Chaos1 is an Australian defence company with a mission to forge a faster path to warfighter capability. Purpose-driven and mission-first, Chaos1 deploys the people, processes and technologies needed to tackle defence's toughest problems. In a world where time is short and the threats are real, Chaos1 is the catalyst that operates forward to rapidly field warfighter capability in months.

ABOUT THE TEAM

Chaos1 delivers through campaigns. A series of experimentation sprints run with a Defence problem owner, on their bases and ranges, that take an emerging technology from concept to fielded capability in months. Each campaign is led by a Program Manager appointed as Campaign Lead, with a multi-disciplinary task force drawn from across the Mission Operations business line of forward deployed engineers, operations specialists and test and evaluation analysts. The Campaign Lead operates forward with the customer and the team, accountable for what gets fielded and for the evidence behind it.

ABOUT THE JOB

Chaos1 is seeking a mission-first Program Manager to lead a Defence experimentation campaign within our Mission Operations business line, appointed as its Campaign Lead. You will own the campaign end to end including the plan, the budget, the schedule, the contract deliverables and the customer relationship, from the first sprint on the base to the capstone event and the report that follows. You can expect to lead a multi-disciplinary task force in the field, alongside the end-user, and to be the person the customer calls.

This is an opportunity to run deployed, customer-facing delivery that puts capability in the warfighter's hands, and to shape how Chaos1 runs every campaign after it.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

- Lead a Defence experimentation campaign as Campaign Lead owning the plan, resourcing and sprint cadence on Defence bases and ranges through to the capstone event
- Own the campaign plan, schedule, budget and risk register, and hold the task force to them
- Own the contract.



You will own milestones, data items and deliverables, contract change and reporting to the customer's problem owner and contract authority
- Be the customer's single point of accountability. You will run the working groups, brief the problem owner and senior stakeholders, and turn their intent into scoped work for the task force
- Lead the task force in the field. You will lead forward deployed engineers, flight operations specialists and test and evaluation analysts, with a Campaign Manager running the day-to-day
- Coordinate base, range and airspace access, safety and security approvals with the Chief Remote Pilot and the host unit
- Manage subcontractors and partners on the campaign, including scope, schedule and acceptance of their work
- Close every sprint with a report the customer can act on, and carry what it says into the next sprint's plan

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Project Management or a related discipline. Equivalent experience may substitute.
- Over 5 years delivering Defence programs or projects, with 3+ years as the accountable lead for delivery in the field with the customer
- Experience running experimentation, trials or capability demonstration activities on Defence bases or ranges
- Demonstrated ownership of budget, schedule and contract deliverables on a Defence contract, including contract change and milestone reporting
- Experience leading a multi-disciplinary team of engineers, operators and analysts in a deployed setting




- Ability to brief senior Defence stakeholders and hold a customer relationship through a program's difficult weeks
- A working understanding of uncrewed, counter-uncrewed or autonomous systems and how Defence evaluates them
- Willingness to deploy to Defence sites and ranges for extended periods, including irregular hours in campaign windows
- Australian citizenship and ability to obtain a NV1 security clearance
- Ability to be onsite at Chaos1's XFACTORY, Sydney. The role is open to hybrid work.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

- Experience with Defence innovation and experimentation pathways, from problem statement through sprint to transition
- Experience administering ASDEFCON contracts, including data item deliverables and contract change proposals
- PMP, PRINCE2 or AIPM certification, or equivalent Defence program management training
- Experience with cost and schedule control on fixed-price or milestone-paid contracts
- Familiarity with Defence and CASA regulation of uncrewed aircraft trials
- Experience with Defence work health and safety, range safety and security accreditation processes
- Experience managing subcontractors and industry partners on a Defence programTime on UAS, counter-UAS or autonomy trials, including live-fire or electronic warfare events
- A current NV1 security clearance or above

SALARY

A salary benchmarked against the Australian defence market, plus above-mandated superannuation and annual salary reviews. Where you sit depends on your experience and the breadth of your skills across the areas listed.

ADVANTAGES

- Superannuation above the mandated rate.
- 25 days of annual leave every year, a full week more than the standard four weeks.
- Clearance sponsorship. We sponsor your clearance and pay the vetting costs.
- Mobilised from the start. Your equipment, access and role brief are ready before you arrive, and you’ll be part of live work within your first fortnight.

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📌 Program Manager (Sydney)
🏢 Chaos1 Pty
📍 Sydney