Mechanical Technician

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. 

Role highlights

• Support world-class marine research and ocean observing programs
• Enjoy a role that takes you from office to lab, and sea
• Join a collaborative team at the Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, UWA campus

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 

Join CSIRO’s Ocean Sensor Deployments team and help deliver critical coastal oceanographic data for Australia’s Integrated Marine Observing System.

Based at the Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre (IOMRC), you’ll combine vessel operations, fieldwork, and technical support to enable world-class marine research. This hands-on role includes working at sea, maintaining scientific instruments, and supporting logistics and laboratory activities.

Your high-level duties will include: 

• Collaborating within a small team to maintain coastal moored sensors and conducting routine biogeochemical water sampling at designated sites.
• Preparing and maintaining sensitive scientific instruments to ensure data integrity and operational readiness.
• Supporting the operation and maintenance of commercial research vessels, contributing to safe and efficient marine fieldwork.
• Assisting with shore-based logistics, including workshop organization, inventory management, and laboratory setup.
• Performing laboratory sample processing in accordance with established protocols and quality standards.

Role particulars

Location and office arrangements: Perth (Crawley site), WA

Salary: AU$100k – AU$113k per annum (pro rata for part-time), plus 15.4% superannuation

Tenure & work schedule: Indefinite; full time 

Reference: 101633

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

• A relevant trade certificate/diploma/bachelor’s degree in a marine research, maritime operations or equivalent industry experience.
• A Marine Qualification including Coxswain or Master <24 NC.
• A current Australian Medium Rigid (MR) Driver’s Licence.
• Familiarity with scientific instruments, data collection/ processing techniques.
• Strong computer literacy and ability to interpret technical documents.

Applicants with a current SCUBA diving certification (e.g., Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme), Marine Engine Driver 2 (MED2), a High Risk Work Licence – Dogging (or willingness to obtain), a current First Aid certificate, and a valid forklift licence will be highly regarded.

 
For full details about this role, and other criteria, 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 Cristina O’Brien via email at cristina.obrien@csiro.au and let us know how we can support you.  

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

Eligibility 

Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens, New Zealand Citizens, and Australian Permanent Residents who are already onshore.  Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements. Please review the position description for further information.

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 submit a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) and CV that demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the essential requirements of this role.

Applications close 

Sunday 30 November, 2025, 11:00pm AEST

We encourage early applications, as we will review and shortlist candidates as they are received.