Job Description
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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About the Role
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As Principal Scientist, you will provide deep technical leadership across the development of disruptive technologies and capabilities.
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You'llwork closely with engineers, scientists, product leaders and defence customers
toidentifyopportunities,
develop new concepts, testhypothesesand turn research into practical, scalable systems.
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You will be expected tooperateat both strategic and technical depth — setting scientific direction while being close enough to the technology to challenge assumptions, guide experiments and solve difficult problems.
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About You
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At Arkeus, we value Innovation, Responsiveness and Accountability.
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That means we're looking for someone who:
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Innovates — challenges conventional thinking and pursues technically ambitious ideas.
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Responds — moves quickly from hypothesis to experiment, learns from failure and adapts.
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Takes accountability — owns technical outcomes and is willing to make difficult calls when the evidence demands it.
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You don't need to have every answer.



You do need to know how to find the answer.
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Key Responsibilities
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Define and lead the scientific roadmap fordisruption technologies and capabilities.
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Identifyemerging technologies, research opportunities and technical approaches that could create a significant operational advantage.
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Develop and test novel concepts through modelling,
experimentation,prototypingand
field trials.
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Translate complex scientific problems into practical engineering challenges and deliverable outcomes.
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Work across disciplines includingsensing, optics, AI/ML, signal processing, physics,
autonomy,electronicsand
systems engineering.
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Provide technical leadership to scientists and engineers, raising the scientific and engineering capability of the team.
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Partner with Product and Engineering to transition research concepts into robust, deployable technology.
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Engage with defence customers, research
organisations,universitiesand
industry partners.
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Define experiments and technical demonstrations that rapidlyvalidateor kill ideas.
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Build intellectual property,
technicalknowledgeand
differentiated capability forArkeus.
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Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
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RepresentArkeusexternally
through technical partnerships,
researchprogramsand
relevant industry forums.
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Your Experience and Skills
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We're looking for a deep technical thinker and builder — someone who has demonstrated they can take difficult, ambiguous scientific problems and turn them into real-world capability.
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You will likely have:
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A PhD or equivalent advanced technical expertise in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline.
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Significant experience in advanced R&D;, applied science or deep-tech product development .
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Deep expertise in one or more relevant areas such as:
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Physics / applied physics
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Optics / photonics
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Electromagnetics
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Signal processing
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RF / sensing
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AI / machine learning
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Control and autonomous systems
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Electronic warfare / countermeasure technologies
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Advanced materials or energy systems
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Strong mathematical, analytical and experimental capabilities.
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Experience working across multidisciplinary technical teams.
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The ability to distinguish genuinely transformative technology from incremental improvement.
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Strong communication and technical storytelling skills.
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Experience working within defence, aerospace, national security or another highly regulated/high-consequence environment is highly desirable.
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Why Join Arkeus
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We make incredible things, you will be working in a company at the forefront of innovation in Australia.
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You will collaborate with exceptional leaders who have 40+ years of combined experience in autonomy, optics and defence. You will be learning from — and contributing to — the best in the field.
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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.
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You will work hard and be expected to bring your best — and in return, you will grow faster than you ever would at a large organisation.
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You will work on technology that is already deployed in real environments — protecting lives and strengthening security across defence and national security applications.
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You will receive a competitive, market-benchmarked salary, structured career pathways built to grow with you, and the opportunity to participate in our Employee Share Option Plan (ESOP).
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You will have the prospect to mentor bright emerging talent through our highly sought-after intern program and strong connections with leading universities.
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If this sounds like you, please apply even if you don't check every box listed above and join our growing team in improving security and saving lives!

📌 Principal Scientist (Melbourne)
🏢 Arkeus Career
📍 Melbourne