Science/space industry jobs in Oz&NZ

[JB80 (Jarrod)]

Hi all,

I had a search and couldn't find anything similar so apologies if this is a duplicate.

Anyway I always thought it'd be my complaining about the weather that would lead us to seek a warmer climate but my wife is fed up too so we are on the look out for jobs in a climate with an actual summer.
Seeing as my wife has 10+ years experience in admin in the satellite industry the first port of call is to look for similar types of jobs.
Is there much of an industry down under these days?

For example things like the recent SKA announcement. Now if we are to believe the media this project will "create hundreds of jobs". Well this is no doubt a good thing but my question where do we apply?

Sure the CSIRO and SKA themselves have jobs portals but like most things wont the core of it be contracted out to private industry?
These would seem like the right people to apply with but who are they?
It doesn't have to be specifically that project but you get the idea.

There are a few scientific/space related jobs sites around but never with any Australian jobs.
Online searching doesn't come up with a great deal on info and sites like seek and jobsearch are worse.

So I was hoping that maybe some of you might already work in or have experience of working in these types of fields.

[ZeroID (Brent)]

There is only one rocket research company in NZ http://www.rocketlab.co.nz/ but no idea how much they are doing.
Admin role could be applied to any office situation really. What about your own skills ?
Universities might be a good option possibly.

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

According to Facebook, ASKAP is now being commissioned. MWA contractors have completed site works and a bunch of student (called the "Student Army") including myself are going up to complete the antenna installation, leaving on Thursday. That is about all that I know regarding pre- SKA. The full blown SKA would not start employing for a little while yet until they know what is going to be built. I believe the Pawsey Centre is being constructed now but all so far contracted out. I also think most of the construction phased are contracted via Federal Government so it is possible advertising searches are best done on-line instead of newspaper.

[JB80 (Jarrod)]

Thanks for the replies.

There is only one rocket research company in NZ http://www.rocketlab.co.nz/ but no idea how much they are doing.
Admin role could be applied to any office situation really. What about your own skills ?
Universities might be a good option possibly.

I haven't come across them before but it's good to know.
There are loads of options out there but there just doesn't seem to be any in this particular industry and seeing as that's what she does currently(procurement, legal) and finds interesting it would be nice to find something similar, not essential though by any means.
As for me, I'm a general dogs body and can do a number of things without speacialising in any. "Jack of all trades master of none" as they say.
I have thought of uni but only after the kids are in school would I have the time to do it.

According to Facebook, ASKAP is now being commissioned. MWA contractors have completed site works and a bunch of student (called the "Student Army") including myself are going up to complete the antenna installation, leaving on Thursday. That is about all that I know regarding pre- SKA. The full blown SKA would not start employing for a little while yet until they know what is going to be built. I believe the Pawsey Centre is being constructed now but all so far contracted out. I also think most of the construction phased are contracted via Federal Government so it is possible advertising searches are best done on-line instead of newspaper.

Sounds like a excellent opportunity Malcom, it'd be an experience to remember for sure. I hope it all goes well.
That's what I was thinking, the government would tender the contracts out to private companies and then go through them. I guess we have to wait until the tender process is done with.

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

First thing that come to mind is to look for the tendering page that would give out tenders to the SKA or other Astronomy based projects. Find out who wins the tenders then apply for a position with the companies.
I believe there is a lot of University based job going for the science and developmental engineering aspect.
It was mentioned yesterday that Curtin University covers much of the development of MWA and ASKAP, But there is a significant amount from overseas as well.

[JB80 (Jarrod)]

That's what I was thinking as well but as you say it's all still in the early stages, I think much more will come as it gets moving. A bit of digging never goes astray.
Even the overseas agencies would be applicable if what they needed was based in Australia.