Sr. Hydrographer

Panama City Beach, Florida (or surrounding area)

This position is located in Panama city Beach, Florida. Relocation may be considered.

An idea was born.

Out of the box thinking. Not the norm. Changing the way things have always been done. Those are just some ideas that started on the back of a napkin, but they didn’t stay there. Our CEO, Joe Wolfel, a former Navy SEAL, saw an idea of how to disrupt the way the world looks at the ocean and voila, Terradepth was born.

The ocean is our swim lane.

We are increasing human interaction with the ocean by collecting comprehensive, high-resolution ocean data to empower society with information and knowledge crucial to the sustainable advancement of a variety of key industries. Interested? Great! Immerse yourself and see if you have the fins to swim in our pool.

Our Crew.

We are ocean enthusiasts, technologists, problem solvers, and makers dedicated to advancing ocean exploration. We are pioneers and made up of, to name a few…road bikers, chess players, dog lovers, world travelers, military veterans, and an array of individuals with diverse technical backgrounds. We have family people, single people and people who refer people. And if we’re being totally honest…we like each other.

Why “fit” matters.

It’s not going to matter how smart or competent you are if you’re not a good cultural fit. We demand that our people adhere to our values:
Speed, Discipline, and Collaboration. We also expect team cohesion while avoiding groupthink – which is a difficult balance to maintain. Before we get into the details of the day‑to‑day duties, let’s get down to the ocean floor. What you do, How you do it, and Why you want to work here matters.

What about you?

The Sr. Hydrographer is responsible for the comprehensive planning and delivery of complex hydrographic survey projects.

Here is a key point for you to consider. Are you flexible? We don’t mean physically, we mean being open‑minded in the way you work. We don’t do normal in the way executing surveys has always been done. We use a variety of robotic systems, approaches, and good old ingenuity to get the job done wherever it is. Though we’re doing things in a new way, that doesn’t mean we allow for a decrease in data quality - and we get it, that’s hard.

Using new equipment in new ways to provide quality ocean data is non‑negotiable. We are telling you up front, it’s part of the job and yes, it isn’t easy.

Collaborating with field operations, managing project data processing teams, ensuring the highest standards of data quality and integrity, and serving as a primary technical point of contact for clients is central to this role. Using your extensive expertise in hydrographic principles, advanced survey technologies (including AUVs, ASVs, and traditional multibeam systems), and data processing workflows, the Sr. Hydrographer will drive successful project outcomes.

All that to say, this position requires occasional travel, exceptional leadership skills, and the ability to thrive in challenging marine environments.

In addition, teamwork, accountability, partnership, and leadership are key traits we look for. As team‑members we strive to be humble enough to learn but confident enough to execute. We love curiosity without distraction. As leaders in our organization and threaded into our day‑to‑day activities is our commitment to support, invest in and stretch our employees to help them achieve their ultimate career goals.

Still interested? Let’s wrap this up with what else you need to know.

• Lead the development of detailed project plans, including scope definition, resource allocation, budget management, and scheduling for hydrographic survey campaigns.
• Select and optimize hydrographic survey equipment, including AUVs, multibeam echo sounders, side‑scan sonars, magnetometers, and advanced positioning systems, based on project requirements.
• Develop and refine survey methodologies, ensuring compliance with industry standards (e.g., IHO S‑44) and client specifications.
• Conduct comprehensive risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies for field operations.
• Field Operations Management:
• Collaborate with field…