South Pole Machinist

About the role

The South Pole Machinist operates and maintains the MAPO machine shop, located in the Dark Sector Laboratory of the NSF Amundsen-Scott research station at the South Pole in Antarctica. This position requires a continuous stay of approximately eleven months, starting January 15, 2027, and ending November 30, 2027.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and operate the MAPO machine shop.
• Provide machining support for all science projects and the NSF Station.
• Aid in the assembly and setup of scientific equipment.
• Assist with the testing, integration, and maintenance of electrical and mechanical assemblies, including power, computer, and electronic components.
• Climb, operate machines and power tools outside of MAPO machine shop.
• Perform other related work as needed.

Requirements

• Minimum requirements include vocational training, apprenticeships, or the equivalent experience in related fields.
• Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with machining and working with complex instruments.
• Experience with telescopes and mechanical systems, including electrical systems, servo systems, and cryogenic systems, as well as radio, analog, and digital electronics.
• Good problem-solving, organization, and communication skills.
• The ability to work independently and within a team environment.
• Planning; attention to detail; analytic and quantitative skills; reading; self-motivation; problem-solving; math; reasoning; oral and written communications; ability to manage time pressures.