Job Description

Leidos is seeking a South Pole Winter Site Manager to oversee all winter activities at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica. This is a seasonal position that deploys to South Pole Station, Antarctica for approximately 10 months, to serve as the senior site lead for the austral winter season (February 2027- November 2027). A primary and alternate candidates are selected for this position.

This position requires successful completion of physical and dental examinations and required by the NSF for deploying to Antarctica.

Due to contract requirements, US citizenship is required.

Must obtain a Public Trust security clearance prior to start date.

About the Antarctic Support Contract:

Leidos Antarctic Support Contract (ASC) is the prime contractor to the National Science Foundation (NSF) in support of the United States Antarctic Program (USAP). Leidos supports the NSF’s Office of Polar Program’s Antarctic Infrastructure and Logistics by aligning with their Mission and Vision Statements:

• Vision: Expanding our scientific reach in Antarctica through increased operational and logistical effectiveness.
• Mission: To provide the operational and logistical platform necessary for the U.S. to conduct world-class science in Antarctica and maintain its active and influential presence on the continent.

Leidos ASC provides science and logistics support for approximately 150 science and technical events across three geographically remote research stations; McMurdo Station, Palmer Station, and South Pole Station and several deep field sites across Antarctica. Each station or field site supports world class research across multiple science disciplines. The planning and implementation of science support requirements in Antarctica is a critical part of our mission.

To learn more about the Leidos Antarctic Support contract, click here.

The South Pole Winter Site Manager will assist South Pole Area Management in the day-to-day management of Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station during austral summer before becoming the senior leader on site for the full austral winter season. The standard work schedule for this position is 40 hours per week in the US and 54 hours per week when deployed to Antarctica. (Monday through Saturday, 9 hours per day.)

Primary responsibilities:

• Responsible for coordinating and tracking the final selection process for winter personnel and organizing & coordinating pre-deployment team building & emergency response trainings for winterover staff.
• Plans & leads station emergency response program, on-site training, and emergency response teams during the summer and winter seasons.
• Plans and ensures all winter readiness trainings & activities are completed prior to station closing for the winter season.
• Leading day-to-day site operations during the austral winter. This includes conflict resolution; de-conflicting resources; ensuring operational schedules are met and tasking is completed.
• Provides station leadership & management, and serves as the senior on-site point of contact for all activities at South Pole Station during the austral winter season.
• Serves as the main liaison between the on-site staff and CONUS headquarters staff during the winter to ensure that issues are resolved and planning for the next season takes into account any changes or challenges on station during the winter.
• Ensures that winter personnel provide responsive and appropriate levels of support to all program participants at South Pole Station during the austral winter.
• Plans and ensures all on-site summer readiness activities are completed prior to station opening for the summer season.
• Interacts, as appropriate, with National Science Foundation representatives, science grantees, military, aircraft contractors and other support agencies as required.
• Other duties may include assisting with Environmental Safety and Health, Finance or other responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college in a related discipline, or equivalent experience/combined education, with 8+ years of professional experience; or 6+ years of professional experience with a related Master’s degree.
• Leadership experience must include the demonstrated ability to work with and independently manage a diverse, skilled work force.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage conflict resolution and problem solve operational & logistics issues is required.

Additional Qualifications:

• Minimum of 10+ years leadership experience preferred.
• Leadership experience at remote locations is highly desirable.
• Leadership experience within matrixed organizations is highly desirable.
• Polar experience is highly desirable.

*Please be advised that during the interview, you will be required to keep your camera on, and your interviewer will be taking your picture for identification purposes if an offer letter is extended to you.

*This position is eligible for deployment to Antarctica. Per contract and National Science Foundation requirements, candidates must not have been disciplined for, or separated from an employer prior to discipline for, incidents of stalking, sexual assault, or sexual harassment within the past three (3) years. Eligibility for deployment is also subject to further review, including background investigation and security screening, and NSF retains final authority over deployment eligibility given the sensitive and remote nature of the location.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

August 21, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:

Pay Range $92,300.00 - $166,850.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.