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Hydroacoustic Monitoring Technician - Scientific Technician 2 - Non-Permanent - 2026-01761
State of Washington
Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
Location
Washington, 98504
Salary
$3,581 - $4,771
per month
Type
Full-Time
More Maintenance & Trades jobs →Closes
March 6, 2026
Job Description
Summary
This job involves helping monitor fish populations in Washington state's rivers and coastal waters using sound-based technology to track young salmon, along with collecting water samples and tagging fish to support conservation efforts.
It's a temporary role from April to November, based near Seattle, where you'll work outdoors on boats and at sites, maintaining equipment and recording data.
A good fit would be someone with hands-on experience in field biology or environmental work, who enjoys teamwork in nature and has a detail-oriented approach to science tasks.
Key Requirements
- Experience with hydroacoustic or SONAR equipment deployment, operation, and maintenance
- Knowledge of fish biology, particularly salmonids, including tagging and sampling techniques
- Ability to perform data entry, review, and quality assurance/control for field observations
- Skills in maintaining field equipment such as boats, trucks, PIT antennas, and water quality tools
- Comfort with outdoor work in freshwater and marine environments, including safety protocols
- Strong communication skills for interacting with landowners, stakeholders, and team members
- Proficiency in accurate record-keeping using paper and electronic methods
Full Job Description
Title- Hydroacoustic Monitoring Technician
Classification- Scientific Technician 2
Job Status- Full-Time/Non-Permanent
Appointment Length- Eight (8) months – April 1, 2026 – November 30, 2026
WDFW Program- Fish
Program – Fish Management Division
Duty Station- Mill Creek, Washington – Snohomish County
Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!
WDFW test fishing boat supporting catch sampling in Marine Area 5 near Sekiu – Photo Credit: WDFW
This position offers an unique opportunity to support critical hydroacoustic monitoring efforts in Central and North Puget Sound freshwater basins and marine areas, aiding in the abundance estimation of outmigrating juvenile salmonids.
As a key team member, you'll assist with deploying, operating, and reviewing data from active hydroacoustic monitoring systems under the guidance of the Salmon Hydroacoustic Monitoring Research Specialist.
You’ll also contribute to water quality sampling, and passive integrated transponder (PIT) tagging efforts, directly supporting the agency’s mission of responsible stewardship of our fish resources.
What to Expect-
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Technician will,
Assist with hydroacoustic monitoring efforts to estimate juvenile salmonid abundance in the Central and North Puget Sound freshwater basins and marine areas
- Follow and recommend updates to established protocols for SONAR equipment deployment, operation, and maintenance; data entry; data review; and field safety.
- Maintain daily log of field activities.
- Organize and review raw SONAR imagery data.
- Perform basic SONAR data QA/QC
- Participate in mobile acoustic surveys in both freshwater lakes and Central and North Puget Sound marine areas
Biological sampling
- Assist with PIT tagging of juvenile salmonids
- Assist with PIT tagging of juvenile salmonids at hatcheries and collected during smolt trapping operations
- Collect biological samples from salmon and steelhead including but not limited to taking DNA and scale samples for age determination, length measurements, determination of sex, and noting marks or tags for hatchery/natural spawner origin determination.
- Clearly and concisely record data collected using paper and electronic methods.
Access and equipment maintenance
- Assists with maintenance, preparation, and service of all field equipment, including SONAR units, PIT antennas, trucks, boats and trailers, exposure gear, scanners/detectors, safety equipment, water quality equipment, and other equipment as assigned.
- Communicates with access point landowners (records landowner new contact information), tenants, site managers, constituents, stakeholders, and comanagers.
Central and North Puget Sound marine fisheries monitoring and test fishing support
- Support marine area hydroacoustic surveys for commercial salmon species
- Provide support for test fishing efforts associated with marine area commercial fisheries
- Provide support for data analysis and reporting of marine area hydroacoustic surveys
Working Conditions:
Work Setting, including hazards:
- Work in all weather conditions, ranging from hot and dry to extreme cold, snow, and rain.
- Fieldwork involves walking up to ten (10) miles in and near rugged terrain rivers and streams, as well as operating motorboats in variable flow and weather conditions while carrying gear.
- Hazards include strains, sprains, breaks, scratches, lacerations, infections, animal encounters and drowning.
- Office work may require prolonged periods of sitting and may lead to eye strain from extensive computer use.
- Fieldwork is physically demanding, requiring the ability to safely lift and operate field equipment weighing up to 40lbs while walking over uneven ground and near the water.
- This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.
Schedule:
This position is full-time, working 40 hours per week. The standard work schedule includes the potential for occasional evening or weekend work as needed. Schedules may vary based on business needs, time of year, and/or weather conditions.
Travel Requirements:
Frequent local travel to field sites is required.
Tools and Equipment:
Agency provided vehicles (trucks, boats), exposure apparel (waders/boots, raincoat, sunglasses, hat, gloves), laptop, sampling implements and equipment.
Customer Interactions:
Communication with private landowners and the public.
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:
Graduation from high school or GED, including one (1) year of high school science AND two (2) years of experience as a Scientific Technician 1.
OR
Graduation from high school or GED, including one (1) year of high school science AND two (2) years of laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a biologist, chemist, or zoologist.
Please Note:
College course work involving major study in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural sciences, or closely allied field may substitute, year for year, for experience, provided the course work includes at least six (6) semester or nine (9) quarter hours of natural science classes.
Certifications/Licenses:
Valid driver’s license.
Preferred Qualifications:
In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess some or all the following:
Experience with:
- Background in biology and experience in the natural resources field.
- Microsoft Word, Excel, and other software, including R programming language.
- Deploying and maintaining hydroacoustic monitoring gear, such as split-beam or multi-beam systems.
- Identifying, handling, and biologically sampling juvenile and adult salmonids.
- Trailering, operating, and maintaining small motorboats.
- PIT tagging juvenile salmonids.
Skills and Abilities:
- Follow data collection and data entry protocols and to collect high-quality biological data.
- Maintain focus and quality of data while performing repetitive computer tasks.
- Adhere to safety protocols and use judgement in the field to maintain a safe working environment.
- Strong interpersonal communication skills, teamwork, professionalism, and the ability to work effectively with diverse groups of people.
Your application should include the following:
- A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
- An up-to-date resume.
- A cover letter detailing your interest in the position, your relevant skills and experience, and why you are the ideal candidate.
- At least three professional references with current contact information.
Additional Information
In addition to pay and other special employee programs, there are other benefits that WDFW employees may be eligible for. Click the “Benefits” tab at the top of this announcement to learn more.
Important Note:
All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work.
If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States.
For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
Union- WAFWP:
This position is in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals.
Veteran and Military Spouse Preference Notice:
Per RCW 73.16.010 Veterans and qualifying spouses who meet the minimum qualifications of a position are eligible for preference during the initial application review stage. To receive this benefit, please do the following:
- Notify us of your veteran or military spouse status by email at Diana.Humes@dfw.wa.gov
- Veterans only – Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
- Please redact any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers.
- Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and spouse/veteran (example: 2024-1234 – Biologist 1 – Veteran)
- Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer
As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications.
Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully.
All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife 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, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.
Request an accommodation: Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format please contact Jayme Chase by phone 360-902-2278 or email Jayme.Chase@dfw.wa.gov, or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 800-833-6388.
Technical Difficulties: If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or support@neogov.com.
Other questions: If you have other questions regarding this position, please reach out to Diana.Humes@dfw.wa.gov
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