Mechanical Maintenance and Plumbing Technician

British Antarctic Survey

BAS 26/80

Contract type FTA - 6 or 18 months

Location Antarctica

Salary: AEP B1A £30,224 - £31,183 per annum (pro rata)plus a £3,000 allowance

Closing date: 23 September 2026, 23:55

Interview date: TBC

Purpose

British Antarctic Survey’s Mechanical Maintenance Technicians take responsibility for maintenance, repair and support of mechanical services at our Antarctic research stations. We are offering a rare opportunity to utilize your skills 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.

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. You will need to have served a full apprenticeship, have a BTEC, relevant City & guilds or NVQ with a recognized 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.

To take responsibility for all planned maintenance, reactive repair, support and upkeep of all mechanical and associated services on Station. Also maintain a small stores facility, including stock indenting and stock control.

Duties

Be responsible for the operation, maintenance, and repair of:

• Water systems, LTHW, HW/ CW systems.
• Desalination systems (some sites).
• Wastewater systems.
• Pump Maintenance.
• Oil fired boilers.
• Heating & ventilation systems.
• Fire suppression system.
• Building management systems (BMS).
• Carrying out works as directed by the line manager.
• Carrying out the planned preventative maintenance (PPM) program.
• Carrying out and supervising the installation of refurbishment works as required to meet the efficient. and effective operational needs of the Station.
• Reporting and documenting all works carried out through the PPM system.
• Reporting of problems or work requests to the line manager.
• Recording and documenting of all reactive works carried out.
• Production of report on the condition of Station mechanical services.
• Undertake other general duties as required or directed by the line manager and Station Leader.

About you:

• Ability to work under pressure.
• Quality focused.
• Health and safety focused.
• Able to work in a team or individually.
• Happy to think out problems and resolve independently.
• Be easy to get along with and a good communicator.
• Confident with IT systems and answering emails and phone calls.

Skills, Qualifications, and Experience

Essential

• Served full apprenticeship, BTEC, relevant City & Guilds or NVQ
• Recognized qualification within the mechanical services industry
• Practical post qualification/apprenticeship site experience
• Knowledge of light commercial water supply systems
• Experience of heating and ventilation systems
• Experience of cooling systems
• Experience of gas installations
• Experience of heat pumps
• Proficient in written and spoken English language
• Able to read and interpret drawings
• Able to plan and manage both time and workload
• Basic computer operating skills; using the Microsoft Office suite of programs
• Use of email systems
• Use of electronic pre-planned maintenance systems (PPM)
• Report writing
• Ability to work within a management structure
• Be self-motivated
• Ability to report any problems or issues to the line manager
• Ability to work individually or as part of a team
• Ability to use tools and materials in a workmanlike manner
• Understanding and experience of the importance of stock control, monitoring and ordering.
• You will need to pass a medical to demonstrate that you are medically fit to work in Antarctic conditions

Desirable

• CSCS Certificate
• Experience of desalination equipment
• Experience of sewage treatment plants
• Experience of oil-fired boilers
• Experience of fire suppression systems
• Good problem-solving skills
• Flexible approach to all tasks and duties given

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

Although this job is not UK based, the successful candidate will be required to attend training in the UK which will require a right to work.

For this role, the only potential for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa is where an individual is currently sponsored for another role/sponsor assigned via a certificate of sponsorship dated prior to 5 April 2024 who also continues to meet the New Entrant criteria of the Skilled worker route. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK. You can check your eligibility here:https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y .