Senior Systems Engineers in Canberra, how often do you get to set up the engineering on a major Defence acquisition, rather than inherit someone else’s baseline? This role puts you in the lead seat from the start, and it’s worth a read if that’s what you’re after.

Before the detail, here’s what’s in it for you in this permanent, full-time role in Canberra:

- You’ll be on $200k base + super.
- You’ll be the engineering lead, so the Project Director, Project Manager and Project Engineering Manager will come to you for engineering advice.
- You’ll be shaping the program from early on. The baseline, the requirements framework and the architecture don’t exist yet, so you get to set them up your way.
- You’ll lead a team of APS and contractor engineers, plus the specialist SMEs working across the program.
- It’s a permanent role, so no contract renewals hanging over your head.

So what are you stepping into?

The Army is acquiring a major new capability, and the program is working towards Early Access Funding and Combined Pass. Before it gets there, it needs a solid engineering baseline that everything else can be built on. You’ll be the one establishing it, which means the requirements, architecture and verification decisions made in the next few years start with you.

You’ll establish and maintain the requirements baseline. You’ll define the technical scope, system boundaries and architecture baselines. You’ll identify and manage the interfaces, dependencies, assumptions, constraints, risks and opportunities across the program.



You’ll also lead the engineering input to acquisition strategy and implementation planning, and run and assure the technical assessments and trade studies that inform the big decisions.

You’ll work with Army Headquarters, the Defence Delivery Group, Joint Capabilities Group, OEMs and Foreign Military Sales representatives, so you’ll need to be comfortable holding your own in a room of senior Defence and industry stakeholders.

Worth knowing from the get-go: this role is 5 days a week on site at Brindabella Business Park. That won’t suit everyone, and that’s ok, but it’s better to know now.

What you’ll need to be considered:

- An NV1 clearance already held, with the ability to get to NV2 (NV2 preferred)
- To be based in Canberra, or ready to be, and on site 5 days a week
- 10+ years of systems engineering experience, ideally within Defence
- Experience on complex Defence acquisition projects
- Experience leading engineering teams and establishing requirements and architecture baselines
- DOORS, OCD and FPS experience, plus early lifecycle work like Gate or Pass approvals, will help you stand out

Decipher Bureau and the clients we partner with are committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be equal chance employers. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

Additional information

- Shape a major Army capability | Set the baseline, don't inherit it
- Lead the engineering from day one & other roles open across the team
- Shape the program through to Combined Pass.

📌 Senior Systems Engineer (Australia)
🏢 Decipher Bureau
📍 Australia