How to hire a sonar technician

How to hire a sonar technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step sonar technician hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a sonar technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new sonar technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the sonar technician you need to hire. Certain sonar technician roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A sonar technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, sonar technicians from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of sonar technician salaries for various roles:

   Type of Sonar Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Sonar Technician		$11-51

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Troubleshoot
   • Electronic Systems
   • Technical Manuals
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Secret Security Clearance
   • Corrective Maintenance
   • Sonar Systems
   • Nuclear Weapons
   • Electronic Test Equipment
   • Electronic Components
   • Fire Control Systems
   • LAN
   • USS
   • Acoustic Data

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Improve systematic processes since this new radar is managed both using the military standards and the FAA regulations as well.
   • Utilize, voltmeters, oscilloscopes, RF power meters, spectrum analyzers, during troubleshooting procedures.
   • Align and tune all RF subsystems using technical manuals.
   • Utilize the Pthread library in Linux to simulate the RTOS functions.
   • Serve aboard the USS Maine providing technical support for maintenance for electrical and hydraulic systems, in addition to standard watches.
   • Use schematic and wiring/circuitry diagrams to troubleshoot, repair and schedule preventive maintenance on electronic systems.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your sonar technician job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A sonar technician can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, sonar technicians' average salary in wyoming is 47% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level sonar technicians 78% less than senior-level sonar technicians.
   • Certifications. A sonar technician with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a sonar technician's salary.

   Average sonar technician salary

   $51,598yearly

   $24.81 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level sonar technician salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated February 1, 2026

4. Writing a sonar technician job description

   A good sonar technician job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a sonar technician job description:

   Sonar technician job description example

   Oasis Systems has an exciting opportunity for a full time Payload Technician to support naval Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) test and evaluation in San Diego, CA. This project team develops and operates cutting-edge robotic ships and sensor payloads for the US Navy.
   
   JOB STATUS: Full Time
   TRAVEL: Some travel may be required.
   
   REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: (Education, Certifications, Experience, Skills)
   
   This candidate must have experience with the following:
   
   SECURITY CLEARANCE: Eligible for Secret clearance.
   
   EDUCATION: HS and appropriate US Navy training
   
   CERTIFICATIONS AND TOOLS: N/A
   
   EXPERIENCE LEVEL: 6+ years of Sonar operations and maintenance
   
   Six or more years operating and maintaining surface or submarine sonar systems.
   Acoustic Intelligence (ACINT) analysis experience.
   Experience operating and maintaining towed sonar handling systems.
   Ability to train Active Duty Navy students on the use of experimental sonar equipment.
   Ability to embark on US Navy ships and civilian test support vessels.
   
   OTHER QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS:
   
   Formal instructor experience, especially holders of the 9502 NEC.
   Experience developing and testing experimental systems at sea.
   Experience with Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS) operations and maintenance.
   
   RESPONSIBILITIES: Functionally, the successful candidate will:
   
   Assist with the development of experimental towed sonar systems.
   Plan and execute at-sea testing of towed sonar systems.
   Operate and maintain towed sonar handling systems.
   Train Active Duty Navy personnel in an operational setting.
   Operate boats and support craft during test execution at sea.
   
   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
   
   At-sea testing may sometimes require up to 70-hour work weeks.
   
   #MON
   
   Who We Are
   
   Oasis Systems is a premier provider of customer-driven, cost-effective and quality Engineering Services; Enterprise Systems and Applications; Human Factors Engineering; Information Technology and Cyber Security; Professional Services; and Specialized Engineering Solutions to the Department of Defense, FAA, NRC and other federal agencies.
   
   We strive to be an exciting and welcoming company that attracts, develops, motivates and retains the most talented, skilled and dedicated people in the industry; where they are encouraged to achieve personal excellence, purpose, and their full potential and career aspirations; while supporting mission-critical national security technologies and programs.
   
   Oasis Systems is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of any legally protected characteristic including, but not limited to, race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, ancestry, age, medical condition, military veteran status or on the basis of physical handicap which, with reasonable accommodation, render the application to satisfactorily perform the job available.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find sonar technicians for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any sonar technicians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level sonar technicians with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your sonar technician job on Zippia to find and recruit sonar technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with sonar technician candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new sonar technician

   Once you've decided on a perfect sonar technician candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new sonar technician first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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