Diesel Power Generator Technician

British Antarctic Survey
BAS reference: BAS 26/52
Contract type: Antarctic Employment Pool - Fixed-Term Appointment - 6 to 22 months
Location: Antarctica
Salary band: AEP B1A £30,224 to £31,183 per annum (pro rata), plus a £3,000 allowance bringing the total package to £33,224 to £34,183 per annum (pro rata)
Closing date: 24 May 2026, 23:55
Interview date: Interviews in June
Start date: July onwards

Purpose

British Antarctic Survey’s Diesel Power Generation Technicians take responsibility for maintenance, repair and support of the main power generators at our Antarctic research stations.

We are recruiting experienced and skilled technicians to take responsibility for maintenance, repair and support of all Diesel generators as well as other mobile plant and small petrol generators and equipment at our research stations in Antarctica. The ideal candidate will be a proficient diesel mechanic and have a good understanding of engines and generator controls. A candidate with a knowledge gap in generator controls will go through appropriate training and will be supported on site by electrical technicians. The role suits someone working in the generator industry, truck or bus mechanic, hire lease firms supporting construction and other heavy industry or agriculture. 

You will need to have served a full apprenticeship, have a BTEC, relevant City & guilds or NVQ with a recognized qualification within the petrol/diesel fuelled engine maintenance industry, and have post qualification/apprenticeship practical site experience. With high levels of self-motivation and strong team-working skills you need to be able to manage your time well, anticipate problems and take responsibility for reporting issues to your managers and fellow team members.

As a member of the Maintenance Team (Estates) you will be responsible for supporting continuous power demand at our research stations. BAS operates 5 Stations which vary in size, all sites operate on 400v 3ph produced from a variety of generator size from 200kw down to 50kw. As well as the heavy diesel maintenance, you will be responsible for a fleet of small petrol driven generators, chainsaws as well as generator fuelling and monitoring of bulk fuel storage.

Duties

• All Diesel generators

• All non-mobile plant and equipment. Both petrol and diesel

• All mobile generator plant – including small Honda petrol generators

• All mobile plant and equipment i.e., Mewp, air compressors, chain saws etc.

• Some aspects of power generation and controllers

• Bulk fuel storage, husbandry and station fuel transfer delivery

• Reporting of problems or work requests to the line manager

• Carrying out the planned preventative maintenance (PPM) program

• Carrying out non-routine repair and maintenance as necessary, to ensure the safe, efficient and effective operational needs of the Station

• Maintenance of tools and resources required to complete all maintenance and repair works

• Upkeep of workshops and plant areas

• Maintaining and revising material and tools stock lists, to ensure that sufficient and adequate spares, equipment and materials are available to carry out all required PPM. Including all planned and programmed repair / replacement works for the following year

• Reporting and documenting all works carried out through the PPM system

• Recording and documenting of all reactive works carried out

• Recording and advising on the requirement to add elements to the PPM system

• Recording and documenting weekly and monthly installed meter readings

• Production of an annual report on the condition of Station plant conditions and services, which should include any recommended improvements

• Work with and ‘stand in for’ other staff to ensure the efficient and effective operational needs of the Station are maintained

• Undertake other general duties as required or directed by the line manager and Station Leader

About you:

• Ability to work under pressure

• Quality focused

• Health and safety focused

• Able to work in a team or individually 

• Happy to think out problems and resolve independently 

• Be easy to get along with and a good communicator

• Confident with IT systems and answering emails and phone calls

Skills, Qualifications, and Experience

Essential

• Served full apprenticeship, BTEC, relevant City & Guilds or NVQ

• Recognized qualification within the petrol / diesel fuelled engine maintenance industry

• Practical post qualification/apprenticeship site experience

• Knowledge and experience of light industrial electrical power generators and systems

• Knowledge of power generation control systems i.e., Deep Sea or ComAp controllers

• Ability to use tools & materials

• Basic computer operating skills; using the Microsoft Office suite of programs

• Ability to work within a management structure, referring back to line manager with problems

• Be self-motivated

• Ability to work individually and as part of a team

• Problem solving & flexibility

• Good numerical ability and the ability to read drawings

• You will need to pass a medical to demonstrate that you are medically fit to work in Antarctic conditions

• Proficient in written and spoken English language

Desirable

• Report writing experience

• Previous use of electronic pre planned maintenance systems

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role.  UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

Although this job is not UK based, the successful candidate will be required to attend training in the UK which will require a right to work.

For this role, the only potential for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa is where an individual is currently sponsored for another role/sponsor assigned via a certificate of sponsorship dated prior to 5 April 2024 who also continues to meet the New Entrant criteria of the Skilled worker route. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK.  You can check your eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y.

UKRI - UK Research and Innovation

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.  For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

As part of the pre-employment checks there is a requirement to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Screening. BPSS is a pre-condition of employment and failure to achieve it may mean that the employment offer is rescinded. UKRI reserves the right to run, or re-run, security clearance as required during the course of employment.

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) delivers and enables world-leading interdisciplinary research in the Polar Regions. Our skilled science and support staff based in Cambridge, Antarctica and the Arctic, work together to deliver research that uses the Polar Regions to advance our understanding of Earth as a sustainable planet. Through our extensive logistic capability and know how BAS facilitates access for the British and international science community to the UK polar research operation. Numerous national and international collaborations, combined with an excellent infrastructure help sustain a world leading position for the UK in Antarctic affairs. British Antarctic Survey is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). NERC is part of UK Research and Innovation www.ukri.org