Antarctic Support Contract

Supporting scientific research on the highest, driest, coldest, windiest, and emptiest place on Earth requires exceptional logistics and planning expertise.

A few of the unique challenges include managing the world’s longest supply chain, building airfields on ice and snow, working in the world’s worst weather conditions, managing remote field camps, maintaining ice-breaking research vessels, and maintaining the largest research stations and laboratories on a bitterly cold and isolated continent.

Leidos is the prime contractor for the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) United States Antarctic Program (USAP).

NSF and the USAP have been an anchoring U.S. presence in Antarctica since 1956 through an active and influential scientific research program, supporting unique fundamental discovery research that can only be conducted in Antarctica and studying the Antarctic and its interactions with the rest of the planet.

Jobs in the Antarctic

The majority of positions for the Antarctic Support Contract are contracted for a set period of time. Most people will work a contract during the busy austral summer season (October-February) at McMurdo or South Pole stations. There are also a select number of Antarctic winter positions available (February-October). Employees are expected to remain on station for the duration of their contract.

Most Antarctic operations take place at three U.S. stations (McMurdo, Palmer, and South Pole), two research vessels (the Laurence M. Gould and the Nathaniel B. Palmer), and field camps.

Salaries are competitive with similar positions in the U.S., and benefits are offered. Pay is direct deposited in your U.S. bank account. Airfare from your home to the station or research vessel is included, as is room and board.

In addition to the required job skills, all candidates must pass strict physical and dental examinations, a psychological examination for winter positions, a pre-employment background check, a drug screen, and proof of U.S. citizenship.

Employees live in dormitory rooms, with meals provided. Dining is cafeteria-style, and recreational opportunities include educational and physical activities.  Communication with family and friends is available through Internet and telephone. No personal use of Skype™ or similar types of video chat communication is allowed because of bandwidth limitations.

The program goals include understanding the region and how its ecosystems depend on the polar environment, understanding its effects on (and responses to) global processes such as climate, and using the region as a platform for fundamental research in every scientific discipline.  Antarctica's remoteness and extreme climate make it a unique and natural laboratory environment.

The Antarctic Support Contract team provides station operations, logistics, information technology, construction, maintenance, and more on Antarctica and at support facilities worldwide.