Whole of Force Wargame Developer – Department of Defence
📌 Vacancy Fact Sheet
- Reference Number: VN-0769657
- Agency: Department of Defence
- Division: of Defence Science and Technology Group. CAD’s mission is to apply and advance
- Job Title: Whole of Force Wargame Developer
- Position Number: DSTG/02834/26
- Classification: Position Number DSTG/02834/26
- Closing Date: Sunday 14 June 2026
- Job Type: Full-Time, Ongoing
- Location: Canberra ACT
- Future Merit Locations: Canberra
- Salary: $81,868 – $112,431
- Office Arrangement: Flexible (Defence is committed to supporting workplace)
About Department of Defence
The Capability Analysis and Design (CAD) MSTC is within the Human and Decision Sciences
Division of Defence Science and Technology Group. CAD’s mission is to apply and advance
Operations Research and Systemic Design methods to allow us to develop analysis based
evidence in support of key Defence decisions. The analysis techniques we use include Operations
Research; mathematical modelling and computer simulation; data analytics and statistical
analysis; Systems Engineering; and experimentation / wargaming. Our work supports the ADF in
understanding impact of decisions on the Enhanced Force-In-Being, Objective Integrated Force
and Future Integrated Force.
Our Ideal Candidate
Our ideal candidate is flexible and able to quickly adapt to new and unpredicted circumstances,
changing plans as required to navigate or overcome unanticipated obstacles. You are a candidate
who is highly motivated and able to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team and create a
collaborative culture where all staff make an effective contribution to the team outcomes.
You have a strong interest and/or experience in wargaming and knowledge and experience in
Operations Analysis with a proactive approach to adapting and applying qualitative analysis
techniques.
You have experience developing, leading and delivering multi-year programs of analysis activities
and a demonstrated ability to lead and conduct complex operations analysis studies including
planning, managing a study team, execution and reporting.
You have excellent communication skills, the ability to convey complex information, and can
collaborate with a wider range of internal and external stakeholders across DSTG, industry
universities and overseas partners.
Duties
- The Role
- The Department of Defence is engaged in responding to demands of the National Defence
- Strategy. This requires significant force design analysis to inform substantial changes in the
- Australian Defence Force (ADF). The Analytical Wargaming (AW) Science & Technology
- Capability (STC) provides analytical wargaming focused operations analysis (OA) support to the
- Integrated Force and Future Land Warfare programs. This position is an S&T4 Operations Analyst
- in Analytical Wargaming. Noting the high demand for both OA and analytical wargaming, this is a
- critical position for Defence. The role ensures we can maintain, develop and apply analytical
- wargaming models of relevant and complex warfighting challenges that can inform critical
- decisions for the ADF.
- As an Operations Analyst in Wargaming Development discipline you will:
- Under limited guidance, investigate, develop and apply analytical wargames, to address
- priority Defence problems, including whole of force wargaming.
- Conduct small analytical tasks and be accountable for the delivery of outcomes. For example
- Data Capture Management Plans (DCMPs) for wargames, data elicitation studies and
- workshops.
- Contribute to stakeholder relationships to ensure studies undertaken have high impact.
- Under limited guidance, develop applications and opportunities from external sources to
- contribute to the creative use of existing Operations Analysis (specifically wargaming, red
- teaming, and other relevant judgement based OA) techniques.
- Maintain and build your understanding of operational analysis and analytical wargaming
- techniques.
- Deliver high quality scientific reporting, including briefs, publications and presentations.
- Collaboratively engage with peers within the STC, across HADS and with other divisions in
- analytical wargaming.
Eligibility / Notes
- Security Clearance
- Prior to commencement, successful applicants will be required to undergo a psychological
- assessment and an extensive security clearance process. As a Positive Vetting clearance is
- required, applicants must be Australian Citizens; be able to account for their personal background
- for their whole life; and be able to demonstrate suitability to work in a high security intelligence
- environment.
- Mandatory Qualifications
- The S&T3/APS4-5 Researcher Operations Analysis position may require:
- academic qualifications in one or more of the following related fields of research; or
- relevant skills and work experience.
- Ref 1297.0 ANZSRC Fields of Research 2020:-
- Division 35 – Commerce & Management Services
- 3503 Business Systems in Context
- Division 43 – History, Heritage and Archaeology
- 4303 Historical Studies
- Division 44 – Human Society
- 4401 Anthropology
- 4408 Political Science
- 4410 Sociology
- Division 46 – Information & Computing Sciences
- 4602 Artificial Intelligence
- 4606 Distributed Computing & Systems Software
- 4609 Information Systems
- Division 49 – Mathematical Sciences
- 4901 Applied Mathematics
- 4905 Statistics
- Division 52 – Psychology
- 5204 Cognitive & Computational Psychology
How to Apply
Position Contact Andrew Coutts, 08 8393 4940
Agency Recruitment Site https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=DE97D54E-9E1C-C13C-B411-ECF2EF80
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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