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Marine Technician

Class Specifications – I.25
Marine Technician IV – 9641
Marine Technician III – 9642
Marine Technician II – 9643
Marine Technician I – 9644

March, 1973

Series Concept

Under general supervision, the Marine Technician performs or supervises the collection, measurement and analysis of ocean phenomena and samples at sea and ashore; and performs other related duties as required.

Incumbents perform technical duties in one or more fields of marine investigation, such as Marine Biology, Physical Oceanography, Marine Geology, and Marine Chemistry. The following are examples of typical field assigrnnents:

  • Performs biological sampling from a research vessel; makes plankton hauls, records results, preserves and labels catch; observes, distinguishes ana records number and type of marine fishes, birds and mammals; takes trawls at specified depths, preserves or maintains alive biological specimens obtained; takes samples of water and bottom sediment for microbiological study, using specialized sampling equipment; makes measures of productivity; analyzes samples for chlorophyll and other organic constituents.
  • Performs hydrographic station duties using -Nansen bottles and other sampling devices; reads deep-sea reversing thermometers; draws off water samples; makes and records bathythermograph observations on station and underway; makes a continuous temperature-salinity depth record; plots graphs and charts and prepares statistical summaries of data.
  • Performs geological sampling using specialized corers, dredges, shells and recording equipment; operates and maintains reflective profiling equipment such as arcers and air guns; determines sound velocity and corrections to echo-sounder depth from Matthews tables or from hydrographic data; plots and contours echo-sounder data on a finished track.
  • Performs chemical analysis of sea water for oxygen, salinity, phosphates, silicates and other elements; operates equipment for continuous measurement of CO2content-of air and sea water while underway; maintains shipboard chemical laboratory.

Other related duties typically assigned include; use of electronic navigation equipment such as Loran and Radar; use of underwater diving equipment; use and maintenance of “pinger” for positioning equipment underwater; construction and installation of taut-wire and slack-wire instrument moorings; making and recording weather observations; construction, maintenance, calibration and repair of specialized equipment such as magnetometers, arcer and diving equipment; use of deep-sea cameras; maintenance of research logs and other records.

Class Concepts

Marine Technician VI

Incumbents manage the technical and logistics activities of marine research support units, supervise Marine Technicians and other employees, and provide technical assistance in the development and application of oceanographic equipment and techniques.

Marine Technician III

Incumbents supervise the work of a group of Marine Technicians and other research personnel, including planning, assigning and reviewing technical data collection, and processing duties. This class is also used for positions where the majority of time is spent performing the full range of operational level duties in and peculiar to two or more fields of marine research, such as Marine Geology and Physical Oceanography, or Marine Biology and Marine Chemistry.

Marine Technician II

Incumbents perform a variety of technical marine duties under general supervision. This is the full operational level within the series and the majority of Marine Tecru:iician duties are performed at this level. Incumbents may assist with the training of other Marine Technicians.

Marine Technician I

Incumbents perform a limited variety of technician duties under the supervision of higher level Marine Technicians. This is the entry ievel in the series and is used where incumbents are gaining proficiency in oceanographic data collection-and processing techniques.

Minimum Qualifications

Marine Technician VI

Graduation from college with a degree in the natural or physical sciences, or. engineering, and four years of related experience, including one year of supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Marine Technician III

Graduation from college with a degree in the natural or physical sciences, or _ engineering, and three years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Marine Technician II

Graduation from or engineering, of education and college with and one year experience. a of degree in related the exper natural ience; or or phan ysical equivalent sci ences, combination

Marine Technician I

Graduation from college with a major in the natural or physical sciences, or engineering; or an equivalent combination .of education and experience.

Note: In all of the above qualification requirements, a Master’s degree in the natural or physical sciences may be substituted for one year of the required experience.