Job Description

Mechanical Maintenance and Plumbing Technician
British Antarctic Survey
BAS 26/55
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 per annum (pro rata)
Closing date: 21/06/2026, 23:55
Interview date: Beginning of July

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.

Duties & Responsibilities:

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.

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
• Recognised 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 and 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 and use of email systems
• Use of electronic pre-planned maintenance systems (PPM)
• Report writing
• Ability to work within a management structure
• 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

UKRI - UK Research and Innovation

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

As part of the pre-employment checks there is a requirement to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Screening. BPSS is a pre-condition of employment and failure to achieve it may mean that the employment offer is rescinded. UKRI reserves the right to run, or re-run, security clearance as required during the course of employment.