SKA-Low Senior Technical Officer

Acknowledgement of Country 

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Role highlights

• Lead technical excellence for a world-leading telescope project
• Apply specialist expertise to complex operational challenges
• Shape maintenance, commissioning and operational strategies

About CSIRO

As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. Many of our iconic innovations were once considered impossible until someone, just like you, joined us and took on the challenge. Visit CSIRO.au for more information.

The opportunity 

SKA-Low is one of the world's most ambitious scientific infrastructure projects, combining advanced engineering, large-scale technology and international collaboration to deliver the world's largest low-frequency radio telescope. As the telescope progresses from construction into long-term operations, technical leaders play a critical role in establishing the systems, practices and expertise required to support a globally significant scientific facility.

As a Senior Technical Officer, you will provide technical leadership across the installation, commissioning, operation and lifecycle support of SKA-Low telescope systems. Working with a high degree of independence, you will apply specialist knowledge across RF, electronics, optical and signal-processing infrastructure to address complex technical challenges and support the ongoing evolution of telescope operations.

A key focus of the role will be developing and improving the technical frameworks that underpin operational success. You will establish maintenance strategies, commissioning approaches, fault-finding methodologies and technical procedures, often in environments where established precedents do not exist. Your technical judgement and recommendations will directly influence system reliability, maintainability and operational readiness.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced technical specialist with strong systems thinking, advanced troubleshooting capability and a track record of leading complex technical activities. You will be confident providing technical guidance to others, sharing specialist knowledge and driving continuous improvement across multidisciplinary teams.

If you're passionate about solving complex technical problems, influencing the operation of a world-class scientific facility and helping build the future of radio astronomy, this would be unique opportunity to grow your career in a multi-faceted role.

Your high-level duties will include: 

• Leading the development and periodic review of technical standards, maintenance philosophies and operational procedures adopted by the SKA-Low Operations team.
• Acting as the recognised technical authority for assigned telescope systems, determining technical approaches and providing specialist advice across operational, engineering and scientific teams.
• Developing, validating and implementing original diagnostic techniques, maintenance methodologies, commissioning procedures and operational practices where established approaches do not exist.
• Assuming technical ownership of assigned telescope subsystems, establishing maintenance frameworks, technical standards and lifecycle strategies, and being accountable for system reliability, maintainability and operational readiness outcomes.
• Leading multidisciplinary technical investigations involving uncertain failure modes, complex system interactions and cross-disciplinary technical issues.
• Independently planning, prioritising and coordinating major technical work packages and maintenance activities.
• Leading the development, governance and periodic review of technical standards, maintenance philosophies, engineering procedures and operational practices adopted by the wider SKA-Low Operations organisation.
• Leading development of the technical support model, maintenance regime, acceptance criteria and operational readiness activities required to transition telescope systems from construction into service.
• Developing and optimising spares holdings, repair strategies and lifecycle support frameworks for assigned telescope systems, using reliability, failure and maintenance data to improve availability, minimise operational risk and ensure long-term sustainability of telescope operations.

Role particulars

• Location and office arrangements: Geraldton or Perth, Western Australia – Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) to Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, the CSIRO Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory, on 4-3 Roster (Monday to Thursday, 4 days on/3 days off)
• Salary: AU$118K – AU$127K per annum plus up to 15.4% superannuation + applicable allowances
• Tenure & work schedule: Indefinite/Specified Term of 3 years (depending on location) – Please note that appointment conditions vary by location: Candidates based in Geraldton may be appointed on an indefinite basis, while candidates based in Perth will be appointed on a 3-year specified term contract.
• Reference: 103851

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

• Qualifications or Experience: Degree in engineering or related discipline; or significant equivalent specialist experience in technically complex operational systems.
• Specialist Technical Expertise: Significant specialist experience in RF, electronics, telecommunications, instrumentation, digital signal processing or related disciplines, including responsibility for defining technical approaches, standards, maintenance methodologies or operational practices for complex systems.
• Development of Technical Methods and Practices: Demonstrated experience developing, implementing or significantly improving technical procedures, maintenance methodologies, commissioning approaches, operational practices or lifecycle support frameworks.
• Technical Leadership and Complex Problem Solving: Proven ability to independently lead multidisciplinary technical investigations, resolve complex and ambiguous technical problems, and provide specialist technical advice across organisational boundaries.
• Capability Development and Technical Influence: Demonstrated experience mentoring technical staff, transferring specialist knowledge, establishing technical standards or work practices, and influencing technical outcomes through recognised expertise.
• Communication, Safety and Stakeholder Engagement: Highly developed communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to technical and non-technical audiences, together with a demonstrated commitment to safety, environmental sustainability and the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion.

For full details about this role, please review the Position Description. 

Not sure if you meet all the criteria?

While it is CSIRO policy that the successful candidate must meet all the essential criteria, there are many ways to demonstrate this. Don’t let the list discourage you. If you are unsure about applying, please reach out to the contact person in the Position Description.

Setting you up for success

We are committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible to everyone. We recognise that it may be helpful for us to adjust our process to make it equitable for your individual situation. Please contact the Talent Acquisition Partner via email (see details in the Position Description) and let us know how we can support you.

Eligibility 

Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens, 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.

Due to the specific requirements of this position, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a pre-employment medical examination; and to have a “C” Class drivers’ licence or the ability to obtain one within 6 months of appointment.

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 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and women who meet the role criteria. CSIRO conscious inclusion practices are intended to constitute a special/equal opportunity/affirmative measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) and section 7D of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth).

Life at CSIRO and flexible work arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. We can discuss flexible work arrangements with you during the recruitment process. CSIRO also offers a range of leave entitlements, benefits and career development opportunities. To find out more, visit Careers at CSIRO.

Inclusion and belonging

Solving Australia's greatest challenges takes a diversity of minds and lived experiences. We know diverse teams are more effective and deliver more innovative outcomes. As an equal employment opportunity organisation, we are committed to creating diverse and inclusive teams where people feel they belong. We recognise true diversity encompasses all ages, abilities, cultures, faiths, levels of education, genders, sexualities, diversity of thought and much more. We focus on hiring people who share our values of People First, Further Together, Making it Real and Trusted.

CSIRO holds Platinum Status for the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and a Science in Australia Gender Equity Bronze Award.

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. 

How to apply 

Please apply online, and provide a CV and a detailed cover letter, responding to each of the selection criteria in detail, that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role. Please attach your selection criteria responses to your cover letter as one document.

Applications close 

27 September 2026, 11:00pm AEST

We strongly encourage early applications as we will be reviewing applications as they come through. CSIRO reserves the right to close the advertising early if we find our desired candidate.