---
title: 'Staff Scientist - Underwater Acoustics at Sofar Ocean'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/staff-scientist-underwater-acoustics-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-jn3mw90vqnxh'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-06'
---

# Staff Scientist - Underwater Acoustics at Sofar Ocean

- **Company:** Sofar Ocean
- **Location:** San Francisco, CA
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Posted:** 2026-07-06
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-06
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/sofarocean/aa9fcf85-d529-4639-b803-b8d16b136d84

## Job description

## THE ROLE

Sofar designs, builds, and deploys ocean sensing networks at a global scale to power ocean intelligence. We are expanding our sensing and intelligence capabilities into underwater acoustics and looking for an experienced scientist/engineer in ocean acoustics to help shape and advance Sofar’s underwater acoustics platform.

## RESPONSIBILITIES

- Help shape Sofar’s underwater acoustics strategy, and support the technical vision for an underwater acoustics platform that supports real-world marine applications.
- Develop capabilities to detect, classify, and localize underwater objects using passive and/or active acoustic sensing methods
- Advance methods for creating acoustic maps of the marine environment, including characterization of ambient soundscapes, propagation conditions, and relevant oceanographic context
- Provide an acoustics-centric perspective on sensing system design, deployment strategy, data quality, and performance validation
- Collaborate with Sofar’s oceanic and sensing scientists, software engineers, and firmware teams to translate acoustic research into operational products
- Coordinate and conduct field experiments, data analyses, and simulation studies to evaluate acoustic system performance in real-world ocean conditions
- Bring deep expertise in marine acoustics to complement Sofar’s ocean science, sensing, and forecasting teams
- Contribute to product requirements, technical roadmaps, and research priorities for new underwater acoustic capabilities
- Represent Sofar externally with customers, research partners, government agencies, and the broader ocean acoustics community

## MINIMUM JOB QUALIFICATIONS

- Deep expertise in underwater acoustics
- Experience developing acoustic sensing systems or algorithms for detection, classification, localization, mapping, or environmental characterization
- Strong understanding of marine acoustic propagation, ambient noise, signal processing, and the practical constraints of ocean sensing
- Experience working with real-world acoustic datasets, field deployments, and/or operational sensing systems
- Experience applying statistical signal processing, machine learning, or modern AI methods to acoustic detection, classification, or environmental inference
- Excellent communication skills, and you excel working in a cross-functional team
- Experience translating scientific research into operational products or customer-facing capabilities
- Ph.D. in acoustics, ocean engineering, electrical engineering, applied physics, oceanography, or a related field, but we will consider highly qualified candidates of any education level with equivalent experience
- Strong reputation within the ocean acoustics community, with experience contributing to research programs, technical partnerships, or externally funded work
- Enthusiasm and experience in leveraging LLMs to magnify personal impact
- This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance. Under U.S. law, only U.S. citizens are eligible to obtain a security clearance.

## BONUS POINTS

- Familiarity with embedded sensing systems, firmware constraints, or edge processing for acoustic applications
- Familiarity with the constraints of autonomous ocean platforms, including limited power, bandwidth, onboard compute, sensor calibration, and long-duration deployments
- Comfort working in production codebases when necessary to personally deliver changes.

## ESTIMATED SALARY RANGE:

- $121,000 - $171,000
- The range listed is what we reasonably expect to pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and may be modified in the future. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, experience, and equity package.

OUR APPROACH TO AI IN THE HIRING PROCESS:

At Sofar, we use AI tools in our day-to-day work, and we don't expect our hiring process to be any different. Here's how we think about it:

Applying: Write your own first draft — we want to hear your voice and understand your real experience. AI is fine for refining and polishing, not for generating your story.

Take-home assessments: Complete these on your own unless we've explicitly said otherwise. We'll always be upfront about it when AI is allowed.

Interview prep: Go for it. Use AI to research Sofar, practice your responses, and sharpen your thinking before we meet.

During interviews: This is you. We're a small team and we move fast — live conversations are how we get to know you, and we're genuinely curious how you think in real time.

A note on transparency: We're a lean People team, and we use AI to help with things like drafting job descriptions, preparing interview questions, and candidate communications. We don't use it to make hiring decisions — those are always ours.

The through line: use AI to show more of yourself, not less :)

## ABOUT WORKING AT SOFAR:

Visa sponsorship: We do sponsor visas and retain an immigration lawyer to support the process. While we can't guarantee sponsorship for every role or situation, if we make you an offer, we'll make every reasonable effort to make it work.

A note on applying: We mean it when we say we want the strongest people — not the most credentialed ones. If you're excited about this work but don't check every box, please apply anyway. Research consistently shows that underrepresented candidates are more likely to self-select out, and that's a loss for everyone. Sofar operates at the intersection of ocean science, climate, and technology — the problems we're solving are consequential, and the perspectives we bring to them matter. We're actively working to build a team that reflects that.

## About Sofar Ocean

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Sofar Ocean is an ocean intelligence platform that connects the world’s oceans to power a more sustainable future by deploying a global sensor network to provide real-time marine weather data and voyage optimization for shipping, research, and defense.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series B-III)
- **Headquarters**: San Francisco, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2016
- **Founders**: Tim Janssen, PhD (Co-Founder & CEO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Marine Technology, Ocean Intelligence, Data Analytics, Maritime Shipping, Climate Tech
- **Target customers**: B2B — shipping companies, commercial operators, charterers, vessel performance managers, governments (NOAA, U.S. Navy), researchers, and defense organizations
- **Mission or purpose statement**: "To connect the world's oceans to power a more sustainable future."

## Products & Services
- **[Wayfinder](https://www.sofarocean.com/)**: Voyage optimization software that recommends the best route, speed, and schedule for each voyage. Built for shipping companies, it combines live maritime weather data, vessel performance models, and commercial constraints to cut fuel use and emissions while keeping schedules on track.
- **[Spotter Platform](https://www.sofarocean.com/)**: A global network of solar-powered sensing platforms that measure waves, weather, and subsurface data in real time. Used by governments, researchers, and defense for live ground truth data from the ocean. Capabilities include surface sensing (waves, wind, weather), subsurface sensing (sound, currents, temperature, water quality, water level), and mobile autonomous operations.
- **Marine Weather**: Real-time storm warnings, seakeeping alerts, and hyperlocal forecasts powered by the company’s own sensor network. Trusted by NOAA, the U.S. Navy, and the world's largest shipping fleets.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding raised of **$73.25M** (Series B-III, last raised ~1 year ago) [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/sofar-ocean-technologies)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Peter Rive (Chairman, founding team), NOAA, U.S. Navy, and the world's largest shipping fleets [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/about)
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - Operates the largest privately-owned ocean sensor network in the world, collecting **1.5 million real-time observations daily** [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean)
  - Marine weather forecasts are **up to 50% more accurate** than traditional models [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean)
  - Over **2,500 Spotters deployed globally** and **25 million+ hours of ocean observations** collected [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/)
  - Trusted by NOAA, the U.S. Navy, and the world's largest shipping fleets [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/)
  - **125 total employees** [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Largest privately-owned ocean sensor network in the world** — a proprietary data moat that competitors cannot easily replicate.
- **50% more accurate marine weather forecasts** than traditional models, powered by real-time data from their own Spotter buoys [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean).
- **Proven traction with top-tier customers**: Trusted by NOAA, the U.S. Navy, and the world's largest shipping fleets [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/).
- **Hardware + Software + Data flywheel**: The Spotter hardware network feeds proprietary data into Wayfinder software, creating a self-reinforcing competitive advantage.
- **Mission-driven brand**: "If we have to choose between more profit or better oceans, we choose the ocean" — strong alignment with sustainability and climate goals.

## Strategic Focus
- **Scaling the sensor network**: Continuing to deploy Spotters globally to increase data density and forecast accuracy.
- **Expanding commercial shipping adoption**: Driving fuel savings (4–8% average reduction) and emissions reduction for the maritime industry.
- **Defense & government contracts**: Deepening relationships with NOAA, U.S. Navy, and other government agencies for ocean intelligence.
- **Product development**: Enhancing Wayfinder routing software and Spotter platform capabilities (mobile autonomous, subsurface sensing).
- **Global expansion**: Hiring for roles in APAC/Singapore, indicating international growth.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven culture**: "If we have to choose between more profit or better oceans, we choose the ocean" — strong environmental purpose [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/careers).
- **Hybrid work model**: Most roles are hybrid (combination of remote and on-site), with a beautiful waterfront office in San Francisco that is dog-friendly [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean).
- **Generous benefits**: Flexible PTO (plus 10 office closure days and the last week of December off), 12 weeks parental leave (with an additional 4 weeks for birthing parents), healthcare (medical, dental, vision), 401(K), company equity [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean).
- **Remote support**: One-time home office stipend for remote team members, relocation bonus for those moving to the Bay Area, Green Card & Visa sponsorship for eligible team members [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/careers).
- **Culture**: Team-driven celebrations, autonomy and ownership, annual onsite week with all remote team members, strong internal community of ocean-lovers, dog-friendly office [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/careers).
- **Values**: "Oceans First" — if they have to choose between more profit or better oceans, they choose the ocean. "Build for the mission, be pragmatic, and move fast. Ocean health can’t wait." [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/careers)

## Sources
1. [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/)
2. [sofarocean.com/company/careers](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/careers)
3. [sofarocean.com/company/about](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/about)
4. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean)
5. [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/sofar-ocean-technologies)

## Other roles at Sofar Ocean

- [Senior Software Engineer — Maritime Optimization](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-maritime-optimization-sofar-ocean-united-states-pxsqwf5qsnqv) — United States
- [Senior Software Engineer — Fleet Workflow Integrations](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-fleet-workflow-integrations-sofar-ocean-san-diego-72xvd121nh2h) — San Diego, CA
- [Senior Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-zzwa5h3fhd97) — San Francisco, CA
- [Senior Mechanical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-engineer-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-d3rsdc2n3t52) — San Francisco, CA
- [Sourcing Partner, Talent Acquisition](https://feeny.ai/job/sourcing-partner-talent-acquisition-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-h6pea0hp4sbg) — San Francisco, CA
- [Senior Firmware Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-firmware-engineer-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-n8jw4vhpx2rj) — San Francisco, CA
- [Science Engagement Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/science-engagement-lead-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-wnegda8ere7h) — San Francisco, CA
- [Defense Customer Success Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/defense-customer-success-lead-sofar-ocean-united-states-r6bayj4ybegk) — United States
- [Principal Scientist - Underwater Acoustics](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-scientist-underwater-acoustics-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-rdy81m33sgxx) — San Francisco, CA