Fuel Systems Engineer

Description:

Who we are
The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) is part of the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. As primary agency for Australia's Antarctic Program (AAP), the AAD is responsible for achieving the Australian Government's Antarctic goals. These goals are to:

• maintain the Antarctic Treaty System and enhance Australia's influence within it
• protect the Antarctic environment
• understand the role of Antarctica in the global climate system
• undertake scientific work of practical, economic and national significance.

The AAD also has responsibility for administering the Australian Antarctic Territory and the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands.
The Assets and Technology (A&T) Branch provides and maintains the equipment and infrastructure to support the AAP. A&T Branch activities range from the maintenance of existing Antarctic stations and equipment through to the design, manufacture, testing, operation and procurement of advanced scientific equipment and systems. The Branch manages major infrastructure projects in support of AAP outcomes.
Within the A&T Branch, the Infrastructure Strategy and Planning (ISP) Section fulfils the role of asset owner for the AAD's research station infrastructure. The section provides engineering and asset management expertise, develops maintenance planning, drawing management, and inventory systems to support maintenance, operation and construction at the AAD's stations. The section also oversees 3-year and 10-year infrastructure planning and coordinates the AAD's station master planning.
The key duties of the position include
The position will provide bulk fuel engineering expertise, project delivery capability and maintenance management to support both existing and new research station fuel infrastructure. The role will involve a range of fuel system engineering aspects including

• pipes, pumps, tanks and bunds
• stress and temperature analyses
• instrumentation, SCADA and control systems
• environmental analysis and compliance
• hazardous areas and dangerous goods analysis
• ship-to-shore fuel transfer
• energy efficiency and low-carbon transition planning
• energy and fuel security risk management.

The AAD has three permanently occupied Antarctic stations and another station on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island. The stations are distant from each other, and each has a fully independent energy system. Each station has a main powerhouse and an emergency powerhouse with electrical and thermal co-generation using a cold weather diesel called Special Antarctic Blend (SAB). The stations also use diesel fired hot water heaters to boost the hydronic heating system and have a fuel bowser for refuelling heavy plant and equipment. Each station has a bulk storage fuel farm consisting of multiple medium sized tanks contained in a concrete bund. Diesel fuel is piped to a series of satellite settling tanks for delivery to the point of use. Each Antarctic station has storage of greater than one million litres of diesel fuel. Each station is also supplied with drummed aviation turbine kerosene and unleaded petrol for aviation, boating and light vehicle use. The AAD has had a number of failures within the fuel systems over the past decade and has been progressively updating aspects of the aged pipe network, to reduce the likelihood of fuel spills. There is a need to renew the bulk fuel assets and the overall delivery approach.
For detailed information about the job-specific capabilities for this role, please view the Job Description which can be downloaded from the relevant job posting on our website - the Apply Now link will take you there.