Licensed Electrician - SKA-Low Telescope

Acknowledgement of Country

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation

Child safety

CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy.

The opportunity

The SKA Observatory (SKAO) is a next-generation radio astronomy facility that will revolutionise our understanding of the Universe and the laws of fundamental physics. Enabled by cutting-edge technology, it promises to have a major impact on society, in science and beyond.

In Australia, the SKAO is collaborating with CSIRO to operate and support the construction of the low frequency telescope (SKA-Low) in remote Western Australia on Wajarri Yamaji Country.

The Traditional Owners and native title holders, the Wajarri Yamaji, have gifted CSIRO with the traditional name Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara for the CSIRO Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory, home to the SKA-Low telescope. The traditional name means ‘sharing sky and stars’ in the Wajarri language.

The SKA-Low Licensed Electrician will ensure the safe, efficient, and uninterrupted performance of complex electrical systems across the telescope site. This includes the deployment, maintenance, operation, and upgrade of a wide array of electrical systems and apparatus. This role will work on a FIFO (Fly-In-Fly-Out) 8-days on 6-days off working roster. 

Your duties will include:

• Ensure electrical test equipment is properly maintained and stocked, and support effective testing procedures across a range of systems.
• Participate in after-hours on-call support and attend to system breakdowns, contributing to the testing and validation of restored functionality. (CSIRO offers generous on-call and overtime payments)
• Perform prompt fault diagnosis and repairs on electrical and electronic systems, ensuring timely resolution to maintain site operations.
• Undertake the installation, commissioning, and upgrade of industrial electrical systems and components in line with project and engineering requirements.
• Contribute to the planning and scheduling of electrical maintenance activities, using discretion to determine methods, priorities, and resource needs.

Location:     Geraldton, Western Australia - FIFO or DIDO to Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, the CSIRO Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory

Salary:         AU$96,811 - AU$109,527 plus 15.4% superannuation plus all applicable allowances

Tenure:        Indefinite – Full-Time, Part-Time or Job-Share

Reference:  100083

To be considered you will need:

Essential

• Electrical Trade Qualification: Hold a relevant trade qualification as an Electrician and an unrestricted WA Electrical Licence.
• Technical Expertise: Practical knowledge and hands-on experience in the design, installation, and upgrading of switchboards and electrical distribution systems in compliance with Australian electrical standards.
• System Commissioning and Diagnostics: Proven ability to plan and perform the commissioning, maintenance, repair, and fault diagnosis of electrical systems, including effective interpretation of technical drawings and schematics.
• Teamwork and Independence: Demonstrated capacity to work safely and productively within a small engineering team, showing initiative, self-motivation, and the ability to operate effectively with minimal supervision.
• Communication and Documentation: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear documentation and effectively use standard software tools for correspondence, record-keeping, and updates.

Desirable

• Remote Site Experience: Previous experience working in remote locations demonstrating adaptability and resilience in isolated or challenging environments.
• Software Proficiency: Experience using industry-relevant software tools such as electrical diagnostic software, SCADA systems, SAP, Maximo, CITEC, PLC programming environments, or equivalent platforms.
• Support for Complex Facilities: Experience supporting high-reliability technical or scientific infrastructure such as data centres, laboratories, or research facilities.
• Adjacent Trades: Experience in maintenance and repair of HVAC systems, high voltage switching operations and other relevant work licences.

CSIRO is an Equal Opportunity employer working hard to recruit world-class talent that represents the diversity across our society. As part of our commitment to equitable employment outcomes for under-represented groups, preference will be given to Indigenous Australian people, women and people with a disability who meet the role criteria. 

For Full details about this role, please review the Position Description

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian/New Zealand Citizens and Australian Permanent Residents. Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

Flexible working arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. 

CSIRO and the SKA Observatory value and respect difference, and we are committed to building an inclusive culture by creating an environment where you can balance a successful career with your commitments and interests outside of work. We believe that you will do your best at work if you have a work / life balance. We are open to discussing flexible working opportunities with this role being offered on a full-time, part-time or job share basis. Please raise your preference in your application.

Diversity and inclusion

We are working hard to recruit people representing the diversity across our society, and ensure that all our people feel supported to do their best work and feel empowered to let their ideas flourish. 

About CSIRO

At CSIRO Australia's national science agency, we solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. We put the safety and wellbeing of our people above all else and earn trust everywhere because we only deal in facts. We collaborate widely and generously and deliver solutions with real impact. 

CSIRO is committed to values-based leadership to inspire performance and unlock the potential of our people.

Join us and start creating tomorrow today!

How to apply

To apply for this role, please apply on-line providing your CV, and a Cover Letter clearly addressing the essential criteria of this role and your motivation for applying. Under CSIRO policy, only those who are able to demonstrate how they can meet the essential criteria may be appointed

Applications close

13 JULY 2025, 11:59pm AWST