SANSA is Hiring an Electronics Engineer

The South African National Space Agency is recruiting an Electronics Engineer for a 14-month contract at Marion Island. Applications close 07 January 2026.

The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) has announced a rare and highly specialised opportunity for an Electronics Engineer to join its Space Science Programme on Marion Island. This contract position, referenced as Marion2025, offers a once-in-a-career chance to contribute directly to South Africa’s space science research in one of the most remote and scientifically significant locations in the world.

The position is based administratively in Hermanus, with extended deployment to Marion Island, and applications close on 07 January 2026.

About SANSA

SANSA is a public entity operating under the National Department of Science and Innovation. Its mandate is to promote the use of space and to foster cooperation in space-related activities for the benefit of South Africa and the African continent.

The agency supports cutting-edge research in space science, advances space engineering programmes, and helps create an environment conducive to industrial development in space technologies. SANSA operates within national government policy frameworks while collaborating with global scientific and space research communities.

The organisation places strong emphasis on its core values of care, customer-centricity, trust, collaboration, and innovation, and thrives on the creativity and technical excellence of its people.

The Role: Electronics Engineer at Marion Island

SANSA is seeking a highly skilled and resilient Electronics Engineer to support space science research activities on Marion Island, a sub-Antarctic research station located in the Southern Ocean.

This role is part of SANSA’s Space Science Programme and focuses on the maintenance, development, and operation of advanced electronic and scientific instrumentation used for space weather and related research.

Only one position is available, making this a highly competitive opportunity.

Contract and Salary Details

Position: Electronics Engineer
Contract Type: Fixed-term contract
Salary: R593,436 per annum (total cost to company)
Industry: Research / Space Science
Department: Space Science
Closing Date: 07 January 2026

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for a broad range of technical and engineering duties, including:

Designing and building new electronic equipment
Maintaining and upgrading scientific instrumentation
Installing, commissioning, calibrating, modifying, and maintaining electronic instruments and systems
Supporting the collection, reduction, and analysis of scientific data
Conducting and supporting space weather experiments
Providing core engineering support to research operations

The role demands strong fault-finding skills, precision, and the ability to work independently in a challenging environment.

Required Qualifications and Skills

The ideal candidate must meet the following requirements:

A BEng in Electronics Engineering or an equivalent qualification
Proven competency in electronic maintenance, diagnostics, and repair
Demonstrated fault-finding and troubleshooting experience
Experience working with computers and Linux operating systems
Programming experience, particularly in BASH and Python, is an advantage
Ability to live and work harmoniously within small, isolated teams

Beyond technical expertise, candidates must demonstrate exceptional adaptability and self-discipline.

Physical and Mental Readiness

Due to the extreme and isolated nature of Marion Island, candidates must:

Be physically fit
Have sober habits
Be mentally strong and emotionally resilient
Be prepared for physically demanding yet rewarding work

Appointment is subject to a rigorous medical examination, conducted at no cost to applicants. Individuals with certain medical conditions—including insulin-dependent diabetes, significant cardiac history, psychiatric conditions, or current tuberculosis treatment—will not be cleared for deployment.

Training and Deployment Timeline

Successful applicants will follow a structured deployment path:

February 2026: Three months of training in Hermanus, starting 1 February
April 2026 – May 2027: 14-month deployment to Marion Island

During the deployment period, engineers will not be able to return to South Africa.

Living and Working on Marion Island

While remote, the Marion Island base is well-equipped with essential communication infrastructure, including email, satellite telephone, and fax facilities. However, engineers must be self-sufficient, highly motivated, and capable of working independently.

While on the island, the following are provided by the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (Southern Oceans and Antarctic Support):

Food
Accommodation
Protective clothing

More information about life and human activity on Marion Island is available at www.sanap.ac.za.

Employment Equity and Selection Process

SANSA follows strictly fair and non-discriminatory selection procedures and applies Affirmative Action measures in line with the Employment Equity Act. Preference may be given to candidates from designated groups, where appropriate.

The recruitment process includes:

Background and criminal record checks
Credit checks and security clearance
Verification of qualifications and citizenship
Competency assessments and psychometric testing

By applying, candidates consent to SANSA processing personal information for recruitment and verification purposes.

How to Apply

Eligible candidates must submit a detailed CV via the SANSA website:

👉 www.sansa.org.za

Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Applicants who do not receive feedback within four weeks after the closing date should consider their application unsuccessful.

A Rare Engineering Opportunity

This position offers far more than a job—it is a unique opportunity to contribute to global space science research, operate in one of the world’s most extreme environments, and be part of South Africa’s national space programme.

For electronics engineers seeking purpose-driven work, scientific impact, and professional challenge beyond the ordinary, the SANSA Electronics Engineer role at Marion Island stands apart as a truly exceptional career opportunity.