Antarctica Calling in Aussies For Some Very Cool Jobs

The Australian Antarctic Program is recruiting tradies, techies, chefs and meteorologists for the world’s wildest workplace.

Could your 2026 resume include aurora hunting and penguin pals?

This is not remote work as you know it, here your nearest neighbour is a leopard seal and your commute will probably involve a glacier. Last week, we covered out-of-this-world space jobs, this week, we’re going south. All the way south.

The Australian Antarctic Division has just opened up positions for electricians, chefs, diesel mechanics, doctors, IT experts, plumbers, and (in chilly irony) a refrigeration mechanic (though that one has just been filled, sorry).

Each Australian Antarctic station functions as a year-round scientific outpost that monitors Earth’s climate systems by collecting data on atmosphere, ice, and ocean changes which is vital research that helps predict global climate and sea-level shifts. To make it all happen, they need a small town’s worth of talent to keep the lights on, the pipes unfrozen, and the penguins unbothered. 

Your Regular Job, in Antarctica

The 2026-27 season is seeking around 300 hardy souls to live and work where few people ever set foot. Successful applicants become official Antarctic expeditioners, supporting Australia’s three continental research stations: Casey, Davis, and Mawson. You might even find yourself posted to the wild, windswept sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island or living life on the high seas aboard a scientific voyage.

In the call-out, Casey Station Leader Andy Warton said “Antarctica tests you physically, mentally, emotionally. But the rewards are incredible.”

“The work is hard and the isolation takes some getting used to, but I feel an enormous amount of pride in being a part of Australia’s Antarctic mission. It’s a once in a lifetime adventure. You’ll make friendships that last for decades, and you’ll see and experience things that you would have never imagined.”

The open roles are essential to Australia’s internationally significant climate research, where scientists study long-term environmental changes in collaboration with global partners, including NASA.

What It Takes to Work in Antarctica

Life on the ice demands a unique blend of skill and character. Gina Woodward, the AAD’s Director of Expeditioner Services, explains that they hunt for people who are not only masters of their trade but also have the right temperament for close-quarters living in a remote, unforgiving environment. 

“There’s an extensive recruitment process to find the right candidates,” she said. “This is an opportunity that most people can only dream of, to become an Australian Antarctic expeditioner. With that opportunity comes enormous responsibility. Our expeditioners help protect and understand an incredible part of the natural world, a landscape and marine environment unlike anything else on the planet.”

Resilience and adaptability get a true workout here, expeditioners experience the complete darkness of a polar winter, lit only by shimmering green auroras, to the perpetual glow of the summer sun. Woodward acknowledges the personal cost but believes candidates find it worthy. “It’s a massive sacrifice being so far from family and friends, but the rewards are a lifetime of adventure stories.”

How to apply for a job in Antarctica

To apply for jobs with the Australian Antarctic Program, candidates submit their applications online. The selection process is extensive and can take 6 to 8 months, involving written applications, medical and psychological assessments, and interviews to ensure applicants are both technically skilled and fit for the harsh, isolated Antarctic environment.

Successful candidates can expect contracts from four months to over a year, starting from July 2026. Applications for the 2026-27 season close on Sunday, 16 November 2025, at 11:30 pm, so interested applicants should act quickly to secure a spot in this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Applications to join the Australian Antarctic Program close on Sunday 16 November at 11.30 pm. Find out more and apply here