Electronics Technician I

About the role

This is a limited-term assignment deploying to McMurdo Station, Antarctica to conduct work locally. The United States Antarctica Program requires all personnel deploying to Antarctica to pass a physical qualification. The Electronics Technician I performs basic diagnosis, repairs, and modifications to electronics systems, including periodic maintenance, troubleshooting, installations, and testing of equipment. The Technician assists Senior Technicians in the setup, maintenance, and storage of airfield systems and deep-field camp systems supporting aviation operations and weather observing.

Responsibilities

• Report the operational readiness, capabilities, limitations, and reliability of installed systems.
• Maintain and verify work center safety requirements and equipment.
• Submit work requests for facility repairs in accordance with site processes.
• Collect and maintain accurate records, including equipment maintenance logs, certifications, and inventory.
• Conduct reviews of test equipment, its condition, calibration status, and requirements.
• Calibrate and repair sensors and test equipment.
• Provide general assistance for preparation of point papers, analyses, briefs, and management-related tasks.
• Document and archive all maintenance actions using government-provided tools, spreadsheets, or hand-written logs.
• Adhere to configuration control, security, and frequency management policies and procedures.
• Schedule and conduct necessary training, including Pre-Deployment Ground School and on-site training.
• Maintain an accurate tool inventory of government-owned tools and current CPR certification.
• Provide estimated airlift needs for maintenance requirements prior to each operational season.
• Ensure inventory of spare parts/components is accurate and adequate.
• Conduct authorized modification, installation, and removal of equipment.
• Prepare and update drawings and technical documentation to reflect system/equipment status and changes.
• Prepare routine and special reports, including incident, accident, and post-action emergent reports.
• Follow all applicable safety requirements and support flight checks/certifications of airfield systems.
• Ensure all assigned equipment operates in accordance with technical specifications and operational directives.
• Verify all technicians meet deployment requirements and possess a valid driver’s license.
• Provide maintenance support up to 24/7 at McMurdo Station and surrounding airfields, including remote locations via helicopter, light airplane, or cargo aircraft.
• Maintain a written Master Station Log (MSL) of maintenance activity and equipment status.
• Measure and report operational availability (Ao) of systems and follow procedures for reporting system outages.
• Maintain systems in accordance with DoD or non-DoD information security requirements.

Navigational Aids (NAVAIDS) Systems Support

• Provide scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and repair of NAVAIDS, including:
  • TACAN
  • Precision Landing Systems (e.g., MLS)
  • Visual Landing Systems (e.g., REILS, PAPI)
  • Power backup and conditioning equipment
  • Control Systems/user interface equipment
  • Test and calibration equipment
• Ensure proper NAVAIDS sighting and installation in accordance with applicable instructions.
• Initiate requests for flight checks as per established processes.
• Manage and secure voice recording/data-recording media in accordance with directives.
• Ensure the necessary level of certified technicians are present for setup, maintenance, and removal of NAVAIDS.

Communications Systems (COM) Support

• Provide scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and repair of communications systems, including:
  • UHF/VHF ATC transmitters and receivers
  • ATC Voice Switches
  • UHF/VHF emergency/backup transceivers
  • MILSATCOM terminals
  • Portable Emergency radios
  • Voice recorders
  • Radio to IP interfaces and switching equipment
  • Windows-based communications control systems
  • Miscellaneous wireless point-to-point circuits
  • Miscellaneous serial-to-IP modems
  • Interconnecting cabling, wiring, fiber, jack-fields, and patch panels
  • RF cabling, switches, and antennas
• Ensure proper communications systems installations in accordance with applicable instructions.
• Maintain communications circuit access during contingency/backup operations.
• Comply with frequency management processes.
• Ensure the necessary level of certified technicians are present for setup, maintenance, and removal of communications systems.
• Provide assistance to other technicians on communications components, devices, or sub-systems within NAVAIDS and Meteorology systems.

Meteorology (MET) Systems Support

• Provide scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and repair of meteorology systems, including:
  • Fixed-base meteorology systems
  • Portable or expeditionary sensor kits and systems
  • Upper-air sounding systems
  • Experimental sensor kits and systems
  • Miscellaneous weather sensors (e.g., anemometers, pressure, temperature)
  • Displays, data loggers, and raw data transmission devices
  • Visual display systems for measured or modeled weather data
  • Web-based presentation of data and reports
  • Renewable energy charging systems (e.g., solar and wind)
  • Miscellaneous serial-to-IP modems
  • Interconnecting cabling, wiring, fiber, jack-fields, and patch panels
  • Data transport systems and networks
• Maintain certified technicians for setup, maintenance, and removal of meteorology systems.
• Attend necessary safety training and perform maintenance at remote locations such as deep field camps or automated observation stations.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED with 0-2 years of experience.
• Formal training from a Technical School or Class A/B military school in electronics or communications preferred.
• Valid USA passport (reimbursable).
• Ability to obtain a T1 Clearance through the government customer.
• Must pass internal background checks and medical/dental examination prior to deployment (expenses reimbursable).
• Valid driver’s license.

Skills

• Ability to perform job duties in extreme, cold, and dark work environments.
• Knowledge and experience in hardware maintenance, including replacing/repairing hard drives, motherboards, RAM, CPUs, and peripherals.
• Ability to follow directions and work independently or with a team.
• Reliability in attendance and punctuality.
• Proficiency in conducting audits and utilizing quality management systems.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong organization, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Customer service and relationship-building skills.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Work is primarily performed in an office/warehouse setting.
• Regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and reach with hands and arms, occasionally above head.
• Regularly required to twist at the waist, climb and descend stairs while carrying objects.
• Frequently required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Occasionally required to sit, climb, or balance.
• Regularly lifts and/or moves up to 25 pounds; occasionally lifts and/or moves up to 50 pounds.
• Works near moving mechanical parts and may be exposed to warehouse or machinery noise.
• This position requires a physical qualification for deployment to Antarctica.