- Adelaide - SA, Fishermans Bend - VIC
- $144,430 - $173,359 (EL 2) + up to 15.4% Super
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. The work of the Technical Specialist - Submarine Materials in the Australian Submarine Agency will provide technical leadership and specialist expertise in materials and materials engineering to ensure the safety, integrity, and through‑life performance of Australia’s submarine capability. The role exercises delegated technical authority, delivers complex technical programs, and provides strategic technical advice within the Australian Submarine Agency, working across Defence, industry, academia, and international partners.
The role addresses platform materials across the capability life cycle, including material selection, fabrication, testing, assessment, sustainment, and risk management. It integrates engineering, scientific, regulatory, and assurance considerations in a nuclear‑adjacent environment. The role will work in the Platform Systems branch of ASA, reporting to the Materials Corrosion and Coatings Technical Lead within the Platform Performance and Integrity directorate.
The Technical Specialist - Submarine Materials will work with considerable independence and be accountability to perform and achieve very complex technical work within an multidisciplinary workforce. They will be accountable for developing, coaching and reviewing individual, team and business performance, and will identify opportunities for building team capability and continuous improvement. They will set work that is aligned with strategic objectives and communicate expected outcomes. They will provide strategic advice to senior management and stakeholders as well as leading and assuming accountability for very complex work programs across the spectrum of relevant materials that have strategic and operational significance.
Your work may include:
- Working closely with Defence and government officials. This is a true whole-of-government effort that can open up a variety of different career opportunities.
- Working directly with our US and UK counterparts to develop our knowledge, governance structures and industrial capabilities. With an increased forward presence of Royal Navy and US Navy Nuclear-Powered Submarines in Australia, this may mean working closely on site, and/or travel or relocation overseas.
This is an exciting and once in a generation opportunity to apply your Engineering and Technology skills, to inform and develop a project of major national and international significance and have a direct impact in ensuring our nation’s ongoing security.
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 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.
Our Ideal Candidate
We are seeking self-motivated and impact-driven candidates who possess strong technical, professional and interpersonal skills. We seek people who are enthusiastic and willing to learn, and in return, we will provide meaningful work, on-the-job training and development opportunities. We seek candidates who are able to apply their experience in platform build or management, and materials testing and characterisation to the fabrication and qualification of submarine materials.
A strong work ethic, the ability to work both independently and in teams, and the ability to deliver high-quality technical work are required for this role. Strong technical leadership abilities will be requried to perform within the role.
Our ideal candidate will bring the following attributes and skills to the role:
- Deep specialist knowledge and expertise material selection, testing, analysis, fabrication and repair and incorporate operational context to identify issues, drive advancements to technical standards and methods, and exercise assigned technical authorities and delegations;
- Management to be accountable for a multidisciplinary team, including providing clear and consistent communication, setting clear performance and behavioural standards, managing performance, delegating responsibility and guiding and developing people;
- Leadership to develop technical capability and drive the delivery of complex technical programs including planning and managing allocated resources, setting work area priorities, workflows, developing strategies and evaluating business outcomes;
- Collaborative skills to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders and influence strategic direction;
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills to deliver high-quality technical advice including evaluating technical packages, reports, processes to drive safety and continuous improvement;
- Strong attention to detail, and ability to apply the scientific method and engineering principles to generate objective quality evidence in support of materials testing and certification.
Application Closing Date: Monday 8 June 2026
For further information please review the job information pack, reference ASA/02794/26 on https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=2961A52F-0CE5-2ABA-E359-ECEFADB76DAF