C4ISR / Federated Mission Networking Design SME

Azooa | Defence opportunity | Current NV1 or higher required

POSITION OVERVIEW

Azooa is seeking an experienced C4ISR / Federated Mission Networking Design SME for an opportunity supporting design, engineering and interoperability activities within a Defence workplace.

The specialist will contribute to the development and application of design guidance that enables capabilities to operate effectively across complex, interconnected environments. The role focuses on C4ISR design, metadata standards, Federated Mission Networking (FMN), data centric security and tactical data standards.

The position combines technical advisory work, systems engineering, modelling, stakeholder engagement and design assurance. It requires the ability to translate standards, policy and interoperability requirements into practical guidance that programs and projects can apply.

POSITION PURPOSE The purpose of the role is to strengthen the consistency and quality of C4ISR design and support interoperability across Defence capabilities. The specialist will help develop, refine, model and review design guidance, while supporting its interpretation and application by project teams. The role will also prepare technical advice and assurance inputs that support informed decisions through Defence governance processes.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

C4ISR design and interoperability

- Contribute to the development and refinement of C4ISR interoperability design guidance.
- Apply C4 design principles to support integrated capability outcomes.
- Interpret interoperability requirements and translate them into practical design advice.
- Develop design artefacts that support capability integration and information exchange.
- Assist programs and projects in understanding and applying relevant guidance.
- Identify design issues and recommend improvements to support consistent interoperability outcomes.

Metadata and tactical data standards

- Provide applied advice on metadata standards and their use in complex information environments.
- Contribute to the development and review of data and metadata design artefacts.
- Support the interpretation and application of tactical data standards.
- Assess how relevant standards support information exchange and interoperability requirements.
- Help maintain consistency between standards, design guidance and supporting models.

Federated Mission Networking

- Provide specialist input on NATO FMN concepts, standards and spirals development.
- Support the interpretation of FMN requirements within broader C4ISR design activities.
- Contribute to design guidance and supporting artefacts that address federated interoperability.
- Assist stakeholders in understanding the implications of relevant FMN standards for capability design and integration.

Data centric security

- Contribute to design guidance that incorporates data centric security approaches.
- Support the consideration of data protection and access requirements within information exchange design.
- Work with technical stakeholders to integrate security considerations into relevant design artefacts.




- Provide advice on the relationship between metadata, interoperability and data centric security.

Systems engineering and modelling

- Apply engineering processes to the development and review of design guidance.
- Use Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approaches to model data and metadata standards.
- Develop or refine models supporting interoperability requirements.
- Apply systems-of-systems thinking when considering relationships between capabilities and their interfaces.
- Contribute architectural views and engineering artefacts where required.
- Review models and supporting documentation for clarity, consistency and alignment with design objectives.

Stakeholder engagement

- Collaborate with Defence stakeholders, engineering teams, architecture specialists and project representatives.
- Support shared understanding across technical and organisational boundaries.
- Explain technical standards and design considerations clearly to different audiences.
- Gather stakeholder input and incorporate relevant feedback into guidance and artefacts.
- Help resolve design questions and communicate recommendations.

Technical advice and design assurance

- Prepare written briefs, technical submissions, presentations and recommendations.
- Review design material and provide constructive technical advice.
- Support project assurance activities ahead of governance reviews.
- Assess alignment with relevant standards, policy and design guidance.
- Present technical findings and recommendations to working groups and senior governance forums.
- Support decision-making through clear explanations of design considerations and identified issues.

Continuous improvement

- Review the methods and processes used to develop and maintain design guidance.
- Recommend improvements to design repositories and supporting documentation.
- Help improve the accessibility, consistency and usability of technical guidance.
- Incorporate stakeholder feedback and lessons from project application into updated design material.

EXPECTED OUTPUTS

- C4ISR interoperability design guidance and supporting technical advice.
- Metadata standards models and design artefacts.
- FMN design advice and supporting documentation.
- Data centric security guidance and design inputs.
- Tactical data standards advice.
- Capability integration and architecture artefacts.
- MBSE models supporting interoperability requirements.
- Reviews of design methods, processes and repositories.
- Technical briefs, governance submissions and presentation material.
- Project assurance inputs and recommendations.
- Documented stakeholder feedback and agreed design outcomes.

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE AND CAPABILITIES





- A sound understanding of C4 design and the role of design standards in supporting interoperability across complex Defence environments.
- Experience with engineering processes and/or the practical application of design guidance, including the ability to interpret technical requirements and contribute clear, usable advice.
- Applied knowledge of metadata standards, including experience interpreting, modelling or using standards to support information exchange and interoperability.
- Understanding of, or experience applying, data centric security approaches and their relevance to C4ISR design.
- Understanding of NATO FMN and spirals development, including the role of standards in supporting federated interoperability.
- Ability to develop, interpret and apply standards and policy to support integrated capability outcomes.
- Ability to work effectively with Defence stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams.
- Ability to prepare clear technical briefs, design submissions and recommendations for project teams and senior governance audiences.
- Ability to support project assurance and governance activities through technical review and design advice.

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE

- Architectural processes and the development or interpretation of architectural views.
- Systems-of-systems engineering and capability integration.
- MBSE methodologies and toolsets supporting interoperability requirements.
- C4ISR, command and control or tactical data standards.
- Defence information environment design.
- Information exchange, data standards or mission networking.
- Joint capability and coalition interoperability.
- Senior technical working groups or governance forums.
- Current or recent Defence experience.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS The specialist will work with a multidisciplinary design and engineering team, engaging with Defence capability and technical stakeholders, systems engineering and architecture specialists, data standards and security specialists, program and project teams, design assurance representatives, technical working groups and senior governance forums.

The role requires a collaborative working style and effective relationships across organisational boundaries.

PROFESSIONAL ATTRIBUTES

- Sound technical judgement and structured analytical thinking.
- Clear, concise communication.
- Attention to detail when developing and reviewing technical material.
- Ability to connect detailed design considerations with broader capability outcomes.
- A practical approach to resolving technical questions.
- Confidence presenting recommendations and responding to stakeholder feedback.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver agreed outputs.
- Professional conduct appropriate to a Defence environment.

SECURITY AND ELIGIBILITY

- Australian citizenship required.
- A current NV1 or higher security clearance must be held and maintained throughout the engagement.
- Ability to work within applicable Defence security, information-handling and governance requirements.

ENGAGEMENT DETAILS

Engagement type: Contract – specialist advisory and design support. Location: Australian

Remuneration: To be discussed based on relevant experience and engagement requirements.

📌 ISR / Federated Mission Networking Design SME (Australian Capital Territory)
🏢 Azooa
📍 Australian Capital Territory