The Role
The Deputy Director is accountable under broad direction to the Director for leading and delivering very complex engineering activities that underpin Navy EW mission system reprogramming capability. The role provides engineering leadership and technical authority for the sustainment and evolution of the reprogramming development environment, databases, and associated toolchains, ensuring EW mission data outputs are correct, safe, compliant, and fit for operational use. The position integrates closely with Defence capability lifecycle processes, including configuration governance, engineering assurance, and accreditation activities across security domains.
The role exercises engineering judgement and authority to translate Navy operational requirements into engineered solutions, manages technical risk, and ensures compliance with legislative, policy, regulatory, and safety frameworks. It collaborates extensively with internal and external stakeholders, including operators, engineering and accreditation authorities, and ICT and system teams, while mentoring and developing team members and managing workflows, resources, and delivery priorities. Through disciplined engineering governance and leadership, the position ensures the integrity, availability, and assured delivery of mission system reprogramming outputs that directly support Navy capability.
About our Team
The Team delivers mission-critical engineering governance and assurance that enable the safe, compliant, and timely delivery of Navy mission system reprogramming capability. Operating within a tri-service establishment, the team comprises a coordinated workforce of APS, Navy and contractor personnel, providing depth of expertise and continuity across the Defence capability lifecycle. The team is responsible for the standardised reprogramming environment and associated databases and toolchains, ensuring configuration integrity, accreditation compliance, and disciplined engineering change. Through close integration with platform engineering, accreditation authorities, and enterprise ICT and cyber functions, the team underpins Fleet readiness and operational effectiveness by assuring the technical integrity, safety, and regulatory compliance of mission data outputs relied upon by Navy.
Our Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is an experienced engineering professional with a strong track record in leading complex engineering activities within a Defence, government, or similarly regulated environment. They demonstrate sound engineering judgement, operate effectively under broad direction, and are capable of exercising technical authority over configuration, assurance, and engineering change affecting mission-critical systems. The candidate is outcomes-focused, risk-aware, and able to balance operational urgency with safety, accreditation, and regulatory compliance.
They possess strong technical leadership skills, including the ability to mentor and guide engineers and technical specialists within a mixed workforce of APS, uniformed personnel, and contractors. The candidate is adept at translating high-level capability or operational requirements into structured engineering plans and assured deliverables, particularly in environments involving complex system interdependencies, data integrity considerations, and security-domain constraints.
The successful candidate will be an effective stakeholder manager, able to work collaboratively across organisational boundaries with platform engineers, accreditation authorities, ICT and cyber functions, operators, and senior leadership. They communicate clearly, provide trusted technical advice, and influence outcomes.
Application Closing Date: Thursday 28 May 2026
For further information please review the job information pack, reference NAVY/02239/26 on https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=C88377D8-6ACE-8F8B-9919-ECEE0C287A87