Arkeus builds AI-powered sensing systems that help autonomous platforms detect, track and understand what's happening in the most complex and contested environments. Our technology is deployed across defence and national security applications — already protecting lives and strengthening security across the U.S. and allied markets.

Backed by QIC, Main Sequence, R+VC, Salus Ventures, Folklore Ventures, DYNE Ventures and Beaten Zone Venture Partners, Arkeus is entering a major growth phase. We are a small, fast-moving company with the energy and ambition of a start-up and the technical credibility of a world-class defence technology provider.

We work at the intersection of optics, autonomy, robotics and real-time AI and we deploy what we build. If you want to ship technology that matters, not technology that ships decks, this is where you belong.

Check it yourself on News | Arkeus

We have developed an inclusive, transparent and engaging culture that focuses on building a diverse workforce — realising that to attract the very best, we need to ensure our culture is ready to welcome people from all ages, genders and backgrounds.

About the role

AsOperations Managerat Arkeus, you will ensure the companyoperateswith the discipline, efficiency and scalability needed to deliver on its growth ambitions. You will own the end-to-end operationalmodelin our Melbournefacilities and the operational ecosystemthroughtoprocess improvement and cross-functional coordination.

This is a senior leadership role with real autonomy —you'llshape how we execute against company and operational strategy, not just follow a playbook.You'llbe the connective tissue between teams: the person who makes sure everyone has the structure and process toactually getthings done.You'lllead your team, guide your peers, and roll up your sleeves when it counts.We'realso looking for genuine enthusiasm for AI as an operational tool — we build AI, and we expect to run on it.You'llactively look for ways to apply AI and automation to reporting, compliance, supplychainand back-office work, so the team spends its time on judgement rather than admin.

About you

You are a senior operations leader witha track recordof building scalable operating models in complex, fast-moving environments. You have seen what "too much process too early" looks like, and what "not enough structure" costs. You know where the line is.

You combine strategic thinking with a hands-on execution mindset — comfortable designing systems and rolling up your sleeves when the moment calls for it. You are a natural connector:



you bring clarity,accountabilityand pace to cross-functional work without needing to own everything.

You are experienced inoperatingin or alongside defence, aerospace, or other regulated industries, and you understand the operationalrigourthat comes with them.You haveanability to identify where relative investments of time and accuracy are made to align with strategic objectives.Importantly, you areenergisedby ambiguity — the playbook does not exist yet, and writing it is part of the job.

Key responsibilities

- Structure, Policy and Process: Design and implement theorganisationalstructure, policies and processesrequiredto run a global company — consistent across markets, scalable as the business grows, and practical enough that teamsactually usethem.You willmaintainour ISO 9001 certification and propose other certifications if needed.
- Operational Ecosystem Scale: Own, build, and continuously improveArkeus'sglobal operational model, systems, and processes to support 5x scaling without building standard bureaucracy.
- Defence Framework Governance: Implement andmaintainrobust compliance ecosystems aligned with the Defence Industry Security Program (DISP)and ISO 9001.
- Cross-Functional Alignment: Drivesynergyacross engineering, manufacturing, finance, and commercial teams—identifyingoperational bottlenecks early and resolving them fast.
- Workplace experience:you'llshape our Melbourneworkplaceso the team has the setting and resources to perform at their best.
- Build and lead a high-performing operations functionthat puts our customers first,with aculture of leadership, ownership,disruptionand audacity.

What success looks like

In your first90 days:

- You have mapped the current operating model, understood where it works and where it breaks, and shared a clear view with the executive team.
- You have built strong relationships withthe engineering, program delivery, and growth leads.
- You have audited ourprocesses,identifiedgapsand proposed improvements toour standard operating procedures.
- You have reviewed our existing operational compliance againstISO 9001and DISPrequirements,identifyingwhere we fall short.

In your first year:

- Arkeus has a scalable operational model that works at 5x current revenue — built without over-engineering.




- Arkeus operates within a scalable operational ecosystemrecognisedinternallyfor supporting, enabling, and enhancing cross-functional engineering and commercial teams, and a reputation internally for making things happen.
- Arkeus holds mature, audit-ready compliance frameworks across ISO 9001 andDISP.
- You arerecognisedas the conductor of all operations at our Melbourne headquarters.

Your experience and skills

- Operations Leadership: Experience atOperations Manager, Head of Operations, or equivalent level leading scaling functions in a complex,fast-movingorganisation.
- Ecosystem Engineering: Proventrack recordin program delivery, business transformation, and process engineering within Defence, aerospace, or deep-tech industries.
- Defence Quality & Security Fluency:Strong working knowledge of the Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) and ISO 9001.
- AI-Enabled Efficiency: Keen interest in applying AI and automation to operational workflows — reporting, compliance, supplychainand back-office processes — to remove manual effort and gain efficiency.
- Stakeholder Fluency: Exceptional interpersonal skills with a clear capacity to communicate cleanly across software engineers, machinist teams, and corporate board members.
- Comfort with ambiguity: you can make good decisions with incomplete information and adjust quickly when the picture changes.
- You will work on the hardest problems in deep-tech — optics, autonomy, real-timeAIand hardware-software integration ina single product. The gap between what you build and where it ends up is almost nonexistent.
- You will collaborate with exceptional leaders who have decades of combined experience in AI,opticsand defence. You will be learning from — and contributing to — the best in the field.
- You will become part of a close-knit, ego-free team where ideas compete on merit, not seniority. Low politics, high trust. The kind of team you will still be talking about in ten years.
- You will work hard and be expected to bring your best — and in return you will grow faster than you ever would at a largeorganisation.
- You will work on technology that is already deployed in real environments — protecting lives and strengthening security across defence and national security applications.
- You will receive a competitive, market-benchmarked salary, structured career pathways built to grow with you, and the opportunity toparticipatein our Employee Share Option Plan (ESOP).
- You will have the opportunity to mentor bright emerging talent through our highly sought-after intern program and strong connections with leading universities.

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📌 Operations Manager (Victoria)
🏢 Arkeus
📍 Victoria