I landed a job in Antarctica at 60 after a grueling physical examination and background check. Here's how I got the job.

May Lee worked in Antarctica from October 2025 to February 2026 and has now returned for a new role.

Courtesy of May Lee May Lee successfully applied for a role at McMurdo Station in Antarctica at age 60.

Jobs at McMurdo require an extensive background and health check, and are very competitive.

She told Business Insider about the nearly seven-month job process, from application to deployment.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with May Lee, a 60-year-old broadcast engineer with GreyHawk Global at McMurdo Station in Antarctica.

She previously worked there as a supply technician for Amentum after spending decades at HP, most recently as a marketing and communications manager.

The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

I was laid off from HP after 30 years, so I decided to look beyond tech jobs and pursue something different at 60.

I had visited Antarctica twice for vacation and fell in love with it.

At the time, I didn't know that you could work there.

When I looked into it, I knew I had to apply.

It's so hard to describe how amazing it is to work at McMurdo Station .

If you ever get a chance to experience it, I highly recommend it.

Here's what the job application process was like.