Location: Henderson, WA, AU, 6166

Onsite or Hybrid: OnSite

Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Drive the uplift of Australia's defence manufacturing capability through high‐stakes supplier audits and maturity assessments. Influence program outcomes by applying deep technical judgement across investigations, risk assessments and assurance activities.

- Extensive experience within the US Naval Nuclear enterprise, applying technical or engineering expertise in high‐integrity, safety‐critical environments
- Deep working knowledge of MILSPECs and NAVSEA requirements, including SUBSAFE and nuclear‐classified component standards
- Proven subject‐matter expertise in nuclear‐related manufacturing disciplines such as weld engineering, machining, forging/casting and advanced manufacturing processes

About You

You are a seasoned manufacturing engineering skilled who thrives in complex, high‐accountability environments where technical excellence and disciplined execution matter. You bring a deep understanding of manufacturing processes, supplier capability and engineering governance, and you know how to apply that knowledge to real‐world challenges with clarity, confidence and sound judgement.

You are comfortable leading supplier audits, guiding corrective action programs and shaping the maturity of supply chains through rigorous assessment, coaching and continuous improvement. You have a natural ability to mentor others, share knowledge and elevate the capability of the people around you. You take pride in being a trusted technical authority who can interpret standards, assess risk and make informed decisions across the engineering lifecycle.

You communicate with transparency and respect, building strong working relationships across teams, suppliers and stakeholders.



You are motivated by purpose and aligned to values that emphasise integrity, accountability, safety and excellence. You understand the importance of a nuclear‐minded safety culture and bring a disciplined, detail‐driven approach to every task. You are proactive in identifying hazards, resolving issues and maintaining a safe working environment for yourself and others. You are adaptable and prepared for frequent interstate travel, with the flexibility to support overseas engagements when required. Above all, you are committed to continuous learning, professional growth and contributing to a culture where people support one another and deliver with pride.

About the Role

As a Manufacturing Engineer with H&B; Defence Pty Ltd, you will play a pivotal role in strengthening supplier capability, ensuring compliance and embedding technical excellence across our programs. You will lead and support onboarding audits, conduct supplier assessments and guide the development of corrective actions that uplift manufacturing maturity and ensure suppliers meet contractual and technical requirements.

You will plan and execute independent assurance activities, maintain accurate audit records and contribute to program reviews with clear, evidence‐based engineering insight. Your work will directly influence procurement decisions,



operational planning and the integration of technical requirements across the supply chain.

You will conduct complex investigations, apply engineering judgement to resolve issues and produce high‐quality technical documentation that supports through‐life knowledge capture. You will lead discussions with internal and external customers, provide expert advice across your discipline and contribute to the development of business artefacts that support successful bids. You will help shape engineering processes, drive continuous improvement and champion standardised manufacturing and supplier due‐diligence practices.

As a leader, you will guide and mentor engineering practitioners, support succession planning and foster a culture of clear communication, capability development and operational excellence. You will also contribute to trade control compliance, ensuring best‐practice behaviours are embedded across relevant activities. In every aspect of the role, you will uphold H&B; Defence's values—acting with integrity, respect and accountability, prioritising safety, striving for excellence and supporting your colleagues as part of a mission‐focused team.

- Experience working in a technical or engineering role within the US Naval Nuclear industry
- Experience in one or more of the following areas: maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), sustainment operations, infrastructure delivery from concept to commissioning, safety case definition/production/substantiation, environmental management
- Experience with MILSPECs and/or NAVSEA instructions, specifically relating to SUBSAFE or nuclear‐classified components
- Subject matter expertise in weld engineering, machining, forging/casting or advanced manufacturing techniques
- Wo

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