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Mechanical Maintenance Technician – Winter - 6 or 18 month contracts

Job Details

Mechanical Maintenance Technician – Winter

Job reference: BAS 21/07

Contract type: Antarctic Contract

Duration: Antarctic Winter (Approx. 18 Months)

Salary: £24,685 per annum initially. Additionally, upon completion of a successful tour, you will receive a bonus of up to 10%.

Benefits: We offer generous benefits

Team: Antarctic employment pool team

Location: Antarctica (Rothera, South Georgia)

Closing date: 31 March, 2021 11:59 pm

British Antarctic Survey’s Mechanical Maintenance Technicians take responsibility for maintenance, repair and support of mechanical services at our Antarctic research stations.

Who we are

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) delivers and enables world-leading interdisciplinary research in the Polar Regions. Our skilled science and support staff based in Cambridge, Antarctica and the Arctic, work together to deliver research that uses the Polar Regions to advance our understanding of Earth as a sustainable planet. Through our extensive logistic capability and know how BAS facilitates access for the British and international science community to the UK polar research operation. Numerous national and international collaborations, combined with an excellent infrastructure help sustain a world leading position for the UK in Antarctic affairs. British Antarctic Survey is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). NERC is part of UK Research and Innovation www.ukri.org

We employ experts from many different professions to carry out our Science as well as keep the keep the lights on, feed the research and support teams and keep everyone safe! If you are looking for an opportunity to work with amazing people in one of the most unique places in the world, then British Antarctic Survey could be for you. We aim to attract the best people for those jobs.

Purpose

BAS operates five sites from smaller domestic size sites such as Bird Island to more complex stations such as Halley IV with CHP systems and BMS controls. We require a broad range of skills to maintain our stations in all aspects of mechanical engineering including plumbers, heating engineers, pipe fitters and mechanical maintenance technicians with domestic commercial or industrial experience.

We are offering a rare opportunity to do what may seem like an ordinary job in the most extraordinary place on Earth. The UK’s polar research effort is critically important for understanding environmental issues that affect everyone. Antarctica is also the most exhilarating and spectacular workplace you could imagine.

You will have served a full apprenticeship, have a BTEC, relevant City & guilds or NVQ with a recognised qualification within the mechanical service industry and have post qualification/apprenticeship practical site experience.

With high levels of self-motivation and strong team-working skills you will be able to manage your time well, anticipate problems and take responsibility for reporting issues to your managers and fellow team members.

Qualification

Served full apprenticeship, BTEC, relevant City & Guilds or NVQ

Recognised qualification within the mechanical services industry

CSCS Certificate would be desirable

Duties

Be responsible for the operation, maintenance and repair of:

  • Water systems
  • Desalination systems
  • Sewage systems including sewage treatment plants
  • Oil fired boilers
  • LPG installations
  • Laboratory gas installations
  • Heating & ventilation systems
  • Fire suppression system
  • Domestic appliances, fridges, freezers, washing machines, tumble dryers etc
  • Building management systems (BMS)
  • Pumps

Reporting of problems or work requests to the line manager.

Carrying out works as directed by the line manager.

Carrying out the pre-planned maintenance (PPM) programme

Carrying out non-routine repair and maintenance as necessary, to ensure the safe, efficient and effective operational needs of the Station.

Carrying out and supervising the installation of refurbishment works as required to meet the efficient and effective operational needs of the Station.

Maintenance of tools and resources required to complete all maintenance and repair works.

Maintaining and revising material and tools stock lists, to ensure that sufficient and adequate spares, equipment and materials are available to carry out all required PPM.

Reporting and documenting all works carried out through the PPM system.

Recording and documenting of all reactive works carried out.

Production of an annual report on the condition of Station mechanical services, which should include any recommended improvements.

Work with and ‘stand in for’ other staff to ensure the efficient and effective operational needs of the Station are maintained.

Undertake other general duties as required or directed by the line manager and Station Leader

Please quote reference: BAS 21/07

Publication date: 8 January 2021

Closing date for receipt of application forms is: 31 March 2021

Interviews are scheduled to be held: 28 and 29 April 2021

As part of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and promoting equality in careers in science, we hold an Athena SWAN Bronze Award and have an active Equality, Diversity and Inclusion programme of activity. We welcome applications from all sections of the community. People from ethnic minorities and disabled people are currently under-represented and their applications are particularly welcome.

COVID-19 update

We have a responsibility to do everything that we can to ensure that BAS Ships and Stations remain COVID free and that staff are deployed safely and responsibly. Our medical screening for this season will therefore take account of the recognised factors that increase your risk of an adverse reaction to the coronavirus (Primarily this is BMI at or above 30, age over 60 years old, or a history of smoking). The assessment is done confidentially by our Medical Unit and the criteria might be subject to change.

You might be required to quarantine two weeks prior to your deployment, and you might sail to Antarctica on our polar ship.

All applications will be checked at point of application by BAS staff and those without the right to work in the UK or without a realistic prospect of being able to acquire the right to work in the UK will not progress.

Please read the Applicants guide here before submitting your application.

Company

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). Based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, it has, for over 60 years, undertaken the majority of Britain's scientific research on and around the Antarctic continent. It now shares that continent with scientists from over thirty countries.

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British Antarctic Survey enables world-leading interdisciplinary research in the Polar Regions. We employ a wide range of skilled science, operational and support staff based in Cambridge, Antarctica, on ships and aircraft as well in the Arctic.  We work together to deliver research that uses the Polar Regions to advance our understanding of Earth as a sustainable planet.  There are many opportunities to grow a successful career at BAS.  

Engineering and technology is critical to the success of polar research. Our world-leading research depends on the expertise of a wide range of specialists who work in Antarctica, onboard our ships, and in our Cambridge offices.

Mechanical engineering

Mechanical engineers work hand-in-hand with scientists to provide bespoke frontline science support across an exciting, diverse range of research programmes. Along with other specialist engineers, projects can include airborne survey systems (radar and cameras), meteorology instruments, hot water drilling equipment, ice coring machinery, space weather sensors such as very low frequency receivers, and even penguin weighbridges!

Mechanical engineers are based at Cambridge, and can be deployed on ships or stations, or into remote fieldwork locations.

Electrical engineering

Like mechanical engineers, electrical engineers work closely with scientists and other engineers to deliver unique pieces of equipment to support frontier science, as descibed above.

Electrical engineers are based at Cambridge, and are frequently deployed on ships or stations, or remote fieldwork locations.

IT engineering

IT engineers provide equipment and support for everyone in the organisation. Some IT engineers work alongside mechanical and electrical engineers on bespoke equipment for frontier science, as above. Others are service desk engineers and network engineers whose critical role is to keep business systems up and running.

Predominantly based in our Cambridge offices IT engineers acan also spend time on ships or stations in the polar regions.

Marine engineering

BAS employs two types of marine engineers:  a Cambridge-based team who are responsible for refitting and maintenance of all the science, propulsion and navigation equipment onboard ships;  and mariners such as the Chief Engineer, 2nd, 3rd and 4th engineers who work at sea to ensure ships equipment and systems run smoothly while on polar research or operational missions.

Aircraft Engineering

BAS operates two aircraft types (DHC-6 and DHC-7) primarily in the Antarctic, but also worldwide. BAS holds the necessary regulatory approved CAMO (Continued Airworthiness Management Organisation) function for these aircraft.  As such BAS has a small cell of dedicated aircraft engineering management staff within the Air Unit, based at Cambridge, to assure continuous airworthiness compliance, oversight, control and give direction to our contracted aircraft engineers on any work necessary to maintain and assure continued airworthiness in service in the world’s most challenging operating environments. The direct aircraft scheduled maintenance and rectification is accomplished through our approved contracted aircraft engineering entities, currently based in Canada.

Vehicle mechanics

Operating stations and vehicles in extreme climates such as the polar regions requires skilled mechanics and technicians to maintain, repair and deploy vehicles including Snowmobiles, Pisten-Bullys and Bulldozers. Mechanics can be based at Cambridge for five months before being deployed to support operations in Antarctica.

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Company info
Website
Location
High Cross
Madingley Road
Cambridge
Cambridgeshire
CB3 0ET
GB

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