Software Engineer / Exploitation Specialist

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation – Canberra ACT

About the organisation

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) protects Australia and Australians from threats to their security. ASIO’s people are ordinary Australians but they do extraordinary things – they are our most important asset. To be successful, we need talented people who are highly capable, dedicated, adaptable and resilient.

We seek to reflect the community we protect. ASIO is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, where all staff are valued and respected. We welcome applications from all eligible candidates, irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious affiliation, age or disability. We are culturally and linguistically diverse, language skills enhance our collective ability to protect Australia. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are encouraged to apply. We are secretive about what we do, not what we value.

At a time when Australia’s security environment is dynamic, diverse and degrading, our work is more important than ever. Join the mission and make a difference every day.

The Opportunity

ASIO is seeking software engineers and exploitation specialists to develop, integrate and maintain capabilities in support of ASIO’s warranted computer access requirements. You will research and develop new and novel approaches to meet a variety of technical intelligence collection challenges and respond to the rapid pace of technology development. In this role, you will work in a broad technical collection group where teamwork and effective communication is imperative.

You will work closely with internal stakeholders and industry partners to provide integrated technical solutions to enable some of our most complex collection tasks. In partnership with operational teams, you will enable the deployment of these capabilities to directly support ASIO’s mission.

A merit pool may be created to fill future vacancies which have the same or similar requirements to this position. This merit pool will be valid for up to 18 months.

Responsibilities

As a Software Engineer/Exploitation Specialist at ITE1.1/ITE2 level, you will:

- Maintain awareness of mobile, desktop and network technologies to identify emerging threats and opportunities that impact access and collection capabilities.
- Collaborate with industry and intelligence partners to develop technical solutions and transition exploitation capabilities to operations.
- Conduct capability testing and work with other internal stakeholders to coordinate end‑to‑end operational testing of system components.
- Provide training and support to operational teams to enable the deployment of exploitation capabilities, including during ASIO operational activities. This may require activity outside standard working hours.

In addition to the above, as a Senior Exploitation Specialist at the SITE C level, you will:

- Provide mentoring and support to junior staff.
- Leverage highly developed interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
- Develop and/or integrate software and tooling, spanning more than one language and domain.




- Lead and manage high level system design within teams across Computer Access capabilities and projects to ensure interoperability, scalability and sustainability.

Eligibility

This role requires the following capabilities:

What you will bring

We are seeking candidates with the following capabilities:

ITE1.1/ITE2 (APS5/APS6) level

- Adheres strictly to security protocols while proactively identifying potential risks within the collection pipeline to protect the Organisation and its data sources.
- Applies technical problem‑solving to resolve immediate failures and designs technical workflows that anticipate future operational needs and technological shifts.
- Works collaboratively with peers and stakeholders, delivers high-quality technical outputs and coordinates the delivery and sustainment of bespoke toolsets from inception to operational use.
- Contributes to the long‑term roadmap for digital collection capabilities, balancing internal development with industry partnerships.
- Builds and sustains strategic partnerships across government, industry and international agencies.
- Clearly explains technical issues and translates complex constraints into actionable options for operational stakeholders.
- Ability to develop, support, and sustain complex systems, with a strong background in one or more of the following:
- Full stack development, Linux/ARM, system administration, mobile and digital application development, vulnerability research or digital forensics

SITE C (EL1) level

- Oversees the security posture of the technical estate, ensuring that all bespoke tool development and online collection activity is risk‑managed and compliant with overarching security directives.
- Translates high‑level organisational intelligence requirements into a sustainable technical strategy. Anticipates shifts in the global digital landscape to ensure the agency maintains a competitive technical advantage.
- Manages the end‑to‑end lifecycle of technical capabilities, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently to deliver high‑impact tools on time and within scope.
- Leads multidisciplinary teams and fosters strategic alliances with key industry leaders and government partners to accelerate capability acquisition.
- Demonstrates exceptional leadership and accountability, upholding the highest standards of professional conduct and safeguarding sensitive technical capabilities.
- Acts as a primary technical advisor to senior executives, articulating complex technical risks and opportunities to drive strategic investment and operational change.
- Ability to develop, support, and sustain complex systems, with a strong background in one or more of the following:
- Full stack development, Linux/ARM, system administration, mobile and digital application development, vulnerability research or digital forensics




- Possesses the depth of knowledge to challenge technical assumptions and validate the viability of complex digital collection solutions.

You are not required to address each capability separately in your application. Consider providing examples that illustrate multiple capabilities at once.

Refer to ASIO’s Core Capability Framework to understand what is expected at each level for each capability.

Skills and qualifications

Candidates are required to have one of the following tertiary qualifications or relevant industry qualifications in:

- Information Technology, Computer Science or Cyber Security
- Network, Electrical, Telecommunications, Computer or Mechanical Engineering
- Other relevant Science, Technical, Engineering and Mathematical fields not covered above.

The following interests and experience in one or more of the following is desirable, but not required:

- Full stack software development / Linux / ARM development
- System and network administration
- Mobile file systems, forensics and data collection
- Ethical hacking, vulnerability research and/or penetration testing
- Telecommunications systems, cellular (Core and protocol experience) and non-cellular (Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth and related ISM) networks
- Full stack software development and hardware development, testing, integration and/or deployment including experience in Continuous Integration/Continuous Development and DevOps concepts
- Reverse Engineering (Software and/or Hardware).

Eligibility

To be eligible to work at ASIO, you must be:

- an Australian citizen
- assessed as suitable to hold and maintain a TOP SECRET-Privileged Access (TS-PA) security clearance.

Reasonable adjustments

Please let us know if you require any additional assistance or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process in order to fully participate in the recruitment process or the workplace. This may include reasonable adjustments to assessment methodologies to enable full participation.

Notes

What we offer you

Benefits

- A competitive salary, including a 7.5% allowance for maintaining a TOP SECRET-Privileged Access (TS-PA) security clearance.
- Employer superannuation contributions of 15.4%.
- A variety of leave options in addition to the standard 4 weeks annual leave, including stand down between Christmas and New Year.
- Versatile working arrangements. Please note due to our unique working setting, work from home options are not available.
- Study assistance, including financial support and study leave for tertiary education.
- Access to 7 staff‑led diversity and inclusion networks.
- Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Location

Canberra, ACT. Other locations may be considered according to the needs of the Organisation.

Relocation assistance is available if required.

We advertise positions nationally to reach the broadest audience. Please refer to the above location before applying.

Australian Workplace Equality Index

ASIO has achieved the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Gold Standard in 2024, 2025 and 2026, recognising ASIO’s inclusion work and positive culture. ASIO was the first Australian intelligence agency to achieve this status.

Contact / More information

For more information about ASIO, please visit: www.asio.gov.au.

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📌 Software Engineer / Exploitation Specialist (Canberra)
🏢 Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
📍 Canberra