Website South African National Space Agency (SANSA)
The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) came into being in December 2010, but South Africa’s involvement with space research and activities started many decades earlier with helping early international space efforts in the second half of the 20th century, and observing the Earth&rsq… read moreuo;s magnetic field at stations around Southern Africa. SANSA was created to promote the use of space and strengthen cooperation in space-related activities while fostering research in space science, advancing scientific engineering through developing human capital, and supporting industrial development in space technologies. The research and work carried out at SANSA focuses on Earth observation, space science, space engineering and space operations. Much of this work involves monitoring the Earth for policy and decision making, resource and disaster management, food security and national security. SANSA also provides state-of-the-art facilities to monitor space weather, provide launch support and data downloads as well as supporting the growth of the local space industry. Enterprise Building Mark Shuttleworth Street Innovation Hub Pretoria 0087, Gauteng, South Africa
Requirements
The successful candidates will be responsible for the operation, maintenance, fault finding, and repairs of all the equipment and experiments related to Space Weather research at SANAE IV base and will report to South African National Space Agency: Hermanus.
The incumbent will have to be involved in the design and implementation of new equipment as well as commission, maintain, calibrate, and modify electronic instruments and systems, where necessary.
The incumbent will be responsible for maintaining SANSA’s computer equipment and IT infrastructure and for the collection, reduction, and analysis of scientific data; give core engineering support; prepare monthly and annual reports, do stock-takes, order spares, and equipment and do other common “non-technical” duties performed by all expedition members.
Applicants should be comfortable working at heights and will have to complete a Working at Heights course during the training period. Preference will be given to individuals with previous SANAP experience.
Successful applicants will spend a few months in Hermanus from 1 June 2026 for training, and then more than a full year (Dec 2026 to Feb 2028) in Antarctica. There is no option to return to South Africa before February 2028. The ability to work and live with small groups of people is thus essential.
Although the base is well-equipped with e-mail, fax and satellite telephone facilities, the applicant must be self-sufficient and self-motivated. The location may affect both the physical and mental well-being of the incumbent, their family, and close relationships. Candidates must be physically fit, mentally strong, have sober habits, and be prepared for physically challenging and satisfying work. In addition, successful candidates may often be called upon to work long hours in extreme conditions on duties unrelated to their function. Short-listed candidates will be subjected to screening and security vetting to determine their suitability for employment.
Appointment to these positions is subject to a rigorous medical examination including psychometric testing, which will be arranged for at no cost to the applicants.
More information on the island and human activities can be found at: http://www.sanap.ac.za
Food, accommodation, and protective clothing are provided by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs (Southern Oceans and Antarctic Support) while the applicant is working at Antarctica.
The ideal candidate must have the following qualifications and experience:
A degree in Electronics/Electrical Engineering or equivalent (NQF level 7) required
MEng, MSc or MTech will be an added advantage
The incumbent should be competent in electronic maintenance, diagnostics, and repairs with proven fault-finding capabilities
Experience working with computers, especially with LINUX operating systems
Experience in programming, especially in BASH or Python, would be an advantage
Competent in the use of general electronics test and measurement equipment (Oscilloscope, Spectrum Analyser, etc); and familiarity with the use of general workshop tools
The incumbent must be able to work independently with minimal support under extreme pressure and without supervision
The incumbent must be computer literate, have good verbal and written communication skills, and can work in a team.
Previous SANAP experience will be added advantage
Apply via company website ( https://www.sansa.org.za/ ) or
sansa.mcidirecthire.com
To apply for this job please visit sansa.mcidirecthire.com.