Help shape the future of Australian rail standards and interoperability.

Location:National – Australia-wide

Employment type:Full-time

Portfolio:National Technical Coordination

Why ARISO – why now

Australia is entering a new era of national rail standards, and ARISO is at the forefront of this transformation.

With strong alignment between governments and industry, the Australian Rail Industry Standards Organisation (ARISO) is embarking on an ambitious five-year reform program to strengthen national rail safety, productivity and interoperability.

This represents a fundamental shift in how Australia's rail standards are developed, harmonised and adopted. ARISO is evolving into a national technical authority, bringing together specialist engineering expertise, industry leadership and international best practice to support a safer, more efficient and better-connected railway.

As an industry-owned, not-for-profit organisation, ARISO is significantly expanding its technical capability and creating opportunities for experienced professionals to influence national priorities, strengthen industry collaboration and deliver lasting outcomes.

This is an opportunity to help shape ARISO's next chapter and make a visible contribution to Australia's rail future.

Your opportunity to make an impact

We are seeking an accomplished engineering leader to join ARISO as ourHead of Engineering & Interoperability.

Reporting to the Executive Director, National Technical Coordination, you will lead the integration of technical standards across rolling stock, signalling, operational technology and network rules, supporting a safer, more productive and interoperable national railway.





Leading four specialist technical functions, you will bring together expertise across disciplines to resolve complex engineering interfaces, strengthen national consistency and develop authoritative, practical standards.

You will have genuine scope to influence national engineering priorities, collaborate with senior industry decision-makers and turn technical expertise into measurable improvements for the rail industry.

What you will shape and deliver

- Lead the integration of Tier 1 (mandatory), Tier 2 (harmonised) and relevant ARISO standards across rolling stock, signalling, operational technology, network rules and infrastructure interfaces.
- Drive a whole-of-system engineering approach, resolving technical conflicts, gaps and inconsistencies across standards and disciplines.
- Provide authoritative technical leadership to strengthen national interoperability, engineering consistency and system safety.
- Lead and develop four specialist technical leads, building capability, collaboration and accountability.
- Influence national technical priorities and drive consensus among industry leaders, technical committees, infrastructure managers and regulators.
- Oversee Communities of Practice, strengthening technical collaboration and knowledge sharing.




- Provide expert advice to ARISO members, the National Transport Commission (NTC) and the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR).
- Identify emerging technologies and international developments to improve safety, efficiency and technical performance.
- Strengthen technical quality assurance and peer review to ensure national standards are robust and fit for purpose.

What you'll bring

You are a credible engineering leader who combines deep technical expertise with whole-of-system thinking and the ability to influence complex stakeholder environments.

You understand that successful interoperability demands sound engineering judgement, collaboration and a commitment to shared national outcomes.

You will bring:

- A degree in a relevant engineering discipline, with Chartered Engineer status strongly preferred.
- Extensive systems engineering expertise and an understanding of complex railway subsystems and their interfaces.
- Robust knowledge of Australian rail safety legislation, standards development and interoperability frameworks.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and resolving complex technical challenges.
- Exceptional stakeholder engagement, negotiation and consensus-building skills.
- Highly developed analytical and communication skills, including the ability to translate complex engineering concepts into practical guidance.

You will be comfortable challenging established approaches, providing considered technical advice and leading through expertise, collaboration and professional credibility.

What w

📌 Head of Engineering (Australia)
🏢 Australian Rail Industry Standards Organisation (ARISO
📍 Australia