Satellite Ground Station Technician

Geoscience Australia; Alice Springs; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite parking

Remote locality allowance

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

Geoscience Australia is seeking an experienced Ground Station Operator to manage the Alice Springs satellite ground station lifecycle and meet international partnership data requirements. You will monitor station performance, troubleshoot faults, coordinate maintenance with contractors, and maintain thorough documentation and asset records.

The role requires hands-on maintenance experience, knowledge of antennas, power systems, HVAC, Linux, and network systems, plus a proactive approach to

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in satellite ground station system maintenance and operations.
• Broad understanding of ground station components (antennas, power systems, HVAC).
• Experience with Linux operating systems, network switching/routing, and remote monitoring systems.
• Demonstrated technical and analytical skills to diagnose and resolve faults.
• Experience in maintenance records, serviceability reports, scheduling and forecasting.
• Experience in project management, administration, procurement, or contracting.
• Certificate III in electronics/electrical/IT (AQF Level 3 or above).
• Current working at heights certificate and elevated work platform licence.
• Ability to work with limited direction while following procedures and safety requirements.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Monitor ground station performance against agreed indicators and report faults promptly.
• Assist troubleshooting, evaluation, and restoration activities; repair or replace faulty equipment.
• Coordinate maintenance to avoid conflicts with satellite passes; liaise with supervisors, contractors, and service providers.
• Undertake scheduled and unscheduled maintenance per procedures; document outcomes.
• Maintain asset and maintenance records, spares registers, and assist audits.
• Support integration of new equipment and systems under direction.
• Follow safety requirements and procedures in all activities.
• Develop or update technical documentation such as work instructions and schematics.
• Undertake minor procurement and administrative tasks (e.g., ordering consumables).
• Supervise one staff member for day-to-day task allocation and quality monitoring.

Skills

Satellite ground station maintenance

Ground station components

Linux operating systems

Networking (switching/routing)

Remote monitoring systems

Diagnostics and fault resolution

Maintenance scheduling

Project management / administration

Procurement / contracting

Safety and compliance

Education

Certificate III in electronics / electrical / IT (AQF Level 3 or above)

Job description

Geoscience Australia values the lands, water and sky as we work to deepen a shared understanding of Country and Earth. We respect First Nations peoples and their enduring connection, contribution and obligations to Country. Reflecting on our shared history, we are committed to listen and learn.

About us

Geoscience Australia is Australia's pre-eminent public sector geoscience organisation. We are the nation's trusted advisor on the geology and geography of Australia. We apply science and technology to describe and understand the Earth for the benefit of Australia. We apply our diverse professional expertise, our deep and trusted knowledge, our national-scale Earth observation infrastructure and our strong partnerships to the opportunities and challenges that face our nation.

The Ground Station Operations team within Satellite Land Imaging Collection Branch is responsible for the operation and lifecycle management of the in-service Alice Springs Ground Station and associated infrastructure to ensure that Geoscience Australia meets satellite data (including Earth observation and satellite health) collection performance metrics that are required by our international partnerships. The team is also responsible for supporting the delivery of an upgraded satellite ground station to meet the requirements of the Landsat Next program.

What we can offer you

When you work at Geoscience Australia you will have access to a range of benefits and the opportunity to experience a workplace culture that truly values and promotes diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging. To learn more about our competitive salary, secure onsite parking, generous flexible working arrangements and the role you can play in growing our culture. You may be eligible for a remote locality allowance; further information can be found in the Geoscience Australia Enterprise Agreement.

Our culture

Our strength lies in our people, including our diversity in backgrounds, skills and experiences, and the way we work together to respond to the emerging needs of our work. We value diversity in gender, backgrounds, culture, and experiences of our employees and are committed to providing an inclusive workplace culture that ensures everyone has equal opportunity to contribute, participate and progress. Applications from people who reflect this diversity are encouraged. Our workplace is committed to the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees and offers a variety of flexible working arrangements to enhance flexibility, including remote working arrangements.

The role

The Ground Station Operations team within Satellite Land Imaging Collection Branch is responsible for the operation and lifecycle management of the in-service Alice Springs Ground Station and associated infrastructure to ensure that Geoscience Australia meets satellite data (including Earth observation and satellite health) collection performance metrics that are required by our international partnerships. The team is also responsible for supporting the delivery of an upgraded satellite ground station to meet the requirements of the Landsat Next program.

In this role you will

• Monitor ground station performance against agreed indicators and promptly report faults, disruptions, and other technical or operational issues.
• Support troubleshooting, evaluation, and restoration activities, including repair or replacement of faulty equipment.
• Assist in coordinating maintenance activities to avoid conflicts with satellite passes, working closely with supervisors, contractors, and service providers.
• Undertake scheduled and unscheduled maintenance in accordance with established procedures, documenting outcomes and required follow-up actions.
• Maintain accurate asset and maintenance records, including spares registers, and assist with audits.
• Support the integration of new equipment and systems under direction.
• Conduct all activities in accordance with relevant safety requirements and procedures.
• Develop or update technical documentation such as work instructions, schematics, site records, and change requests.
• Undertake minor procurement and administrative tasks (e.g., ordering consumables and parts).
• Supervise one staff member for day-to-day task allocation and work quality monitoring.

Desirable skills, experience, knowledge and/or qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in satellite ground station system maintenance and operations.
• Broad understanding of ground station components, such as antennas, power systems, and HVAC.
• Demonstrated experience with Linux operating systems, network switching/routing, and remote monitoring systems.
• Demonstrated technical and analytical skills to diagnose and resolve faults.
• Demonstrated experience in preparing maintenance records, serviceability reports, and contributing to maintenance scheduling and forecasting activities.
• Demonstrated experience in the areas of project management, administration, procurement, or contracting.
• Certificate III (AQF Level 3 or above) in electronics, electrical or IT from an Australian institution or comparable qualifications assessed by an accreditation body (e.g., Engineers Australia or Trades Recognition Australia).
• Current working at heights certificate and elevated work platform licence, or ability to attain these.
• Ability to work with limited direction while following established procedures and safety requirements.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills to engage with diverse stakeholders.

Use of AI in Recruitment

Geoscience Australia may use Microsoft Copilot to support limited administrative and preparatory aspects of the recruitment process. Artificial Intelligence is not used to assess or select candidates, and all decisions are human-led and based on merit. Candidates must ensure their application reflects their own skills, experience and capabilities. Any use of AI must be responsible, transparent where required, and must not misrepresent their suitability for the role. Candidates will be asked to disclose their use of AI when submitting an application and may also be asked to do so at various stages throughout the recruitment process. Applicants are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Principles for candidate use of AI in recruitment, as well as the Principles for agency use of AI in recruitment which outline expectations for the responsible, ethical and transparent use of AI when applying for APS roles.