Senior Radio Frequency Technician / Engineer
Location: New Norcia, WA, AU
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
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.
The opportunity
The New Norcia Ground Station plays a key role in supporting spacecraft telecommunications as part of ESA’s Tracking Stations Network (ESTRACK), which is under a contract with CSIRO. We have some very exciting developments underway, with the construction of a second 35m antenna (NNO3). This new addition will expand New Norcia’s capabilities to include K- and Ka-bands, featuring advanced cryogenic feeds and high-power amplifiers.
As the Senior RF & Launch Operations Technician/Engineer you will provide expertise in RF systems, including uplink, downlink, telemetry processing, cryogenic systems, and timing. Your key responsibilities will include maintaining and troubleshooting antenna RF systems, planning technical activities, and managing minor projects and contractors. This role also supports critical Launch and Early Orbit (LEOP) operations, ensuring system performance meets required metrics across multiple frequency bands.
This role offers flexibility, with options for full - or part-time work. Shifts will involve 5–8 nine-hour days per fortnight, with some remote work opportunities. Launch support may occasionally require overnight shifts on a rotating roster.
Your duties will include:
- Collaborate effectively with staff, clients, and suppliers to uphold CSIRO’s reputation and ensure smooth operations in a multi-disciplinary, often regionally dispersed team.
- Perform maintenance and installation activities, including commissioning, upgrades, calibration, and software administration in secure environments, while automating processes where possible.
- Support specialised electronic equipment, such as feed systems, LNAs, high-power microwave amplifiers, and telemetry processing systems, ensuring compliance with performance standards.
- Respond to faults and incidents, conduct root cause analyses, and provide emergency support, including diagnostics and repairs during launch and early orbit activities.
- Contribute to technical advancements by mentoring junior technicians, participating in ESA development projects, and assisting with technology assessments and planning for system upgrades.
- Oversee project and configuration management, supervising contractors, maintaining system documentation, and managing hardware/software version control.
- Ensure safety and compliance, conducting RF safety checks, adhering to ARPANSA standards, and using CMMS tools to improve system reliability and maintenance efficiency.
Location: New Norcia Ground Station, Western Australia
Salary: AU$114,219 - AU$123,605 per annum (pro-rata for part-time) plus up to 15.4% superannuation
Tenure: Specified term of 5 years
Reference: 98159
To be considered you will need:
Essential
Under CSIRO policy only those who meet all essential criteria can be appointed.
- Expertise in system performance and integration testing for electronic equipment.
- Skilled in using RF measurement equipment and programming computer systems for test automation.
- Strong ability to interpret and analyze highly complex electronic schematics.
- Proven team player, effective in multi-disciplinary, regionally dispersed teams, with the ability to work independently when required.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor information to diverse audiences and anticipate their needs.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, adapt to competing demands, and handle non-routine tasks with minimal supervision.
Desirable
- Willing to complete HV awareness training for RF transmitter operation and maintenance.
- Comfortable working at heights on antenna structures as required.
- Experience with signal reception and transmission across S, X, K, and Ka-bands, including:
- Signal propagation and space-to-ground link budgets.
- RF measurement techniques, such as G/T and EIRP.
- Frequency conversion and signal measurement techniques (e.g., spectrum analysis).
- Practical expertise with cryogenic receiver and high-power amplifier techniques.
- Strong hands-on mechanical skills, including the use of hand tools and high-reliability soldering.
- Basic comprehension of French, with a willingness to undertake French language training.
For full details about this role please review the Position Description
Eligibility
Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens only. Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.
Flexible working arrangements
We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work.
Diversity and inclusion
We are working hard to recruit people representing the diversity across our society, and ensure that all our people feel supported to do their best work and feel empowered to let their ideas flourish.
About CSIRO
At CSIRO Australia's national science agency, we solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. We put the safety and wellbeing of our people above all else and earn trust everywhere because we only deal in facts. We collaborate widely and generously and deliver solutions with real impact.
CSIRO is committed to values-based leadership to inspire performance and unlock the potential of our people.
Join us and start creating tomorrow today!
How to apply
Please apply on-line and provide a cover letter and CV that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role.
Applications close
09th February 2025, 11:00pm AEST
Location: New Norcia, WA, AU
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
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.
The opportunity
The New Norcia Ground Station plays a key role in supporting spacecraft telecommunications as part of ESA’s Tracking Stations Network (ESTRACK), which is under a contract with CSIRO. We have some very exciting developments underway, with the construction of a second 35m antenna (NNO3). This new addition will expand New Norcia’s capabilities to include K- and Ka-bands, featuring advanced cryogenic feeds and high-power amplifiers.
As the Senior RF & Launch Operations Technician/Engineer you will provide expertise in RF systems, including uplink, downlink, telemetry processing, cryogenic systems, and timing. Your key responsibilities will include maintaining and troubleshooting antenna RF systems, planning technical activities, and managing minor projects and contractors. This role also supports critical Launch and Early Orbit (LEOP) operations, ensuring system performance meets required metrics across multiple frequency bands.
This role offers flexibility, with options for full - or part-time work. Shifts will involve 5–8 nine-hour days per fortnight, with some remote work opportunities. Launch support may occasionally require overnight shifts on a rotating roster.
Your duties will include:
- Collaborate effectively with staff, clients, and suppliers to uphold CSIRO’s reputation and ensure smooth operations in a multi-disciplinary, often regionally dispersed team.
- Perform maintenance and installation activities, including commissioning, upgrades, calibration, and software administration in secure environments, while automating processes where possible.
- Support specialised electronic equipment, such as feed systems, LNAs, high-power microwave amplifiers, and telemetry processing systems, ensuring compliance with performance standards.
- Respond to faults and incidents, conduct root cause analyses, and provide emergency support, including diagnostics and repairs during launch and early orbit activities.
- Contribute to technical advancements by mentoring junior technicians, participating in ESA development projects, and assisting with technology assessments and planning for system upgrades.
- Oversee project and configuration management, supervising contractors, maintaining system documentation, and managing hardware/software version control.
- Ensure safety and compliance, conducting RF safety checks, adhering to ARPANSA standards, and using CMMS tools to improve system reliability and maintenance efficiency.
Location: New Norcia Ground Station, Western Australia
Salary: AU$114,219 - AU$123,605 per annum (pro-rata for part-time) plus up to 15.4% superannuation
Tenure: Specified term of 5 years
Reference: 98159
To be considered you will need:
Essential
Under CSIRO policy only those who meet all essential criteria can be appointed.
- Expertise in system performance and integration testing for electronic equipment.
- Skilled in using RF measurement equipment and programming computer systems for test automation.
- Strong ability to interpret and analyze highly complex electronic schematics.
- Proven team player, effective in multi-disciplinary, regionally dispersed teams, with the ability to work independently when required.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor information to diverse audiences and anticipate their needs.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, adapt to competing demands, and handle non-routine tasks with minimal supervision.
Desirable
- Willing to complete HV awareness training for RF transmitter operation and maintenance.
- Comfortable working at heights on antenna structures as required.
- Experience with signal reception and transmission across S, X, K, and Ka-bands, including:
- Signal propagation and space-to-ground link budgets.
- RF measurement techniques, such as G/T and EIRP.
- Frequency conversion and signal measurement techniques (e.g., spectrum analysis).
- Practical expertise with cryogenic receiver and high-power amplifier techniques.
- Strong hands-on mechanical skills, including the use of hand tools and high-reliability soldering.
- Basic comprehension of French, with a willingness to undertake French language training.
For full details about this role please review the Position Description
Eligibility
Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens only. Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.
Flexible working arrangements
We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work.
Diversity and inclusion
We are working hard to recruit people representing the diversity across our society, and ensure that all our people feel supported to do their best work and feel empowered to let their ideas flourish.
About CSIRO
At CSIRO Australia's national science agency, we solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. We put the safety and wellbeing of our people above all else and earn trust everywhere because we only deal in facts. We collaborate widely and generously and deliver solutions with real impact.
CSIRO is committed to values-based leadership to inspire performance and unlock the potential of our people.
Join us and start creating tomorrow today!
How to apply
Please apply on-line and provide a cover letter and CV that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role.
Applications close
09th February 2025, 11:00pm AEST
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