental data collection during estuarine and marine field and ship surveys, maintaining safe and consistent operations.
• Drive transition from analog field recording to digital collection platforms such as electronic measuring boards, ruggedized tablets, mobile applications, and other emerging field technologies.
• Continuously evaluate and implement technologies that improve at-sea efficiency, data quality, and continuity of long-term survey time series.
• Develop rigorous eDNA field protocols and oversee collection, preservation, labeling, metadata capture, anti-contamination procedures, and sample chain of custody.
• Serve as the primary operational liaison with Omics laboratory personnel to ensure samples are appropriately prepared for downstream bioinformatics processing.
• Design, implement, test, and maintain automated ship-to-shore data pipelines connecting raw field observations to organized, accessible scientific databases.
• Develop scripts and workflows that rapidly generate preliminary data products, cruise summaries, standardized datasets, and visualizations immediately following field operations.
• Maintain and optimize project databases, standardize historical and newly digitized datasets, and ensure data are accessible and analysis-ready for interdisciplinary teams.
• Direct mobilization and demobilization of scientific equipment and use modern inventory tracking systems to maintain deployment readiness and accountability.
• Develop comprehensive digital SOPs covering data collection technologies, eDNA sampling, database structures, QA/QC, and data-processing workflows.
• Author technical reports, contribute to peer-reviewed manuscripts, and present field modernization approaches and results at regional and national scientific meetings.

REQUIRED SKILLS & TECHNICAL EXPERTISE

• Demonstrated experience supporting marine, estuarine, and freshwater field operations, with the ability to work safely and effectively in laboratory, office, vessel, and remote field environments.
• Experience implementing and supporting digital field data collection technologies, including electronic data capture, standardized field protocols, and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures.
• Knowledge of fisheries and aquatic ecosystem monitoring techniques, biological sampling methodologies, environmental data collection, and scientific data management practices.
• Experience supporting environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling programs, biological sample collection, chain-of-custody procedures, contamination prevention protocols, and coordination with analytical laboratories.
• Proficiency in developing, maintaining, and optimizing scientific databases, digital workflows, and standardized data management processes to improve efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility.
• Experience automating scientific data processing workflows using scripting languages such as Python and R to improve data integration, validation, reporting, and reproducibility.
• Experience utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial data to support field operations, environmental analysis, and natural resource management.
• Familiarity with mobile GIS and digital field collection platforms such as ArcGIS Field Maps, Survey123, or comparable mobile data collection technologies.
• Ability to prepare standard operating procedures (SOPs), technical documentation, workflow documentation, inventory records, and operational guidance supporting field activities and scientific programs.
• Experience generating technical reports, field summaries, data visualizations, and presentation materials that communicate scientific findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining data integrity and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary scientific teams, fisheries biologists, GIS professionals, statisticians, laboratory personnel, and natural resource managers.
• Experience supporting fisheries research, marine resource management, or environmental monitoring programs, preferably for NOAA Fisheries or other federal, state, Tribal, or academic natural resource organizations.
• Working knowledge of Pacific Northwest fisheries, Pacific salmon, anadromous fish species, and freshwater, estuarine, and nearshore marine ecosystems is highly desirable.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, and collaborative version control platforms such as GitHub to support reproducible scientific workflows and project documentation.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution in fisheries, ecology, natural sciences, mathematics, statistics, oceanography, hydrology, data science, computer science, or a related discipline.
• Three or more years of experience directly related to field operations, ecological data modernization, scientific technology integration, or complex data analysis; an MS may substitute for up to two years and a PhD for up to four years.
• Demonstrated familiarity with marine and anadromous species and habitats managed by NOAA Fisheries in the West Coast region.
• Experience supporting NOAA Fisheries vessel surveys, NOAA laboratories, another NOAA program, or a comparable federal, academic, or marine research organization is strongly preferred.
• Experience with Pacific salmon, long-term ecosystem surveys, eDNA, ocean observing systems, marine instrumentation, or field-to-database automation is highly desirable.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license, be able to travel and work aboard vessels and in harsh marine conditions, and satisfy federal Public Trust background investigation requirements.

LEARN MORE ABOUT US

Innovate! Inc. is a certified woman-owned consulting firm founded in 2002 by Lily Thomas. We provide innovative solutions to management, technology, and program challenges, with a focus on performance, integrity, and building lasting partnerships with our clients. Our team of over 100 experts includes IT and geospatial specialists, program and project management consultants, environmental scientists, and communications and outreach strategists. Our clients include federal, state, tribal, and local governments, private industry, non-profit organizations, higher education institutions, and utilities. Recent awards we received for excellent service include the 2022 SAG Team Award and 2022 Esri Partner Conference High Potential Award.

Innovate is a fast-paced, rapidly growing group of entrepreneurs creating a culture of excellence. Rapid advancement within our organization is not only possible but also encouraged. To view our website, visit innovateteam.com .

Innovate is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, marital status, physical or mental disability, status as a Disabled Veteran, Recently Separated Veteran, Active Duty Wartime or Campaign Badge Veteran, Armed Forces Services Medal, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or cannot access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, please contact us at careers@innovateteam.com .