Engineering Manager – Department of Defence
📌 Vacancy Fact Sheet
- Reference Number: VN-0770852
- Agency: Department of Defence
- Job Title: Engineering Manager
- Position Number: NSSG/03377/26
- Classification: Executive Level 1
- Closing Date: Sunday 26 July 2026
- Job Type: Full-Time, Ongoing
- Location: Canberra ACT
- Future Merit Locations: Canberra
- Salary: $124,393 – $140,315
- Office Arrangement: On Site;Flexible (Defence is committed to supporting workplace)
About Department of Defence
MIWS Branch under Major Surface Combatants and Combat Systems Division is an exciting and
complex environment to work in, offering a rewarding career in one of the most dynamic
organisations within NSSG. We work across both Acquisition and Sustainment environments to
develop and deliver products into new shipbuilding programs and to provide update/upgrade
products to the existing Navy fleet, giving staff exposure to a wide variety of high profile maritime
projects.
Within MIWS Branch, SEA1200 Uncrewed Maritime Warfare is an innovative and strategically
important capability program for Defence. The project is delivering sovereign uncrewed maritime
warfare capabilities through the acquisition and integration of systems such as Ghost Shark,
Bluebottle and other future autonomous platforms and payloads. The project directly supports the
National Defence Strategy, sovereign industry capability and the future undersea warfare
capability of the Australian Defence Force.
The Engineering and Logistics Directorate (E&L) delivers Engineering and Technical enabling
functions in a structured matrix organisation to support Projects and Products within the MIWS
Branch. We provides technical advice, assurance, and govern the control of engineering design,
as well as maintain the requirements for the MIWS Accredited Engineering Organisation (AEO),
Authorised Support Organisation (ASO) and Authorised Maintenance Organisation (AMO).
Our Ideal Candidate
Our ideal candidates will enjoy working in a dynamic workplace on a wide variety of projects and
programs. The candidates will be energetic and able to create and maintain positive working
relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
The ideal candidates will have the following attributes and competencies:
Experience in Systems Engineering on complex programs
An understanding of the One Defence Capability System.
The ability to identify and manage technical risk in complex and evolving projects.
Ability to work in a multi-dimensional program or project
The ability to lead teams and influence outcomes across organisational boundaries, and to
mentor staff.
For the SEA1200 Engineering Manager:
Experience in maritime autonomous systems and/or management of major systems
acquisition.
Demonstrated engineering management experience in the project acquisition process and
product management within an Authorised Materiel Seaworthiness Delivery Organisation.
A sound understanding of major systems integration
Experience working with the Defence Industry sector in Australia
For the Deputy Engineering Director:
Knowledge of governance and assurance functions required to meet the Seaworthiness
outcome
Demonstrated capacity to think strategically and develop plans and processes to enhance
Experience in review and development of technical data, design and engineering activities
within an applicable technical domain
Demonstrated capacity to think strategically and develop plans and processes to enhance
branch operations
Duties
- The Role
- The Maritime Integrated Warfare Systems (MIWS) Branch is seeking professional, motivated and
- experienced EL 1 Engineering Professionals to provide support to multiple teams to deliver cutting
- edge capabilities.
- The SEA1200 Engineering Manager will provide engineering leadership across capability
- acquisition, systems integration, testing, certification, technical risk management and engineering
- governance. You will work closely with Defence stakeholders, Navy, industry partners and
- technical specialists to ensure the successful delivery of complex maritime capabilities.
- Key responsibilities include:
- Leading SEA1200 engineering team for engineering governance and assurance activities
- across capability elements.
- Leading and coordinating review of industry deliverables.
- Coordinating engineering inputs to Defence capability milestones and decision points,
- including Mandated System Reviews.
- Identifying, assessing and managing technical and program risks.
- Supporting certification, seaworthiness and technical assurance activities.
- Providing engineering advice to project leadership and senior Defence stakeholders.
- Building productive relationships with Navy, industry, technical authorities and partner
- organisations.
- Leading and mentoring engineering staff within a multi-disciplinary team.
- The EL 1 Deputy Engineering Director will oversee the engineering management framework of the
- branch, manage engineering delegations and provide engineering advice to members of the
- MIWS Enterprise.
- Key Responsibilities include:
- Directly supporting the MIWS Branch Engineering Operations Director, and Engineering &
- Logistics Executive Director/Principal Engineer in providing leadership, direction and
- oversight over engineering functions
- Leading the management of engineering delegations within the Authorised Engineering
- Organisation
- Managing the periodic review and upkeep of the Branch engineering plans, and procedures.
- Managing technical risk assurance and providing engineering advice to project leadership
- and senior Defence stakeholders
- Building productive relationships with Navy, industry, technical authorities and partner
- organisations.
- Leading and mentoring engineering staff within a multi-disciplinary team.
- This role is eligible for an additional remuneration benefit known in Defence as a Building Defence
- Capability Payment (BDCP). This enables Defence to provide a premium, in addition to the base
- salary otherwise payable under the Defence Enterprise Collective Agreement (DECA), for
- positions in occupational disciplines/classifications that are critical to Defence capability. For
- further information, please contact the contact officer.
Eligibility / Notes
- Security Clearance
- Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at “Negative Vetting Level 1”.
- Mandatory Qualifications
- This engineering position requires a Bachelor of Engineering from an Australian institution, or a
- qualification
- gained elsewhere, that satisfies the requirements of the Washington Accord for recognition as a
- Professional Engineer.
- This engineering position may require the individual to be able to meet the requirements of
- Chartered
- Professional Engineer (Engineers Australia), Registered Professional Engineer (Professionals
- Australia)
- or Fellow/Member of Royal Institution of Naval Architects or demonstrated the ability to obtain
- such status
- within 12 months.
How to Apply
Position Contact MIWS Workforce, [email protected]
Agency Recruitment Site https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=E63636C0-CB11-5D20-B5D1-ED1C99C13
Applicants to vacancies notified in all formats of the electronic Public Service Gazette should be aware:
that the names of successful applicants will also be notified in all formats of the electronic Public Service Gazette
applicants found suitable may be offered similar employment opportunities by other Australian Public Service agencies
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