SKA-Low Senior Technical Officer

SKA-Low is one of the world's most ambitious scientific infrastructure projects, combining advanced engineering, large-scale technology and international collaboration to deliver the world's largest low-frequency radio telescope. As the telescope progresses from construction into long-term operations, technical leaders play a critical role in establishing the systems, practices and expertise required to support a globally significant scientific facility.

As a Senior Technical Officer, you will provide technical leadership across the installation, commissioning, operation and lifecycle support of SKA-Low telescope systems. Working with a high degree of independence, you will apply specialist knowledge across RF, electronics, optical and signal-processing infrastructure to address complex technical challenges and support the ongoing evolution of telescope operations.

A key focus of the role will be developing and improving the technical frameworks that underpin operational success. You will establish maintenance strategies, commissioning approaches, fault-finding methodologies and technical procedures, often in environments where established precedents do not exist. Your technical judgement and recommendations will directly influence system reliability, maintainability and operational readiness.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced technical specialist with strong systems thinking, advanced troubleshooting capability and a track record of leading complex technical activities. You will be confident providing technical guidance to others, sharing specialist knowledge and driving continuous improvement across multidisciplinary teams.

If you're passionate about solving complex technical problems, influencing the operation of a world-class scientific facility and helping build the future of radio astronomy, this would be unique opportunity to grow your career in a multi-faceted role.

Your high-level duties will include:

• Leading the development and periodic review of technical standards, maintenance philosophies and operational procedures adopted by the SKA-Low Operations team.
• Acting as the recognised technical authority for assigned telescope systems, determining technical approaches and providing specialist advice across operational, engineering and scientific teams.
• Developing, validating and implementing original diagnostic techniques, maintenance methodologies, commissioning procedures and operational practices where established approaches do not exist.
• Assuming technical ownership of assigned telescope subsystems, establishing maintenance frameworks, technical standards and lifecycle strategies, and being accountable for system reliability, maintainability and operational readiness outcomes.
• Leading multidisciplinary technical investigations involving uncertain failure modes, complex system interactions and cross-disciplinary technical issues.
• Independently planning, prioritising and coordinating major technical work packages and maintenance activities.
• Leading the development, governance and periodic review of technical standards, maintenance philosophies, engineering procedures and operational practices adopted by the wider SKA-Low Operations organisation.
• Leading development of the technical support model, maintenance regime, acceptance criteria and operational readiness activities required to transition telescope systems from construction into service.
• Developing and optimising spares holdings, repair strategies and lifecycle support frameworks for assigned telescope systems, using reliability, failure and maintenance data to improve availability, minimise operational risk and ensure long-term sustainability of telescope operations.

Apply here: https://jobs.csiro.au/job-invite/103852/