Hydroacoustic Monitoring Technician - Scientific Technician - Non-Perm

Title: Hydroacoustic Monitoring Technician

Classification: Scientific Technician 2 (ST2)

Job Status: Full-Time / Non-Permanent

Number of Vacancies: Two (2)

Appointment Length: 9 months – April 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026

WDFW Program: Fish Program

Duty Station: Stanwood, Washington – Snohomish County

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

WDFW test fishing – Photo Credit: WDFW

Assist senior project leads on hydroacoustic monitoring efforts for the Skagit River, supporting critical work aimed at conserving wild fish populations and supporting fishery management.

Key responsibilities include maintaining in-river hydroacoustic systems, managing data storage, conducting daily data review, and assisting with a weekly test fishery.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within these roles, the Hydroacoustic Monitoring Technicians will:

• 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.
• Manage regular transfer of data from field site to off‑site locations for long‑term storage.
• Organize and review raw SONAR imagery data.

• Assist with deployment, maintenance, and service of all field equipment, including SONAR units, test fishing nets, trucks, boats and trailers, exposure gear, scanners/detectors, safety equipment, and other equipment.
• Independently troubleshoot issues with SONAR equipment and data recording.
• Maintain up‑to‑date inventory of field supplies.

• Assist with weekly test fishing efforts to support species composition analyses, including coordination with co‑manager field staff on an as‑needed basis.
• Record and perform quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) of test fishery data.
• Collect biological samples from salmon and steelhead, including but not limited to length measurements, determination of sex and disposition, DNA and scale samples for age determination, and documentation of marks or tags for origin determination.
• Assist with tagging of adult salmonids collected in the test fishery.

Work Setting, including hazards:

• Work in all weather conditions, from dry and hot to extreme cold and snow.
• Position may include field work in rivers and streams walking up to 12 miles in rugged terrain near water.
• Hazards include strains, sprains, breaks, scratches, lacerations, infections, animal encounters and drowning.
• May conduct physically demanding field work, including the occasional lifting and operation of field equipment weighing up to 75 pounds, 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.

Typically, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am‑5:00 pm, 40 hours per week. Early start times, late end times, split shifts, overtime, overnight, weekend, and holiday hours may be required.

Regular travel is required to field sites in Sedro‑Woolley. There is the possibility to use agency vehicles as well as personal vehicles if authorized.

Agency provided vehicles (trucks, boats), exposure apparel (waders/boots, raincoat, sunglasses, hat, gloves), laptop, sampling implements and equipment.

Communication with private landowners and the public.

• Option 1:
  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.
• Option 2:
  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.
• College coursework 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.

Certi…