Marine Biologist Jobs
Marine Biologist jobs are open across government agencies, research institutions, environmental consulting firms, aquariums, and nonprofits, from entry-level field technician roles to senior scientist and program director positions, with specializations in marine ecology, fisheries science, and conservation biology. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 17+ Marine Biologist jobs
MANTECH seeks a motivated, career and customer-oriented Marine Biologist to join our team in Solana Beach, CA. This will be an onsite position.
The Marine Biologist in this position will support the preparation of a variety of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation, natural resource management initiatives, and state and Federal permitting documents for Department of Defense customers.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Leading and supporting natural resource-related projects, including designing, managing, and conducting biological resource surveys and ecological studies.
- Preparing, reviewing, and overseeing environmental planning documentation, including NEPA documents, Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), Overseas EIS, Environmental Assessments (EA), and Categorical Exclusions (CATEX).
- Developing specialized regulatory packages, such as Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 consultation packages and Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) assessments under the Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
- Drafting comprehensive mitigation and monitoring plans, technical biological reports, and specialized research documentation on marine habitats, vegetation, and sea turtle ecology.
- Coordinating directly with multi-disciplinary project teams comprising staff scientists, engineers, and academic researchers to manage research and compliance workflows.
- Participating in formal regulatory agency consultations with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
- Preparing and delivering project timelines, technical briefs, and executive presentations directly to Department of Defense and agency clients.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in marine biology or a closely related field.
- 5+ years of relevant professional experience in natural resource management, environmental project management, and scientific data analysis.
- Demonstrated experience with NEPA requirements, documentation, and federal environmental compliance for Department of Defense programs.
- Experience with ESA and Magnuson–Stevens Act regulatory compliance, consultation procedures, and preparation of biological assessments.
- Professional experience with federal and state natural resource permitting processes and environmental resource management.
- Prior experience writing concise technical reports and managing simultaneous projects with tight deadlines
- Willingness to travel for project related responsibilities
Preferred Qualifications:
- Prior military background or experience supporting Department of Defense environmental programs.
- Specific research or survey expertise in sea turtle ecology, marine vegetation, and sensitive coastal habitats.
- Proven track record of independently managing complex projects across multi-disciplinary, fast-paced technical teams.
Clearance Requirements:
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
Physical Requirements:
- Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
- Needs to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
- Frequently communicates with co-workers, management, and customers, which may involve delivering presentations. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
MANTECH seeks a motivated, career and customer-oriented Marine Biologist to join our team in Solana Beach, CA. This will be an onsite position.
The Marine Biologist in this position will support the preparation of a variety of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation, natural resource management initiatives, and state and Federal permitting documents for Department of Defense customers.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Leading and supporting natural resource-related projects, including designing, managing, and conducting biological resource surveys and ecological studies.
- Preparing, reviewing, and overseeing environmental planning documentation, including NEPA documents, Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), Overseas EIS, Environmental Assessments (EA), and Categorical Exclusions (CATEX).
- Developing specialized regulatory packages, such as Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 consultation packages and Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) assessments under the Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
- Drafting comprehensive mitigation and monitoring plans, technical biological reports, and specialized research documentation on marine habitats, vegetation, and sea turtle ecology.
- Coordinating directly with multi-disciplinary project teams comprising staff scientists, engineers, and academic researchers to manage research and compliance workflows.
- Participating in formal regulatory agency consultations with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
- Preparing and delivering project timelines, technical briefs, and executive presentations directly to Department of Defense and agency clients.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in marine biology or a closely related field.
- 5+ years of relevant professional experience in natural resource management, environmental project management, and scientific data analysis.
- Demonstrated experience with NEPA requirements, documentation, and federal environmental compliance for Department of Defense programs.
- Experience with ESA and Magnuson–Stevens Act regulatory compliance, consultation procedures, and preparation of biological assessments.
- Professional experience with federal and state natural resource permitting processes and environmental resource management.
- Prior experience writing concise technical reports and managing simultaneous projects with tight deadlines
- Willingness to travel for project related responsibilities
Preferred Qualifications:
- Prior military background or experience supporting Department of Defense environmental programs.
- Specific research or survey expertise in sea turtle ecology, marine vegetation, and sensitive coastal habitats.
- Proven track record of independently managing complex projects across multi-disciplinary, fast-paced technical teams.
Clearance Requirements:
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
Physical Requirements:
- Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
- Needs to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
- Frequently communicates with co-workers, management, and customers, which may involve delivering presentations. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
Marine Biologist Jobs by Experience Level
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Find Marine Biologist JobsMarine Biologist Job Market
Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in marine biologist jobs.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in marine biology, oceanography, or a related life science
- Experience with field data collection including water sampling, transect surveys, or specimen collection
- Proficiency in statistical software such as R or Python for ecological data analysis
- Scientific scuba diving certification, often to AAUS standards, for subtidal fieldwork roles
- Familiarity with GIS tools for mapping habitat distributions and tracking spatial data
- Experience writing technical reports, peer-reviewed manuscripts, or regulatory compliance documents
Tips for Your Marine Biologist Job Search
Tailor your resume to field methods
List the specific sampling techniques, diving certifications, and equipment you've used, such as ROV operation, trawl surveys, or acoustic tagging. Hiring managers scan for these before reading anything else, so front-load them in a skills section.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists marine biologist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings by research funding source
Roles funded by NOAA grants, NSF awards, or DOD contracts often require specific citizenship or clearance eligibility. Read the full posting before applying so you don't invest time in an opening you can't accept.
Prepare a species and ecosystem statement
Many interview panels ask you to describe your focal taxa and habitat expertise in the first five minutes. Draft a two-minute answer that names the species, geographic regions, and ecological questions you've worked on, so you don't improvise it on the spot.
Negotiate start dates around field seasons
Marine biology roles often have hard field-season constraints in spring and summer. If you're wrapping up a contract or thesis, propose a start date explicitly tied to those windows rather than a generic notice period.
Follow up with a methods-specific note
After an interview, reference one technical method or dataset discussed in the conversation. A follow-up that names the statistical model or monitoring protocol you talked about signals genuine engagement and sticks in the reviewer's memory.
Marine Biologist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most marine biologists?
A.I.S., Fathom Resources, and Virginia Tech are hiring the most marine biologists right now, with openings concentrated in Massachusetts, Virginia, and California, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is highest for roles combining field survey experience with data analysis skills.
How many marine biologist jobs are remote?
About 50% of marine biologist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of most fieldwork positions. Remote opportunities are most common in data analysis, bioinformatics, science communication, and environmental policy roles that don't require direct access to coastal or aquatic sites.
How do you become a marine biologist?
Start with a bachelor's degree in marine biology, biology, or oceanography, focusing coursework on ecology, zoology, and statistics. Gain field experience through research assistantships, internships with government agencies, or volunteer work at aquariums and environmental nonprofits. A master's degree strengthens your candidacy for independent research or senior government positions, while a doctorate is typically required for academic faculty roles or leading your own research program.
How do you get hired as a marine biologist with little experience?
Apply for field technician or research assistant roles, which are the standard entry point for candidates without extensive independent experience. Prioritize positions tied to multi-year monitoring programs, since those build the longitudinal dataset skills employers value most. Diving certification, even at the recreational open-water level, makes your application competitive for roles that require any in-water work, and it signals commitment to the field.
What does the marine biologist interview process look like?
Most employers start with a phone or video screen focused on your field experience and species expertise. That's followed by a technical interview where you'll describe your data collection and analysis methods in detail, sometimes walking through a past dataset or report. Government and academic roles often include a presentation or writing sample review, and final-round interviews typically involve meeting the broader research team to assess fit with ongoing projects.
Where can I find and apply to marine biologist jobs?
You can find and apply to marine biologist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the United States. Search for roles that match your species expertise, field methods, or geographic preference, then apply directly to each listing that fits your background.
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Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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