- $144,430 - $173,359 (EL 2) + Super
- Melbourne – VIC, Sydney – NSW, Adelaide – SA, 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 role will support the Whole of Boat (WoB) signature technical program and will provide support, and lead as required, to the development and maintenance of capability within Australia to manage submarine WoB signatures of current and future platforms. This will include working with collaborative partners and national and international stakeholders. The work will include engagement all signature types, spanning acoustic and non-acoustic. This role will contribute to the definition and development of ASA’s signature management capability for conventionally-armed, nuclear powered submarines (NPS).
The position will engage with their peers across ASA to deliver engineering services and provide technical input to the enterprise in support of WoB signature management of Virginia Class Submarines, and SSN-A Class Submarines. This will include engagement with staff managing specific signature types.
Externally the position will engage with Defence (RAN, NSSG, DSTG, CASG, Regulators), Industry (Original Equipment Manufacturers, Shipbuilders, Suppliers) and International partners and their government agencies.
As a Senior Engineer in Whole of Boat (WoB) Signatures the position will:
- Develop technical capability within Australia to measure and control the WoB signatures of current and future submarines in preparation for the acquisition of NPS.
- Develop measurement capabilities within Australia to characterise submarine signatures.
- Manage and lead, as required, WoB signatures staff and relevant teams to ensure effective delivery of technical outcomes, foster professional development, and maintain high standards of performance and collaboration.
- Liaise with US and UK counterparts to develop Australia’s signature management capability in preparation to the Submarine Rotational Force and the acquisition of SSNs.
- Maximise submarine performance, survivability and lethality through minimising submarine signatures
- Understand the design and operating intent of the acquired submarine design to examine and act upon anticipated credible risks of the submarine design operating in Australian operating conditions.
- Plan and manage a range of human and physical resources required to carry out complex technical programs.
- Initiate, develop and maintain collaborative programs with Defence, Australian universities, industry, and international partners.
About our Team
The Platform Systems Branch of the Australian Submarine Agency Engineering and Technical Division works to assure and evolve the non-nuclear platform system engineering capabilities that will underpin the safe, stealthy, effective and enduring sovereign operation of Australia’s nuclear powered submarines.
Our branch is responsible for the technical governance, safety certification and objective quality evidence (OQE) development for Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine capability through managing a wide spectrum of specialist technical functions, including naval architecture, transverse systems integration, and stealth management.
The position sits within the Signatures Directorate, which delivers submarine signature management capability across the nuclear-powered submarine enterprise. This includes the development and integration of technical solutions to support platform performance, survivability, and certification.
The Directorate operates within ASA’s technical governance framework, providing validated technical inputs and OQE to support assurance and decision making. Work is delivered in collaboration with Defence, industry, academia, and international partners, supporting sovereign capability development and interoperability with United States and United Kingdom programs.
Our Ideal Candidate
We are a dynamic organisation seeking employees who are agile, innovative and energised by high-paced work.
The ideal candidate will bring a combination of specialist technical knowledge, leadership capability, and the ability to operate strategically across a complex national and international stakeholder environment. They will be comfortable working at the intersection of engineering, operational capability, and program delivery, and will be driven by the opportunity to contribute to a critical national capability.
Our ideal candidates will bring the following attributes and skills to the role:
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- Strong capability to research and synthesise complex information.
- Strong capability to develop, investigate, test and interpret technical requirements related to all signature types, spanning acoustic and non-acoustic.
- Proven ability to contribute to the development of technical advice, knowledge and recommendations to predict, measure, analyse, and treat submarine signatures.
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with ability to engage with Defence, AUKUS and industry partners and work with senior colleague to develop requirements.
- Demonstrated leadership capability in multidisciplinary engineering environments, including guiding teams through complex technical challenges to assist with, and lead as required, planning, execution, assessment and reporting on signature related trials.
- Well - developed collaboration and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work effectively with Defence, industry, and academia
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to contribute to the development of briefs, minutes, proposals and presentations, and effectively engage and share this information with highly skilled teams across the enterprise.
- Demonstrated capability in supervision and mentorship of technical staff, developing suitably qualified experienced personnel and providing career guidance.
Application Closing Date: Sunday 26 July 2026
For further information please review the job information pack, reference ASA/03509/26 on https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=41C97D47-145E-0720-42D3-ED07E3C44AB5