Antenna Rigger, Sr.- Palmer Station, Antarctica (Austral Winter 2025)

Job purpose

Ensure safe installation and maintenance of all guyed towers, freestanding towers and antenna support structures in the USAP. The antenna riggers also install and maintain necessary coaxial cable, connectors on coaxial cabling, maintenance and repairs of antenna radomes. Installs and performs maintenance on various solar and wind-turbine power generation sites throughout Antarctic continent.

Duties and responsibilities

• Installs and maintains USAP HF, UHFNHF, microwave, and satellite antenna systems.


• Installs and maintains solar and wind-turbine power generation systems.


• Installs and maintains antenna radomes.


• Develops and fabricates systems for securely installing antennae and other tower-mounted hardware.


• Designs and installs technical rigging and rope-access systems.


• Performs annual inspections and maintenance on antenna systems at USAP facilities: Palmer, South Pole, McMurdo, and deep field sites.


• Maintains inventory and assists with re-supply.


• Ensures that work areas meet all ASC and USAP safety standards.


• Frequently climbs towers up to 150' feet in height to perform all normal rigging duties as required.


• Frequently lifts 40 pounds.


• Responsible for maintaining a safe workplace program and ensuring safety is the highest priority in the work place.


• Sr level Antenna Rigger position(s) are responsible for the continuity of knowledge for the Antenna Rigger work center.  All procedures, SOP's, manuals, knowledgebase, training checklists, GPS locations and photo libraries should be maintained and updated by the Sr. positions annually.


• Sr level Antenna Rigger position(s) are directly responsible for the training of the incoming Jr. position.


• Performs other duties as required

Qualifications

• Previous Antarctic Rigging experience required. 


• Minimum of four years' experience with technical rigging (tower or rope access) or minimum of five years' experience installing structural steel.


• Knowledge of all safety aspects of high angle construction and technical rigging is necessary.


• High School diploma or equivalent required


• Must have previous Rope Work/Tower Rescue training and Wilderness First Responder Training.


• Must possess current Tower Climbing Certification


• U.S. Citizenship is required (as required by the United States National Science Foundation).

Preferred Experience:

• Experience with metal working/fabricating - including welding, cutting, drilling, grinding and bending - and proper use of relevant equipment.


• Experience with construction and anchoring techniques in rock, snow, and ice.


• Experience with electrical installation and wiring.


• Experience working with cranes and other heavy equipment.


• Familiarity with OSHA approved fall restraint and fall arrest systems and similar devices required to work safely above the ground.


• Wilderness or other Medical First Responder training.

Competencies

• Technical Capacity.


• Organizational Skills.


• Strategic Thinking.


• Problem Solving/Analysis.

Physical requirements

Deployment may be required in this position at discretion of management. If required, the individual in the position must successfully complete the physical and dental examinations, and psychological examination for winter-over positions, as required by the NSF for deploying to Antarctica. Failure to meet these requirements may result in withdrawal of employment offer or other employment action. Complies with applicable safety, environment, health, and waste management policies and procedure. US citizenship or permanent residence is required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Position Expectations

This is a full-time position

Performance Period: February 2019 - March 2019

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled