3 minute read - 20th January 2025
Seriously remote working: Applications open for engineer jobs in Antarctica
Looking for an engineer role where the work is seriously remote? Well, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is looking for people to work at its research stations in Antarctica in a range of roles. Engineers, carpenters, chefs, electricians, plumbers, boating officers, plant operators and more are encouraged to apply for a job that offers the opportunity of a lifetime.
BAS says working in the Antarctic is a job unlike any other and an experience that will provide lifelong memories. Successful applicants will work in some of the most remote and beautiful places on Earth, building lifelong friendships and contributing to science that’s critical for understanding our changing world.
BAS is a world leader in polar research and operations. Its research highlights the fragility of the Earth’s frozen environments and what that means for us and our planet. BAS scientists discovered the hole in the ozone layer and identified key evidence for climate change in ancient ice. It provides the UK’s national polar capability by operating research stations, aircraft, and the RRS Sir David Attenborough research vessel, supporting science at the poles and securing the UK’s presence in Antarctic affairs.
Looking for an engineer role where the work is seriously remote? The British Antarctic Survey is looking for people to work at its research stations in Antarctica in a range of roles / Picture: Constantino Listowski
Eloise Saville is a carpenter at Halley VI Research Station, which sits on an ice shelf and is the furthest south of the BAS research stations. This is her first season in Antarctica. “This job is unlike anything I’ve ever done before. I scrape ice off wood, drive skidoos and build things in one of the most extreme places on Earth, yet it’s funny how quickly it all feels normal. The people here are some of the most interesting and adventurous that I’ve met, and yet they’re normal too! If I’d known this was an option earlier, I’d have been working my way down here all along. It’s not just cold, it’s cool!”
It’s an experience that leaves a lot of people wanting more. Ben Norrish, head of vehicles, joined BAS in 2001 as a mobile plant technician. He has since returned to Antarctica many times, having spent 16 Antarctic seasons living and working on the ice.“There’s something special about Antarctica and the people that adventure there that gets under your skin. No matter how many times you go, when you step off the ship or aeroplane into Antarctica, you look up and take in where you are. That feeling of being in an amazing place is the same now as it was the first time. I would say to anyone who’s even a bit curious about what it’s like to live on the ice, take the leap and apply for the job of a lifetime – you won’t regret it, and you don’t know where it might take you!”
British Antarctic Survey is a world leader in polar research and operations. Successful applicants will work in some of the most remote and beautiful places on Earth / Picture: British Antarctic Survey
Looking out of your workplace window and watching icebergs, whales, and penguins is an experience that never gets old. Olivier Hubert, who is now a catering manager at BAS, was a chef in a Michelin-starred restaurant before deciding he was ready for a change of scene. He has over-wintered at Rothera Research Station and spent a summer at Halley VI Research Station. “Being a chef in Antarctica is a very different experience to anything I’ve ever done before. Meals are such an important part of life down South – they’re the anchors to the day, so the pressure is on to create interesting and nutritious meals with limited supplies. But it’s such a privilege to cook for the team that become your family while you’re there – plus the views from the kitchen are pretty epic!”
The first batch of jobs are now available on the BAS website at bas.ac.uk/vacancies. BAS says it will continue to post more vacancies over the next three months. Contracts run from six to 18 months and are flexible. Salaries start at £29,273 per annum, with a benefits package. BAS adds that there are no external costs whilst living on station as all living expenses are covered – accommodation, food, travel, specialist clothing, tools and training.
