Ocean Systems Technician in Hampshire, Portsmouth

Salary: £32–35k + benefits + 25 days holiday | flexitime available

Location: Port Solent Marina, Portsmouth, UK (primarily workshop-based, with exposure to field operations)

About RS Aqua

RS Aqua is a UK ocean technology business supplying advanced scientific, survey and subsea systems to ocean research organisations, industry and government. We work at the intersection of ocean science, marine engineering and real‑world operations, supporting everything from coastal monitoring and offshore projects through to defence and autonomous systems. Our work is practical, technical and outcome‑focused. Equipment we prepare and support is deployed in challenging environments, where accuracy, reliability and trust matter. RS Aqua is part of General Oceans, a global group of ocean technology companies delivering advanced sensors, platforms and systems worldwide.

The Role

This is a hands‑on technical role within our engineering and technical support team, focused on preparing, calibrating and supporting oceanographic instrumentation used in real deployments. We are particularly interested in candidates who understand how equipment is actually used in the field — whether through time at sea, offshore work, survey operations or environmental monitoring. You will work on instruments and systems deployed on vessels, moorings, subsea platforms and coastal sites, ensuring they are accurate, configured correctly and ready for operational use. This is not just a workshop role. You will be expected to understand:

• how systems behave in real environments
• how sensors, loggers and telemetry integrate
• how data is captured, validated and used

There will be opportunities to support field trials and operational deployments, including work on vessels or coastal sites. This may involve preparing and operating systems such as buoys, seabed landers, robotic and autonomous platforms, and supporting real‑world data acquisition. This is not a core requirement of the role, but it provides valuable exposure to how systems perform in operational environments. You will have some direct interaction with customers and key suppliers.

Technology Focus

You will work across a range of deployment‑driven systems, including:

• Water quality and oceanographic sensors (e.g. conductivity, temperature, depth, dissolved oxygen, optical sensors)
• Data loggers and acquisition systems
• Instrument configuration and control software
• Telemetry and communications systems
• Subsea and environmental monitoring platforms

Key Responsibilities

• Calibrate and verify oceanographic and environmental instruments to defined standards
• Perform fault finding, servicing and minor repairs on instrumentation and subsea systems
• Configure instruments and supporting software (firmware, interfaces, system setup)
• Prepare, configure and test equipment prior to delivery and deployment
• Support integration of sensors, loggers, telemetry and associated software systems
• Maintain accurate calibration records and certification (ISO 9001 aligned)
• Assist with workshop and warehouse operations (goods in/out, packing, inventory control)
• Provide technical support to internal teams and customers
• Troubleshoot system behaviour and data issues from real‑world use
• Contribute to continuous improvement of processes, systems and technical capability

Experience & Background

We are open to candidates with practical engineering or technical backgrounds. What matters most is hands‑on capability and attention to detail. This role is particularly well suited to someone who has seen equipment used outside the lab or workshop. Relevant experience could include:

• Oceanography, marine science or environmental monitoring
• Offshore, survey or vessel‑based operations
• Current or former Armed Forces personnel with relevant technical, engineering or operational experience
• Working with deployed instrumentation (moored, mobile or subsea systems)
• Instrumentation, electrical or electronic engineering
• Technical service, workshop or field‑based roles

Qualifications could include BTEC, HNC/HND, degree, NVQ, or equivalent practical experience.

Right to Work / Checks

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK (no visa sponsorship available). All staff are required to complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks.

How to Apply

Please submit your CV and send a short covering email to FAO the Technical Director, outlining:

• your relevant technical experience
• any exposure to ocean, marine or field‑based systems (if applicable)
• your interest in ocean instrumentation and technical services