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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Hydrographer

💰 $65,000 - $125,000

GeospatialMarine ScienceEngineeringSurveying

🎯 Role Definition

A Hydrographer is a specialist surveyor who maps the physical features of underwater environments. This pivotal role involves measuring and describing the depths, tides, currents, and geological characteristics of oceans, seas, coastal areas, and inland waterways. By leveraging sophisticated acoustic and positioning technology, a Hydrographer produces high-precision data that is fundamental for ensuring safe maritime navigation, supporting marine construction and engineering projects, managing coastal resources, and advancing scientific understanding of the marine world. They are the cartographers of the seabed, blending technical expertise in the field with meticulous data analysis in the office.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Junior Survey Technician or Survey Assistant
  • Recent Graduate (Geomatics, Oceanography, etc.)
  • GIS Technician with a focus on marine data

Advancement To:

  • Senior Hydrographer / Lead Hydrographer
  • Hydrographic Project Manager
  • Hydrographic Department Manager or Chief Surveyor

Lateral Moves:

  • GIS Specialist / Marine Data Analyst
  • Marine Geoscientist
  • Project Engineer (Marine Construction)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Plan and execute comprehensive hydrographic and geophysical surveys in diverse marine environments, including deep offshore, coastal zones, and inland rivers or lakes.
  • Configure, calibrate, and operate a wide array of advanced survey equipment, such as multibeam echosounders (MBES), single-beam echosounders (SBES), side-scan sonar (SSS), and sub-bottom profilers (SBP).
  • Manage and maintain sophisticated positioning and motion-sensing systems, including Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) with Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) corrections and high-accuracy Inertial Navigation Systems (INS).
  • Acquire, process, clean, and meticulously analyze large volumes of bathymetric and geophysical data using industry-standard software packages like CARIS HIPS/SIPS, QPS Qimera, or Teledyne PDS.
  • Implement and oversee rigorous quality control and quality assurance (QC/QA) procedures on all collected data to ensure compliance with International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) standards and project-specific requirements.
  • Manage the entire data lifecycle, from acquisition planning and field collection to processing, final analysis, secure archiving, and deliverable creation.
  • Perform detailed tidal analysis and apply correct tidal or geoidal model reductions to bathymetric data to reference all soundings to the appropriate vertical datum.
  • Generate and deliver professional-grade outputs, including detailed nautical charts, comprehensive survey reports, 3D point cloud visualizations, and engineering drawings for clients, engineers, and regulatory bodies.
  • Systematically troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues with survey hardware, software, and vessel integration, often under challenging field conditions.
  • Supervise, train, and mentor junior surveyors and survey technicians, fostering their professional development and ensuring adherence to best practices.
  • Develop detailed survey execution plans, operational procedures, and Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) documentation prior to project mobilization.
  • Serve as a key technical point of contact, interfacing directly with clients, project managers, and vessel masters to ensure survey objectives are clearly communicated and achieved.
  • Champion and enforce strict safety protocols, ensuring all field operations are conducted in full compliance with company, client, and maritime industry safety standards.
  • Maintain precise and auditable records of all survey activities, including daily progress reports, equipment calibration logs, and data processing steps.
  • Accurately measure vessel offsets and maintain up-to-date vessel configuration files within the data acquisition software to ensure geometric integrity.
  • Interpret complex geophysical data to identify and classify seafloor features, geohazards, sub-surface geology, and man-made objects for engineering and construction risk assessment.
  • Assist in the preparation of technical project proposals, detailed cost estimations, and scope-of-work documents for competitive hydrographic survey tenders.
  • Stay abreast of emerging hydrographic technologies, software updates, and evolving industry standards through continuous professional learning and industry participation.
  • Lead the mobilization and demobilization of complex survey equipment spreads on vessels of opportunity, ensuring all systems are installed, integrated, and functioning correctly.
  • Perform advanced geodetic computations, including coordinate system transformations and datum shifts, to ensure all spatial data is correctly referenced.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis from internal and external stakeholders.
  • Contribute to the organization's wider data strategy, data management policies, and technology roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units and engineering teams to translate complex data needs into tangible survey and engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and other agile ceremonies within the project team structure.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Deep proficiency in hydrographic data acquisition software such as Hypack, QPS Qinsy, EIVA NaviPac, or Teledyne PDS.
  • Expertise in hydrographic and geophysical post-processing software suites like CARIS HIPS/SIPS, QPS Qimera/Fledermaus, or EIVA NaviSuite.
  • Hands-on operational experience with multibeam (MBES) and single-beam (SBES) echosounder systems from manufacturers like Kongsberg, R2Sonic, or Teledyne.
  • Practical knowledge of geophysical survey systems including Side-Scan Sonar (SSS), Magnetometers, and Sub-Bottom Profilers (SBP).
  • Strong command of GNSS/GPS positioning theory and application, including RTK, PPK, and inertial-aided positioning (INS).
  • A solid foundation in geodetic principles, including map projections, coordinate reference systems, and vertical datums.
  • Competency in using GIS software (e.g., ArcGIS Pro, QGIS) for data integration, spatial analysis, and cartographic presentation.
  • Familiarity with CAD software (e.g., AutoCAD, MicroStation) for the creation and manipulation of engineering plans and survey drawings.
  • A thorough understanding of underwater acoustic theory, sound velocity correction, and factors affecting data quality.
  • Proven ability to perform equipment calibrations (e.g., patch tests, bar checks) and systematically troubleshoot hardware/software integration problems.
  • In-depth knowledge of IHO (International Hydrographic Organization) standards for hydrographic surveys, particularly S-44.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, especially when making decisions in a dynamic field environment.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, capable of producing clear reports and liaising effectively with clients and non-specialists.
  • Meticulous attention to detail and an unwavering commitment to achieving the highest standards of data quality and accuracy.
  • Strong ability to work autonomously for extended periods while also functioning as a collaborative and supportive team member.
  • High degree of adaptability and personal resilience to work in demanding and often remote offshore conditions.
  • Superior organizational and time-management skills to effectively manage competing priorities and project deadlines.
  • Innate leadership and mentoring capabilities for guiding junior personnel and leading field teams.
  • A proactive and vigilant mindset towards health, safety, and environmental (HSE) compliance.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • A Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in a relevant technical or scientific field.

Preferred Education:

  • A Master of Science (M.S.) degree or a specialized postgraduate certificate.
  • IHO/FIG/ICA Category "A" or "B" certified hydrographer program completion.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Geomatics / Surveying Engineering
  • Hydrography / Ocean Mapping
  • Oceanography / Marine Science
  • Earth Sciences / Geology / Geophysics
  • Civil Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 2-10+ years of direct, hands-on experience in conducting and processing hydrographic surveys. The range reflects progression from a junior to a senior or lead role.

Preferred:

  • Experience working in offshore environments, including time spent on survey vessels.
  • Demonstrable experience with specific survey applications, such as offshore wind farm development, pipeline inspection, dredging support, or nautical charting.
  • A background that includes project management responsibilities, client interaction, and leading small teams in the field.
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