- Garden Island - NSW
- $124,393 - $140,315 (EL 1) + 10% BDCP + Super
The Role
Through analysis of naval platform underwater signatures, the RAN Maritime Warfare Centre (MWC) Signature Analysis and Ranges (SAR) Division supports current and future Navy platforms throughout the product life cycle. This analytic function is essential to improve warfighting effectiveness through Operational Analysis, and provide decision makers assurance of warfighting capability and drive improvements through identifying gaps and opportunities.
As a Senior Engineer in MWC, you will apply your engineering knowledge to ensure the serviceability, quality, and accuracy of complex systems dedicated to recording and analysis of Naval platform underwater signatures.
The role will require you to lead a small team, exercise a considerable degree of independence and provide technical/scientific advice to the SAR Division Chief Engineer and RAN Stakeholders. You will need to engage in complex problem solving that will impact on strategic and/or operational outcomes for Defence relating to Naval platform signature vulnerabilities. Your excellent verbal and written communication skills will enable you to communicate with Navy personnel, academia and industry with clarity and influence, and to ensure the quality of analysis, reports and correspondence produced by subordinate staff. You will be able to employ your engineering knowledge to identify opportunities to improve the performance and utility of MWC signature measurement and analysis systems, and to determine requirements for future or replacement systems.
The work you will undertake may include hardware and software development, operation of measurement systems and participation in signature measurement activities, analysis and reporting of underwater signature data (predominantly acoustic) and assessment of sonar performance, and development of novel analysis techniques for current and future signatures of interest. You will be supported to build on your engineering knowledge in the areas of platform signatures to develop your engineering skills/knowledge.
There are learning opportunities in cutting edge areas such as data analytics and Machine Learning that directly support Defence’s commitment to employ contemporary technologies to empower data-informed decision making.
As an Engineer in the Maritime Warfare Centre you will be able to apply and develop your engineering/scientific knowledge to analyse complex systems in the fields of platform signatures. You will lead a team of Engineers to deliver the Subject Matter Expertise that the Royal Australian Navy fleet requires to face modern threats through the collection and analysis of captured data. You will use your ability to apply engineering/analytical skills to help minimize vulnerability to our Navy fleet and contribute to a culture of cooperation for development and sharing of knowledge whilst exercising initiative and judgement.
Defence roles cover a diverse range of workplace environment requirements. These may include physical tasks or working in conditions that are not typical of an office environment. Candidates should consider these requirements when assessing their suitability for the role. For more information, please contact the nominated contact officer. Works outdoors,
Frequent travel – Vehicle
As the range and nature of work in Defence is so diverse, our staff typically work in a variety of different environments.
The workplace environment requirements for this role include:
- (Typical): Sitting/working at a desk (office environment)
- Computer use
- Generic screen based work
- Graphical/Analytical based work
- Lifting 0-15kg
- Climbing/Bending/Squatting/Reaching/Push/Pull,
- Field work / Working outdoors / setup of portable systems
- (Occasional) Working in warehouse / shipping container environments
- (Occasional) Working on wharves, ships, submarines, workboats, barges and other vessels, both at sea and berthed. (May include navigating hatches, climbing stairs, working in confined spaces etc)
- (Occasional) Working overnight, unusual or extended hours
- Travel – frequent Vehicle and occasional air / interstate
- (Occasional) Overtime and Sea Duty Allowances
- Requirement to Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Work activities will often require the candidate to board Naval Platforms (from Dock or via Boat Transfer).
Periods of Travel typically vary from a few days up to two weeks, and can include Interstate and Regional Defence Sites to assist with MWC Support to Navy activities.
Our people are capable, committed and diverse. We support an inclusive culture that emphasises respect and collaboration. Defence will support you in balancing work life with family and other priorities, offering you access to a variety of flexible working arrangements.
This role is eligible for an additional remuneration benefit known in Defence as a Building Defence Capability Payment (BDCP). This enables Defence to provide a premium, in addition to the base salary otherwise payable under the Defence Enterprise Collective Agreement (DECA), for positions in occupational disciplines/classifications that are critical to Defence capability. For further information, please contact the contact officer.
This position will be required to access US export controlled materiel and therefore applicants will be requested to disclose any dual citizenship with another country during the recruitment process. Dual citizens may be subject to further assessment and appointment to this position will be conditional upon approval to access US controlled export material in accordance with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
About our Team
The MWC mission is to optimise and improve the warfighting effectiveness and lethality of Australia’s maritime capability. This is achieved through the delivery of highly effective warfare products that support both the Fleet Commander and the Head of Navy Capability in the context of risk based decision-making.
The team you will be leading directly support this mission through measurement, modelling and analysis of underwater signatures with a focus on identifying vulnerabilities and determining actions to achieve signature reduction.
You will be working in directly support this mission through Operational Analysis involving:
- Updating Analysis Techniques and implementing them into our Range Systems.
- Consolidating our existing Range Systems and subsequent evolution for the Next Generation of RAN Platforms.
- Alignment of Signature Analysis techniques with Susceptibility Metrics and Military Standards.
- Use and distribution of data as the source of truth to inform decision making for the Fleet.
Come join a team, which works collaboratively with Engineers from different disciplines, industry and Government, civilian and military, to understand, shape and improve warfighting capabilities across Navy.
Our Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in working for Navy and the ability to apply engineering/analytical skills to help analyse, report on and minimize underwater signature vulnerabilities of our Fleet. You will contribute to a culture of cooperation for development and sharing of knowledge whilst exercising initiative and judgement.
Candidates are sought with interest and ability in the following areas:
- Metadata capture and configuration, formatting, processing and integration into analysis systems
- System Engineering skills, ability to cope with “multi domain” problems, and identify needs and develop technical solutions to repair and upgrade existing signature measurement ranges. An awareness of SPO and defence acquisition practices will be advantageous
- Acoustic and Magnetic Signature analysis
- System Audit and Evaluation
- Software development and automation of data processing techniques
- Managing and guiding the work of technical staff
- Modification, maintenance and repair of computer / electrical / electronic systems and equipment
Application Closing Date: Sunday 20 September 2026
For further information please review the job information pack, reference NAVY/04557/26 on https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=298CCA97-6177-1475-5A2D-ED3813BA9F26