Jacob Springman

Tell us about your work/research. What kinds of things do you do?

I help maintain and program autonomous underwater and surface vehicles. I also integrate sensors into the vehicles in order to collect various types of data that are used for studying physical oceanography. I have operated vehicles in San Diego, Alaska, Guam, and Palau.

What sparked your initial interest in your career?

I've always been interested in learning how complex systems work. Engineering came naturally because of that, and I was lucky enough to grow up and go to school next to the ocean. While I did not directly pursue oceanographic engineering, it has come to be a very good fit for what I enjoy doing.

Who influenced you or encouraged you the most?

My family and friends have been my largest source of motivation that I could be successful in this field. I also work with many great people that make it easy to strive for great things.

What element of your work/study do you think is the most fascinating?

With how little is known about the ocean, working on robots that help explore and demystify the ocean is a really cool feeling. Getting to visit remote places in the world that I never would have otherwise is also a huge plus.

How did you get involved with the Ocean Exploration Trust?

I work with a group within Scripps Institution of Oceanography that is sailing with OET for a physical oceanography study. I work on and maintain an ASV that we will be using for part of that study.

What other jobs led you to your current career?

This is my first real job out of college.

What are your degrees and certifications?

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

What are your hobbies?

I love playing just about any sport with a group of friends. I also really enjoy gardening, cooking, baking, and playing piano.

What advice would you give someone who wants to have a career like yours?

Try to diversify your knowledge as much as possible. While being an expert in a certain topic can be great, I and my coworkers often find ourselves tackling a very diverse set of problems (especially when out in the field with limited resources). I'm always learning new things and giving myself the ability to approach problems from different perspectives.