Engineering Director

• Canberra ACT, Port Adelaide SA

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. 

The Engineering Director will head the directorate responsible for establishing, managing and administering the ASA Authorised Engineering Organisation (AEO). This body is the core component of the Technical Control Organisation’s capability to deliver engineering services to the Nuclear Powered Submarine Delivery Group and other consumers of Engineering and Technical Branch services.

The AEO Engineering Manager will be accountable for:

1. Ensuring that the services delivered will achieve a seaworthiness outcome through close collaboration with the Materiel Governance Authority, ASA Chief Engineers, and Engineering Directors leading the delivery effort.
2. Establishing and maintaining the ASA Engineering Management System and associated engineering policies.
3. Coordination of Program Engineering activities in support of the ADG Program Engineering Branch.
4. Coordinating with the NPS Capability Manager and NPS Delivery Group in identifying future capability, acquisition and modernization impacts on delivery of engineering and technical services.
5. Define future organizational capability and capacity required to meet programmed changes to delivery of engineering and technical services.

The AEO Engineering Director is required to follow all applicable legislation, regulations, and ASA policies under the oversight of the ADG Program Engineering.

About our Team

The Program Engineering Branch works within the Australian Submarine Agency to integrate Engineering and Technical functions into the ASA Nuclear Powered Submarine (NPS) and Infrastructure delivery programs. This is the sharp end of ensuring sovereign technical control of the NPS capability and key to maintaining design intent through life of the NPS, its support infrastructure and equipment, and across the supply chain. The branch spans all the NPS technical domains, is predominately based at the delivery locations, and works closely with our partners in Australian industry, and the relevant US and UK government departments. Our people are capable, committed, and diverse. We support an inclusive culture that emphasises respect and collaboration, and we prioritise safety and security. Our greatest asset is our people.

Our Ideal Candidate

We are a dynamic organisation seeking employees who are agile, innovative and energised by high-paced work.

Our ideal candidates will bring the following attributes and skills to the role:

1. The ability to lead, plan, and deliver critical and very complex engineering activities using Engineering Management expertise across a broad range of activities spanning the agency. 
2. Inspires a sense of purpose and direction through communicating the policy, purpose and importance of the work to achieving organisational goals and strategic objectives, and the desired outcomes.
3. Engages with the team and stakeholders to understand issues and long term strategic impacts of their work and work area.
4. Seeks and uses information and opportunities from a wide variety of sources to explore new ideas and perspectives to identify critical gaps in knowledge and seeks continuous growth, seeking out knowledge of the organisation and the context it operates in to discover best practices and approaches to apply to their work.
5. Exercises good judgement, intelligence, and common sense in taking decisions through an objective systematic approach that is supported by evidence, and takes into consideration interconnected issues, to break through problems and draw conclusions that identify innovative and practicable solutions.
6. Exemplifies personal drive and integrity, acting impartially, operating in the boundaries of organisational processes, legal, and policy constraints. Constructively challenges important issues in a respectful, impartial, and forthright manner.
7. Commits to action by taking personal responsibility for meeting objectives and progressing work by taking the initiative and leaning in to do what is required to see that goals are achieved.
8. Continues to move forward to achieve objectives with persistence and a positive attitude, despite criticism and setbacks.
9. Communicates clearly with confidence, focused on key points using precise language and appropriate medium, written and oral, for conveying the information with clarity.
10. Involves people, encourages them and recognises their contribution. Keeps others informed of issues and works collaboratively and operates as an effective team member.
11. Recognises the positive benefits gained from diversity and encourages exploration of diverse views and tries to see things from different perspectives.

Application Closing Date: Sunday 14 June 2026

For further information please review the job information pack, reference ASA/02873/26 on https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=F5F45D88-21B5-DB05-9B0B-ECF0D5A94A10