ASKAP Electronics Engineer Lead

ASKAP Electronics Engineer Lead

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.

Role highlights:

• Apply your hands-on electronics skills to work at Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, our Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory, a nationally recognised, world-class observatory
• Enjoy a promising career opportunity combining advanced science, a coastal lifestyle, with a balanced FIFO Mon-Fri work week and home Friday afternoon
• Excellent relocation support, and a perfect community to bring up a young family with the exposure to work for telescopes

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.

The opportunity

If you're looking for a role that combines scientific impact with a peaceful regional lifestyle and are tired of the challenging hours of mining or shift work, or are simply looking for a tree change, this role has so much to offer.

We're seeking an experienced Professional Electronics Engineer to provide technical leadership for electronic systems supporting the ASKAP radio telescope. Based at the Murchison Support Facility in Geraldton, the role contributes to the operation of ASKAP as a world-class astronomy instrument, supporting advanced digital and radio-frequency technologies. The position offers the opportunity to lead a small technical team while working on complex, state-of-the-art systems within a unique remote observatory environment.

Why join us?

Enjoy the benefits of country living in a unique coastal regional location with easy access to Perth—just a 1-hour flight or a scenic 5.5-hour drive. This role offers flexible working hours, generous leave entitlements including four weeks' annual leave and up to 15 days for personal or family needs, plus short-term accommodation or rental assistance when relocating. You'll benefit from a Mon – Fri schedule, and additional perks include salary packaging options, health and well-being initiatives, and comfortable accommodation with catering, gym, and pool access during observatory visits. The region also offers strong employment opportunities for partners and family members in mining, construction, transport, and agriculture.

Your high-level duties will include:

• Provide high-level engineering support for ASKAP electronic systems, including radio frequency and digital signal processing hardware.
• Support the operation, commissioning and ongoing maintenance of observatory electronic systems across the ASKAP telescope.
• Under direction of the ASKAP Team Leader, provide technical leadership and supervision to a small team delivering commissioning and maintenance activities.
• Plan, schedule and coordinate maintenance programs, including contributing to budgeting and prioritisation of work to support reliable telescope operations.
• Ensure the availability and effective management of electronic spares, consumables and laboratory facilities to minimise operational downtime.
• Maintain accurate records including fault reporting, preventative maintenance documentation, engineering drawings and test and repair procedures.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, management, clients, contractors and observatory visitors.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, including health, safety and environmental practices, and undertake regular travel to the ASKAP observatory site.

Role particulars

• Location: Base location, Geraldton, WA (Nhanhangardi, Naaguja, Wilynyu and Amangu Country) with routine deployments from Monday to Friday to Murchison (350km north-east of Geraldton), fly home Friday afternoon
• Salary: AU$118K – AU$127K per annum (pro-rata for part-time) plus 15.4% super across two capability levels. Remote area allowances and close call allowances apply when deploying to the remote site.
• Tenure & work schedule: Indefinite, full-time or part-time (minimum of 0.8 FTE) | 5-day work week with regular onsite travel
• Reference: 102280

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

• An Engineers Australia-accredited four-year electronic/electrical engineering qualification plus work experience at the level of Professional Engineer
• Demonstrated understanding and practical skills in analogue and digital electronics systems relevant to radio astronomical operations, with a specialisation in either low noise Radio Frequency electronics, or high speed digital processing electronics including both hardware and firmware for systems built around Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology.
• Self-motivated, with demonstrated ability to apply professional engineering judgement in the course of commissioning, maintaining and/or designing & upgrading of electronics systems, from systems down to first-principles 'hands-on' board level;
• Ability to lead a small technical team consisting of staff with various backgrounds and skill levels;
• Demonstrated ability to identify the source of system deficiencies and apply innovative solutions to technical, logistics and team challenges whilst working in a remote area for extended periods;
• Demonstrated ability to communicate technical information including interpret and prepare circuit diagrams, technical specifications, drawings and reports and generally to communicate effectively, in writing and face-to-face, with the team, CSIRO management and external stakeholders;
• Commitment to safe work practices, to environmental sustainability and the principles of equity and diversity.
• A current driver's license and willingness to travel to other CSIRO ATNF sites;
• Ability to work at heights.

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 careers.online@csiro.au and let us know how we can support you.

Life at CSIRO and flexible work arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, and 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 that 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.

The CSIRO Space & Astronomy research unit was also awarded the Gold Pleiades Award, demonstrating the highest level of recognition from the Astronomical Society of Australia's Inclusion, Diversity and Equity in Astronomy chapter.

Eligibility

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

Child safety

CSIRO is committed to the safety and well-being 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 (maximum 2 pages), that best demonstrates your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role.

Applications close

8 March 2026, 11:00 pm AEDT

We strongly encourage you to apply early, as the selection panel will be reviewing applications as they come in. CSIRO reserves the right to withdraw this ad prior to the closing date, if required.