Canberra - ACT, Adelaide - SA, Melbourne – VIC, Perth WA
The Role
The acquisition of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines is an historic and transformative endeavour for Australia. The whole-of-nation effort to safely and securely deliver the cutting edge nuclear-powered submarine program will transform Australia’s economic and national security landscape for decades to come. This is an exciting opportunity to apply your engineering expertise to the naval nuclear propulsion program. On offer are extraordinary roles and responsibilities, including the reviewing, approving and evaluation of designs and ensuring the ongoing safe operation and maintenance of nuclear-powered submarines.
Successful candidates may also have the opportunity to later nominate for and be selected to undertake international placements embedded in the US or UK for a period of 2 to 3 year. Embedded personnel will undergo specific training in order to fulfil various roles on return to Australia. These international placements are technically intensive and will require familiarity and competence in engineering first principles, requiring calculus-based physics, Statics & Dynamics, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering. Successful recruits will be provided support in preparing for their respective placements through in-country uplift and training prior to embedment.
For the APS 5 Engineers experience or studies in the following specifically nuclear-applicable fields/systems would be highly regarded: Safety Case Development and Maintenance, Plant Operations, Mechanical Systems, Heat exchangers and steam generators, Control and Instrumentation, Pressure Vessels, Welding, Radiation Shielding, Power and Energy Systems, Modelling and simulations (structural, thermal-hydraulics, Fluid-Structure Interaction, model integration).
The APS5 Engineer roles do not require Defence experience exclusively and the positions are open to Engineering from applicable industries. Qualifications to fulfil these roles include but are not limited to:
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechatronic Engineering
- Nuclear Engineering
- Chemical engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Materials Engineering
Your role may range from being very specialist in nature to quite broad, depending on your area of work and expertise. You may also have the opportunity to work across streams.
The duties of an APS 5 Engineer may include:
- Undertaking training and on the job experience, in-country, to begin to develop the ability to undertake complex activities relating to Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine reactors, power plant electrical or power plant mechanical systems.
- Undertaking an international embedment in the USA or UK Naval Nuclear Propulsion technical organisations.
- Developing knowledge, principles, techniques and best practice to deliver Objective Quality Evidence (OQE) to ensure the safety and safe operation of the reactors.
- Contributing to a range of licence applications and the development of safety cases and their reviews, as well as the development of plans, processes and procedures.
- Working collaboratively across a variety of stakeholders, including national and international subject matter experts, to understand, develop and utilise ASA’s technical capabilities.
- Supporting the delivery of high quality reporting including briefs, reports, publications and presentations, and other deliverables as required.
- Being mentored and coached by more experienced team members, building and sustaining positive relationships and actively participating in team and group activities.
- Participating in trilateral meetings/workshops outside of standard Australian working hours.
- Supporting other duties as required.
This is an exciting, unique and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work in a program of national and international significance.
This role is eligible for an additional remuneration benefit known in ASA as a Building Capability Payment (BCP). This enables ASA to provide a premium, in addition to the base salary otherwise payable under the ASA Enterprise Agreement, for positions in occupational disciplines/classifications that are critical to ASA capability. For further information, please contact the contact officer.
About our Team
The Nuclear Propulsion Branch ensures Australian Naval Nuclear Propulsion systems are safe and operationally available through life. The branch exercises centralised technical control of all Australian Naval Nuclear Propulsion systems and is responsible for the integrity and safety of the naval reactor plant. The branch also builds and implements assured long term capability to support ASA’s vision.
As a member of Nuclear Propulsion Branch, you will continue to grow your subject matter expertise, apply the requisite knowledge to approve and maintain the design intent through life, generate Objective Quality Evidence (OQE) in support of technical decision making, be accountable for exercising any assigned authorities and delegations.
By joining the Nuclear Propulsion Branch, you will be provided with unique opportunities to develop your skills and experience alongside others within the team. You will gain real-world leadership experience and significant technical training within a knowledgeable team, from a wide spectrum of disciplines, which is comprised of civilian and military personnel with monumental responsibilities.
We operate with a strong focus on our people, technical development and integrity. We are underpinned by an inclusive culture that respects, values and utilises the contributions of people of different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. We are collegiate and collaborative, requiring a high level of integration and consistency to achieve our outcomes for ASA.
Our Ideal Candidate
We are seeking employees who are agile, innovative and energised by complex and high paced work. We are seeking highly motivated and collaborative minded people who will have the opportunity to contribute to a once-in-a-lifetime program. You will undergo a variety of training programs to understand Nuclear Mindset culture and develop a base level understanding of nuclear-powered submarine operations.
Our ideal candidate will bring the following attributes and skills to the role:
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- Technical aptitude: A willingness to develop strong technical competence in their respective training area. This encompasses both common and specialist skills and any additional technical competence.
- Communication: An ability to cultivate written, intercultural and oral communication and negotiation skills. The candidate should be able to communicate commercial and technical requirements to different stakeholders to inform decision-making, build common understanding, share knowledge and maintain relationships.
- Decision-making: Apply sound judgment and logic, be able to apply co-design practices, identify and mitigate risk, through a considered systems thinking approach.
- Technical advice: Possess an ability to develop subject matter expertise, reporting, analysis and provide guidance in technical fields, ensuring technical compliance and strong integrity.
- Technical excellence: Be adaptable, resilient, inclusive and flexible in a specific area of training.
- International Mobility: Be willing to potentially relocate to the US or UK for a period of 2-3 years.
Our Engineering roles require a Bachelor‘s degree, Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 8 from an Australian institution, or a qualification gained elsewhere. Engineering degrees must satisfy the requirements of the Washington Accord for recognition as a Professional Engineer. Some engineering positions 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.
To achieve ASA aims we are seeking early career Engineers to join the Nuclear Propulsion Branch (NPB) within the Engineering and Technology (E&T) division. Recruited personnel will embark upon intensive, validated training to ensure that they are ‘suitably qualified and experienced person’ (SQEP) to practice in the following areas:
- Nuclear Safety and Operations
- Radiological Controls and Radiological Environmental Protection
- The wide range of engineering disciplines required and applicable for the design and through-life support of Nuclear Propulsion Systems and Technological solutions, including:
a. Systems Engineering
b. Modelling and Simulation (including systems, materials, structural)
c. Reactor Engineering (including reactor systems and technologies)
d. Mechanical systems and structures
e. Materials
f. Instrumentation and Control
g. Electrical / Electronic / Mechatronic systems
h. Safety case development and governance.
- Waterfront and ashore Field Support including engineering investigations and other nuclear systems construction and through-life technical support
- Decommissioning and Disposal
Application Closing Date: Sunday 22 March 2026
For further information please review the job information pack, reference ASA/00477/26 on https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=E52A3591-B5A7-E1C1-A1C8-ECABE91B3AAD