Life Support Technician - Harborview Aquarium

Full Time Salaried, $18/hour

About the role

The Life Support Technician is responsible for the operation, maintenance and repair of facilities and equipment associated with live animal habitats. Management and preventative maintenance of all life support system (LSS) equipment, including but not limited to pumps, sand filters, UV, ozone generators and other equipment that are critical to animal health.

Responsibilities

Pre-Opening / Commissioning Phase

• Assist in commissioning all life support systems, including system startup, performance testing, and documentation of baseline operating parameters.
• Participate in the assembly, start-up, and operations of standalone aquatic life support systems, including smaller independent systems serving specialized habitats and holding areas.
• Support the setup of spare parts inventory, maintenance tools, and vendor relationships.

Operational Phase

• Participate in daily inspection and operation of all LSS equipment including pumps, filtration systems, ozone generators, UV systems, chemical dosing, and control/automation platforms.
• Monitor water quality parameters (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, ORP, pH, nitrogen cycle stability, and clarity) and coordinate corrective actions with all responsible parties as needed.
• Maintain the preventative maintenance program of all LSS equipment through the manufacturers’ scheduled maintenance for all equipment.
• Perform general building repair and maintenance in both guest-facing areas and back-of-house.
• Assist in making seawater for marine systems.
• Complete daily work orders and PM tasks.
• Perform advanced troubleshooting of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems; coordinate with contractors and vendors for specialized repairs.
• Maintain accurate system logs, work orders, and performance data in the CMMS.
• Conduct routine testing of backup systems and support emergency preparedness drills.
• Assist in coordinating facility support for special events, extended hours, and seasonal operations.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable OSHA, EPA, NY State DEC, USFWS, FWC, local Health Department, Fire Marshal, and AZA standards.
• Promote a safety-first culture; enforce lockout/tagout, confined space, respiratory protection, and chemical handling protocols at all times.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• One year+ in a similar position required.
• PADI Open Water or equivalent (or able to obtain within 90 days of employment) required.
• First Aid, CPR, Emergency O2, and AED certification (or able to obtain within 90 days of employment) required.
• Ability to adhere to OSHA standards and proper use of personal protective equipment in an aquarium environment required.
• Working proficiency with basic hand tools and power tools.
• Skilled in general construction, troubleshooting mechanical systems and the safe use of tools required.
• Knowledge of water chemistry and monitoring in an aquarium environment required.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills required.

Preferred Qualifications

• AALSO Operator Level II and Water Quality Level II certifications.

Abilities

• Requires walking/standing for long periods of time, bending and crouching, climbing, working in small/tight spaces, and lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to read, listen and communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to access and accurately input information using a moderately complex computer system.
• Hearing and visual ability to observe and detect signs of emergency situations.

Schedule

The leisure business functions seven days a week. Due to the seasonal nature of the industry, team members may be required to work varying schedules, weekends, holidays and overtime to reflect the business needs of the property. Team members may also be required to attend group and/or department meetings in addition to the work shift as necessary.