Blaster Lead - McMurdo Station

About the role

Amentum's Blaster Lead oversees all blasting operations in and around McMurdo Station and leads small teams under the guidance of the Supervisor within Fleet Operations. The role coordinates with ASC departments to meet the sustaining and project needs of the United States Antarctic Program, and operates heavy equipment when blasting is not underway.

Key responsibilities

• Manage the safe storage, handling and use of commercial-grade explosives, including maintaining the exclusive authority over the explosives cache and ensuring it is properly marked, secured and inspected regularly
• Maintain accurate inventory records, dispose of dated explosives and provide end-of-season usage reports
• Perform blast design, measure, wire and detonate explosives in line with IME, BATF and station safety procedures, and act as blaster-in-charge at blast sites
• Advise scientific parties on explosive types and quantities, and assist with storage, transport and use of explosives
• Lead small teams of equipment operators and others, coordinate with other HEO Leads and Foremen, and supervise equipment use and safety training
• Perform daily equipment checks, report issues to the Vehicle Maintenance Facility, and complete work requests and daily assignments
• Operate light vehicles and heavy equipment such as bulldozers, excavators, graders, backhoes, cranes and snow-moving equipment
• Comply with environmental health, safety and quality assurance requirements, and perform physical work including heavy lifting and outdoor work in extreme cold

Required profile

• High school diploma or GED; college degree preferred
• At least 5 years' experience as a certified Explosives Handler/Blaster in construction-related blasting; evidence of a previous license or certification preferred
• One year of experience as an equipment operator or driller
• Preferred: Class A CDL license, experience with permafrost and snow blasting, and prior cold-climate equipment operations
• Ability to deploy to Antarctica for extended periods, with successful medical, dental, drug screening, employer and federal background checks
• Willingness to work in austere, equipment-limited environments and to perform heavy physical labour

Required skills

• Familiarity with Microsoft Office
• General knowledge of project schedules and planning
• Preferred: experience in austere environments and cold-climate blasting