About Bedrock
Our mission is to accelerate the exploration of Earth’s final frontier—the ocean—by pioneering autonomous technologies and unlocking transparent, actionable intelligence.
We believe that understanding the ocean is essential to thriving on this planet and beyond. The ocean is not just a vast body of water—it is the foundation of our climate, our resources, our communications, and our energy. As critical infrastructure increasingly moves beneath the waves, our ability to explore, map, and safeguard the ocean’s bedrock becomes vital.
We’re not just connecting the world by sea—we’re revealing the deep, unseen structure that connects all life. To secure our future, we must first understand the ground beneath us, the foundation of our civilization.
The Role
We are seeking a Director of Survey Operations to lead, grow, and scale Bedrock’s survey capabilities. This role will own the strategic and operational direction of our commercial survey initiatives while supporting advanced R&D efforts as needed. The Director will oversee all aspects of survey planning and execution—from field operations and logistics to client delivery and operational excellence.
As a senior leader, you will manage a team of survey operators, project managers, and technical specialists, ensuring that Bedrock’s survey operations are world-class in safety, efficiency, and data quality. You will collaborate closely with engineering and product teams to integrate operational feedback into technology development, while also working with leadership to expand survey capabilities to meet evolving client and market needs.
This is an opportunity to shape the future of ocean mapping and play a pivotal role in building scalable operations for Earth’s last frontier.
What You’ll Do
Provide strategic leadership for Bedrock’s survey operations, including team structure, staffing, training, and resource allocation.
Oversee all offshore operations of marine autonomous systems, including mission planning, mobilization, execution, and demobilization.
Build and manage survey teams, developing training programs and career pathways for operators and survey professionals.
Ensure operational excellence by establishing and enforcing standards, procedures, and safety protocols across all survey activities.
Partner with engineering and R&D teams to refine survey technologies, tools, and workflows based on field insights.
Serve as a client-facing leader for survey operations, providing updates, managing expectations, and ensuring delivery of high-quality results.
Drive continuous improvement in survey processes, efficiency, and data quality.
Manage relationships with maritime contractors, vessel providers, and other third-party partners.
Oversee maintenance, readiness, and optimization of survey equipment and systems.
Ensure compliance with regulatory, environmental, and safety standards in all operating regions.
About You
Experience & Expertise
10+ years of experience in marine survey operations, with at least 5 years in a leadership or management role.
Proven track record leading offshore survey teams, preferably with Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) or similar subsea systems.
Strong background in hydrographic or geophysical survey practices, including experience with multibeam bathymetry, side scan sonar, sub-bottom profilers, positioning systems, and related software.
Experience working with contractors, vessel operators, and international partners.
Familiarity with both commercial survey operations and R&D/early-stage technology deployment.
Strong troubleshooting skills and operational judgment in dynamic offshore environments.
Ability to design and implement processes that scale across multiple concurrent survey operations.
Leadership & Operational Skills
Demonstrated success in building and managing diverse, high-performing teams.
Strong decision-making skills in time-sensitive environments, with a balance of risk management and operational delivery.
Excellent communication and client management skills, able to represent survey operations at the executive and customer levels.
Visionary yet pragmatic—capable of scaling operations while staying hands-on enough to solve complex challenges.
Commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
Work Environment & Travel
Willingness to travel frequently for survey operations and offshore deployments, both domestically and internationally.
Comfortable leading in dynamic offshore environments, including vessel-based and remote operations.
Travel commitments may range from 25%–50%, depending on project needs and operational tempo.
Offshore operations may require extended deployments and coordination of 24-hour operations.
Bonus Points
Certified Hydrographer (e.g., Category A or B).
BOSIET/GWO Offshore Safety Training.
Nearshore/offshore Coast Guard captain’s license.
Experience with unmanned underwater systems and marine survey instrumentation.
Familiarity with survey software packages (QINSy, HYPACK, SonarWiz, etc.).
Strong mechanical or electrical fabrication and repair skills.
Explore the Last True Frontier
We are seeking mission-oriented, purpose-driven teammates who are willing to push boundaries to learn and execute when things seem impossible. The ocean is the ultimate level playing field—anyone can go, but not many can build successful systems that can survive and thrive in Earth’s last frontier.
Join us in illuminating the darkness, exploring the unknown, and leading the charge in ocean exploration.
Bedrock is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are based on merit, competence, and qualifications.
