Ocean Mapping Specialist

Acknowledgement of Country 

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation. 

Role highlights

• Use advanced mapping systems and geophysical technologies to unlock insights from the ocean floor.
• Trade the desk for the deck, supporting research voyages across Australian and international waters.
• Join a collaborative team delivering the data that underpins nationally significant marine science.

About CSIRO

As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. Many of our iconic innovations were once considered impossible until someone, just like you, joined us and took on the challenge.

Visit CSIRO.au for more information.

The opportunity 

Join CSIRO's Geophysical Survey & Mapping team and play a key role in supporting Australia's national marine research capability.

As an Ocean Mapping Specialist, you'll contribute to the planning, collection, processing and interpretation of marine survey data that helps scientists better understand our oceans. Working as part of a skilled and supportive team, you'll help deliver high-quality mapping and geophysical data that informs research, exploration and environmental management.

This role combines hands-on technical work at sea with data processing, analysis and development activities onshore. You'll spend time aboard CSIRO's world-class research vessel RV Investigator, supporting research voyages and helping scientists make informed decisions using bathymetric, bio-acoustic and marine geophysical data.

Whether you're already working in ocean mapping, hydrographic surveying or marine geospatial sciences, or you're looking for a step up into a role with greater responsibility and variety, this is an opportunity to build your expertise while contributing to science with real-world impact.

Before applying, please note that this role requires extended periods at sea. To be considered, you must be willing and able to undertake research voyages of up to 8 weeks duration, spending up to 85 days per year at sea.

Your high-level duties will include: 

• Undertaking marine surveys from various platforms to applicable standard.
• Monitoring and maintaining marine survey & geophysical equipment.
• Processing and interpreting bathymetric and other geophysical data sets at sea and on shore.
• Troubleshooting and documenting instrumentation or workflow issues to maintain operations.
• Supporting acoustic & geophysical data collection and survey operations during sea-going research voyages.
• Preparing voyage equipment, consumables, documentation, data, and reports.
• Contributing to technical documentation, reports, and presentations.

Role particulars

Location and office arrangements: Hobart, TAS
Salary: AU$100k – AU$113k per annum (pro rata for part-time), plus 15.4% superannuation and additional seagoing allowance, where applicable
Tenure & work schedule:  Indefinite; full time
Reference: 103595

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

• A tertiary qualification and/or equivalent work experience in Ocean Mapping, Hydrographic Surveying, Spatial Sciences (Geomatics), Marine Science, Computer Science or a related field.
• Working knowledge of the theory and practice of ocean mapping techniques and the acquisition, processing or interpretation of bathymetric, bio-acoustic and/or marine geophysical data.
• Problem-solving and troubleshooting skills, including the ability to systematically identify, diagnose and resolve technical or operational issues relating to scientific instrumentation, data, workflows or operational processes, while exercising sound judgement.
• Resilience and adaptability, including the ability to remain effective, manage competing demands, and maintain constructive working relationships in challenging environments.
• The ability to work collaboratively and respectfully within multidisciplinary teams, building productive working relationships with scientific, technical and operational stakeholders.

Candidates who possess the following additional experience will be particularly competitive:

• Modern ocean mapping systems
• Survey/mapping software packages
• Processing multibeam backscatter data
• Program or scripting languages, such as Python
• Spatial data management

 
For full details about this role, and other criteria, please review the Position Description. 

Not sure if you meet all the criteria?

While it is CSIRO policy that the successful candidate must meet all the essential criteria, there are many ways to demonstrate this. Don’t let the list discourage you. If you are unsure about applying, please reach out to the contact person in the Position Description.

Setting you up for success

We are committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible to everyone. We recognise that it may be helpful for us to adjust our process to make it equitable for your individual situation. Please contact Cristina O’Brien via email at cristina.obrien@csiro.au and let us know how we can support you.  

Life at CSIRO and flexible work arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. We can discuss flexible work arrangements with you during the recruitment process. CSIRO also offers a range of leave entitlements, benefits and career development opportunities. To find out more, visit Careers at CSIRO.

Inclusion and belonging

Solving Australia's greatest challenges takes a diversity of minds and lived experiences. We know diverse teams are more effective and deliver more innovative outcomes. As an equal employment opportunity organisation, we are committed to creating diverse and inclusive teams where people feel they belong. We recognise true diversity encompasses all ages, abilities, cultures, faiths, levels of education, genders, sexualities, diversity of thought and much more. We focus on hiring people who share our values of People First, Further Together, Making it Real and Trusted.

CSIRO holds Gold Status for the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and a Science in Australia Gender Equity Bronze Award.

Eligibility 

Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens, New Zealand Citizens, and Australian Permanent Residents. Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements. Please read the final page of the position description for a full list of requirements.

Child safety 

CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy. 

How to apply 

Please apply online and submit a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) and CV that demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the essential requirements of this role.

Applications close 

Tuesday 18 August 2026, 11:00pm AEST