The Sustainment Manager – Space Surveillance Telescope (SST) leads the ongoing sustainment of the SST capability. You’ll coordinate day‑to‑day availability, manage small projects, engage with the Commonwealth product team and international partners, and oversee budgets, procurements, and schedules to keep the system online and upgraded where needed.
Role Specifications
| Job Title | Sustainment Manager – Space Surveillance Telescope (SST) |
|---|---|
| Vacancy Number | VN-0768086 |
| Position Number | CASG/01607/26 |
| Classification | APS Level 6 |
| Salary | AU$99,733 – AU$112,431 per year |
| Job Type | Full‑Time, Ongoing |
| Primary Locations | Edinburgh, SA |
| Future Merit Locations | Edinburgh |
| Office Arrangement | On Site |
| Office Arrangement Details | Defence is committed to supporting workplace flexibility. Please contact the contact officer for further details. |
| Closing Date | Sunday 12 April 2026 |
| Agency Website | https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=A106194E-4AD4-899B-54CD-ECC2078D8FFD |
About the Opportunity
The Space Domain Awareness and Control Systems Program Office (SDACSPO) invites a motivated Sustainment Manager to drive the sustainment of the Space Surveillance Telescope. In this role you’ll work with a compact, capable team and a broad network of Commonwealth stakeholders and international partners to ensure continuous availability and timely upgrades of SST capabilities. You will balance project management, budgeting, procurement, and stakeholder engagement to deliver a mission-critical capability for Defence.
You’ll join a multi-disciplinary Space Systems Branch that brings together engineering, logistics, commercial, and project management experts. Based in Edinburgh, SA, you’ll collaborate across Defence and other agencies, and you may travel to remote locations as required. The role demands initiative, accuracy, and a collaborative mindset to support Australia’s strategic space capabilities.
Duties (What You Will Do)
| Key Responsibility | Tasks |
|---|---|
| Lead sustainment planning | Develop and maintain product planning and performance processes; apply project management methodologies to administrative and technical activities. |
| Manage small projects | Oversee SST minor projects, including scope, schedules, and delivery; coordinate with sustainment contractor and Commonwealth teams. |
| Financial and procurement activities | Prepare budgets, manage short‑term financial plans, and conduct procurements as required for SST upgrades. |
| Stakeholder engagement | Draft briefs, correspondence and reports; engage with internal and external stakeholders to align expectations and concerns. |
| Issue resolution and initiative | Identify alternative actions, apply expertise to resolve problems, and advance sustainment objectives. |
| Coordination and travel | Coordinate with the Commonwealth product team, maintain international partnerships, and travel to remote sites as required. |
About You (Eligibility)
- Strong project management experience, including small project delivery, budgets, procurements, and schedules.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills; able to liaise across levels from technical teams to leadership and international partners.
- Attention to detail with ability to prioritise tasks in a multi‑disciplinary environment.
- Experience drafting briefs, reports and correspondence; capable of researching and summarising complex information.
- Security clearance: Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a Negative Vetting Level 1 clearance.
- Technical proficiency in relevant defence engineering and project management tools; ability to work with externally contracted teams.
Important Information for Applicants
Note: the keyword you may be searching for is jobs in australia for foreigners. In this APS defence role, eligibility hinges on citizenship and security clearance requirements. This vacancy requires the ability to obtain and maintain Negative Vetting Level 1 clearance, which typically favours Australian citizens. If you are not an Australian citizen, you should consider how this clearance requirement might affect eligibility before applying.
Direct Answer
Citizenship and security clearance are primary factors for this role. Applicants must be able to obtain and sustain Negative Vetting Level 1 clearance. If you are not an Australian citizen, please contact the advertising agency or the contact officer to confirm whether exceptional arrangements could apply. In general, Defence roles rely on Australian citizenship for eligibility and security‑clearance reasons.
Additional Information
Diversity & Inclusion
Defence is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and encourages applications from a broad range of backgrounds.
RecruitAbility
This vacancy is subject to RecruitAbility. You may be invited to participate in additional assessment activities if you apply under the scheme and meet the minimum requirements for the job. See https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability for details.
Future Merit Pools
Applicants who are suitable may be offered similar opportunities in Defence or other APS agencies through future merit pools.
How to Apply
| Contact Officer | Kevin Corney, 08 7375 4864 |
|---|---|
| Candidate Kit | Defence Careers Candidate Kit |
| Application Portal | Apply via Defence Careers Portal |