As an Electronics Engineer with the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) you will install, commission, maintain, calibrate and modify electronic instruments and systems for the collection, reduction and analysis of data. You will have good hardware and software skills. You will be technically resourceful and be able to operate with minimal supervision. You will also produce regular, comprehensive reports on the status of observatory equipment.

The role is largely supportive in that you will apply professional engineering knowledge and skills to the investigation and monitoring aspects of the research program. It principally supports the atmospheric and glaciological science activities of the Antarctic Climate Program but also assists the activities of the broader science program at Davis. The role will involve working closely with scientists at the station and in Australia.

A training period of approximately two months precedes your deployment to Davis station. You may also be required to assist with replacement orders from the station, preparation of technical equipment and documentation in support of research projects and general duties (including packing of equipment, inventory maintenance and general clerical assistance).

During your training at Kingston, you will attend courses specific to your duties in Antarctica. Training commitments are such that you must be available to start on the advertised commencement date and will be expected to take only one week of pre-departure leave before travelling to Antarctica.

The period away from Australia will generally be around 12-15 months depending upon transport schedules and work programs. This spans the winter period, where you will be the sole electronics engineer, and the ‘summer’ seasons before and after, used for on-site training, maintenance activities and handover of expertise.

On returning to Australia, you will participate in a comprehensive debrief at the AAD lasting approximately one week.

The Electronics Engineer is a winter job only at Davis station.

Listed below is some of the equipment that is operated at and around Davis station. Specific and transferrable skills are valued:

• Atmospheric radars operating at various frequencies (MFSA 2MHz middle atmosphere wind radar; MST 55MHz wind profiling radar; 33MHz meteor detection and wind profiling radar)
• Optical instruments for temperature and wave measurements (Scanning OH Spectrometer; Fourier Transform Spectrometer)
• Space weather monitors (Digital Ionosonde; Imaging Riometer)
• Cloud, precipitation and aerosol monitors
• Tide Gauge

To apply for this role, you must have the skills and licences listed below:

Qualifications/licences

Provide copy with application:

• Engineering Degree - An Engineering degree majoring in electronics from an Australian University, or qualification of equivalent standard from an Australian or overseas university that is consistent with eligibility for graduate membership to the Institution of Engineers Australia.
• Driver’s Licence – A current, unrestricted “C” class (manual) Australian driver’s licence.
• Citizenship - In accordance with the PS Act 1999, Australian Public Service employees are required to be Australian citizens. Persons who are not Australian citizens will generally only be considered where there are no suitable Australian applicants, with next considerations being Australian residents with work rights and New Zealand citizens.

Obtain prior to commencement:

• Valid Passport - The expiry date of the passport (and any relevant visa) must be at least 6 months beyond the planned end date of your intended stay in the Antarctic or sub-Antarctic.
• Provide First Aid (HLTAID0011) must be valid for at least 18 months beyond the date of commencement
• Provide Basic Emergency Life Support (HLTAID010) must be valid for at least 18 months beyond the date of commencement.
• Provide CPR (HLTAID009) must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of commencement

Knowledge and experience

• Detailed design, implementation and testing of analogue and digital electronic circuits and systems (including microcontroller-based systems).
• Ability to be resourceful and innovative in technical aspects of the work including the ability to fault find and calibrate modern electronic instrumentation. Have the ability to repair electronic equipment at a component level (demonstrated experience of such when operating with limited resources is desirable).