- Rockingham - WA
- $124,393 - $140,315 (EL 1) + 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, 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. You will also contribute to the growth path and management of future maritime ranges in support of new capabilities.
The role will require you to lead a small team, exercise a considerable degree of independence and provide technical/scientific advice to the 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 systems and additional capabilities.
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 and assessment of sonar performance, development of novel analysis techniques for current and future signatures of interest, and investigating opportunities for implementation of Machine Learning techniques for data analytics tasks.
This EL 1 role is a leading position in MWC West. You will be responsible for some staff and various functions of the unit, and for reporting to not only the SAR Division Chief Engineer, but also Director of MWC regarding key deliverables to the RAN Fleet. This role will involve liaison with Contractors, Fleet units, Force Groups, Base command, Systems Program Offices and various Anzac and Collins Class Stakeholders. You will also be responsible for critical facility management and upkeep to ensure requirements of current and future RAN Platforms are satisfied.
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 often 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 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.
- Oversight and participation in measurement, analysis and reporting of Vessel Signatures.
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
As the ideal candidate, you have the motivation and ability to apply your strong analytical skills in the field of platform signature measurement and evaluation. You will provide leadership to your team and your strong communication skills will contribute to a culture of cooperation for development and sharing of knowledge whilst exercising a high level of initiative and judgement. You will be expected to work independently and identify opportunities to improve and contribute to the work output of MWC with limited need for guidance. You will be required to undertake occasional work interstate and in remote locations as well as participating in trials, system checks and inspections on military platforms (Naval Vessels).
Candidates are sought with interest and ability in any of the following areas:
- Data acquisition and underwater signature measurement Range systems
- Underwater acoustics / magnetics / electric field signatures, and sonar systems
- Combat and Weapons Systems
- Development of analytic systems for signature assessment (software and hardware)
- Development of analytic software systems for weapons systems analysis
- Modelling and simulation (Signatures and weapons)
- Machine Learning and data analytics
- Modification, maintenance and repair of computer / electrical / electronic systems and equipment
The successful candidate will have professional engineering qualifications and an interest in applying and improving their analytical skills and critical thinking in the maritime domain.
Disciplines of interest include: Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering or Systems Engineering.
On the job training will be provided to assist the successful candidate in learning key skills required to perform various aspects of this role.
Application Closing Date: Sunday 20 September 2026
For further information please review the job information pack, reference NAVY/04902/26 on https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=BCBE7272-98B5-EBB5-7FD5-ED381319054E