Underwater Image Analysis & Annotation Specialist (West Coast Groundfish, Coral, and Benthic Environments)

Position Overview:

CASE is seeking a highly qualified Underwater Image Analysis & Annotation Specialist to support NOAA NMFS NWFSC in the analysis of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) imagery for deep-sea benthic assessments. In this role, you will also support and facilitate the transition of annotation workflows from OneTwoRedBlue to Tator, including training, QA/QC refinement, and workflow optimization.

You will collaborate with Federal and contractor staff, applying your strong taxonomic expertise, hands-on annotation experience, and software transition leadership, to help ensure continuity of data quality while improving efficiency, reproducibility, and scalability of NOAA’s image analysis programs.

This is a part-time contract (up to 30 hours per week) with potential to expand in the future.

Key Responsibilities

• Annotate and quantify west coast groundfish, corals, and benthic invertebrates from AUV imagery using Tator

• Support measurement of key species using stereo imagery

• Maintain accurate and consistent species and habitat identifications aligned with NOAA standards

• Generate lists of uncertain identifications, documenting image quality or taxonomic challenges

• Assist NOAA scientists and analysts with:

  • Translating existing annotation schemas and protocols

  • Validating continuity between legacy and new datasets

  • Refining QA/QC procedures in Tator

• Support the migration of legacy OneTwoRedBlue annotation workflows into Tator

• Train annotators and project staff on:

  • Tator interfaces and tools

  • Best practices for annotation consistency and efficiency

  • QA/QC features and automated review workflows

• Collaborate with NOAA staff to identify process improvements and efficiency gains enabled by Tator

• Compile and manage annotation data in Excel or equivalent databases

• Conduct data QA/QC, ensuring outputs meet automated and expert review standards

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in fisheries, oceanography, marine biology, natural science, or related field

• Minimum 3 years of professional experience (or 7 years combined education/experience) in a related discipline

• Demonstrated experience analyzing underwater imagery collected by AUVs

• Proficiency in identifying:

  • West Coast groundfish

  • West Coast corals and benthic invertebrates

• Prior experience with image annotation software, with Tator experience strongly preferred

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Google, and database tools

About CASE Consultants International

CASE Consultants International is a Small Business Administration (SBA)-certified Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and HubZone-certified firm based in Asheville, NC. With over 12 years of success, CASE supports federal and state agencies, NGOs, research institutions, and private industry through expert services that advance environmental protection, sustainable development, and ecological resilience.

We specialize in delivering high-impact solutions in coastal, marine, ocea, and terrestrial environments, with core strengths in:

• Strategic environmental and scientific initiatives

• Regulatory compliance and policy support

• Scientific and technical research and analysis

• Science communication and stakeholder engagement

• Adaptation and resilience planning

• Disaster recovery and restoration

• Program design and implementation support

Whether helping agencies implement Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 consultations, guiding communities through coastal resilience planning, or supporting private sector sustainability goals, CASE integrates science and strategy to generate meaningful, measurable outcomes.

Our goal is not simply to provide information—but to deliver environmental intelligence that empowers evidence-based decisions and supports long-term ecological and economic sustainability.

At CASE, we hire talented and passionate professionals who are committed to making the planet a safer, healthier, and more hospitable place for all its inhabitants. We create a cultivate, a flexible and collaborative work environment that welcomes a range of perspectives, values creativity, and seeks and delivers work that makes a lasting difference.

Our competitive benefits packages include company-sponsored healthcare (medical, dental, and vision); paid leave; retirement plan; training and professional development; remote and flexible work; performance-based raises and bonuses; and others.

CASE is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer focused on attracting, retaining, and cultivating talented professionals with diverse backgrounds and perspectives and a diverse, inclusive workplace in which our employees thrive. We equitably consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information as per https://www.eeoc.gov/poster.

If you require assistance in completing this application, please contact us at careers@case-ci.com.