Aquaculture Technician

Acknowledgement of Country 

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation. 

Role highlights

• Lead algal culture and live feed production to support cutting-edge aquaculture research.
• Operate and maintain hatchery systems, monitor animal health, and deliver high-quality data
• Work across Darwin sites in a hands-on and dynamic environment

About CSIRO

As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. Many of our iconic innovations were once considered impossible until someone, just like you, joined us and took on the challenge.

Visit CSIRO.au for more information.

The opportunity 

Join CSIRO’s Aquaculture Program as an Aquaculture Technician (Algal & Live Feeds), where you’ll play a key role in supporting scientific research through hands-on aquaculture operations. This position focuses on managing and operating live feed systems, particularly algal culture and artemia production, while also supporting prawn and polychaete hatchery systems. You’ll be responsible for maintaining aquaculture systems, monitoring animal health and welfare, conducting sampling and data collection, and contributing to experimental and research activities. With a strong emphasis on establishing and optimising live feed and hatchery protocols, this role offers the opportunity to grow into broader research involvement over time.

Working across multiple sites in the Darwin region, you’ll operate both independently and within small teams in a dynamic, tropical environment. The role requires strong technical capability, problem-solving skills, and a proactive approach to safety, biosecurity, and system management. You’ll collaborate closely with colleagues and contractors, support and guide less experienced staff, and contribute to the smooth operation of aquaculture facilities. Flexibility is essential, including travel between sites and out-of-hours work during peak production periods, with compensation provided in line with CSIRO arrangements.

Your high-level duties will include: 

• Participate in algal culture and live feed production activities, including the polychaete worm production systems, at the East Arm and Berrimah sites, operating as part of CSIRO research and development projects.
• Participate in prawn hatchery and broodstock maturation activities at East Arm, and in operating water treatment and filtration systems at the Berrimah and East Arm sites.
• Contribute to developing animal management practices to increase the rigour of routine operations, experiments, enhance biosecurity, and improve animal welfare outcomes.
• Play an active role in maintaining facilities to improve staff safety and operational efficiency.
• Contribute to a range of other research and development activities on other aquaculture species (including algal and live feed species) operating at CSIRO and potentially research and commercial partner sites.
• Travel and off-site activities at external collaborator sites for project development and operational activities and working out of regular hours when needed
• Participate in planning technical and project activities and be responsible for reliable and timely collection of data from research and development activities as required for project delivery, animal ethics reporting and/or biosecurity monitoring 
• Work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary, dispersed research team to carry out tasks in support of CSIRO’s scientific objectives
• Support students, visitors, and trainee staff as required, particularly in relation to algal and live feed operations.
• Engage and work collaboratively with CSIRO colleagues of varying levels and expertise, to operate aquaculture research and development projects

Role particulars

Location and office arrangements: Berrimah Site, Darwin (Larrakia), NT

Salary: AU$76,068 – AU$113,251 per annum plus 15.4% superannuation*

* This position is open across two levels (CSOF3/4), the appointment level will be determined by the qualifications, skills and relevant experience of the successful candidate.

Tenure & work schedule: Indefinite; Full-time                 

Reference: 102421

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

Essential

1. Education/Qualifications: Tertiary qualifications and sound experience in Aquaculture or a related field, or significant commercial and/or research experience.
2. Live feed: Experience with live feed production, particularly algal culture and artemia culture, and any other live feed production systems for research or production and managing water treatment systems.
3. Experimentation: Experience in performing live animal experiments and collecting experimental data with limited supervision.
4. Software: Experience using Microsoft Office suite and specialist software for the collection and interpretation of data.
5. Driver’s license: A driver’s licence valid in Australia, and an ability to work off-site, as required.
6. Behaviours: A history of professional and respectful behaviours and attitudes in a collaborative environment with the ability to work respectfully and collaboratively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait islander communities, Elders, and organisations.
7. HS&E: A demonstrated commitment to health, safety, and wellbeing of staff, willing to challenge the status quo in pursuit of Zero Harm. 

Desirable

8. RAS: Experience in managing recirculating aquaculture systems for tropical aquatic animals.
9. Trade: Ability to apply basic plumbing/carpentry skills to complete minor repairs and modifications to seawater laboratory systems.
10. Laboratory: Experience with basic laboratory procedures, including sample preparation, basic procedures, accurate record keeping, and maintaining laboratory cleanliness and organisation.
11. Innovation: Ability and willingness to contribute novel ideas and approaches in support of scientific investigations.

For full details about this role, please review the Position Description.

Not sure if you meet all the criteria?

While it is CSIRO policy that the successful candidate must meet all the essential criteria, there are many ways to demonstrate this. Don’t let the list discourage you. If you are unsure about applying, please reach out to the contact person in the Position Description.

Setting you up for success

We are committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible to everyone. We recognise that it may be helpful for us to adjust our process to make it equitable for your individual situation. Please contact Laura Mason at Careers.Online@csiro.au and let us know how we can support you.  

Inclusion and belonging

Solving Australia's greatest challenges takes a diversity of minds and lived experiences. We know diverse teams are more effective and deliver more innovative outcomes. As an equal employment opportunity organisation, we are committed to creating diverse and inclusive teams where people feel they belong. We recognise true diversity encompasses all ages, abilities, cultures, faiths, levels of education, genders, sexualities, diversity of thought and much more. We focus on hiring people who share our values of People First, Further Together, Making it Real and Trusted.

CSIRO holds Gold Status for the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and a Science in Australia Gender Equity Bronze Award.

Eligibility 

CSIRO considers the filling of this position is intended to constitute a special/equal opportunity/affirmative measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). The position is therefore only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people with Australian Citizenship.

The successful applicant will be required to provide evidence to confirm that they are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.

The successful candidate will also be required to provide contact details of at least one Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Cultural Referee to confirm their ability to work and communicate respectfully with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.   

Child safety 

CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy. 

How to apply 

Please apply online and submit a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) and CV that demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the essential requirements of this role.

Applications close 

26 July 2026, 11:00pm AEST