AI Engineering and Validation Senior Manager

Macquarie Group; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing leave day

Service bonus leave days

Parental leave (up to 20 weeks)

Volunteer leave

Gender affirmation leave

Employee wellbeing program

Learning & development support

Hybrid/flexible working arrangements

Work from home equipment reimbursement

Job summary

Macquarie Group in Sydney seeks a senior leader to oversee AI engineering and validation, focusing on security and risk assessments of agentic AI tools and frontier models used within cyber security. You will drive end-to-end validation engagements, combine hands-on technical assessment with sound risk judgement, and communicate findings to senior stakeholders.

You will develop validation methodologies for emerging AI risks and mentor validators, building reusable methodologies and tooling for

Qualifications

• Significant hands-on experience with GenAI and agentic AI systems in production or security-sensitive environments.
• Strong understanding of cyber security fundamentals relevant to AI systems.
• Experience with AI safety frameworks and testing methodologies (e.g., OWASP AI Testing Guide, MITRE ATLAS).
• Ability to lead complex technical engagements and communicate risks to senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead independent, risk-based validation of advanced AI systems and their control environments.
• Develop validation methodologies for emerging AI risks and deliver evidence-based conclusions.
• Coach validators, establish testing strategies, and build reusable tooling for the risk program.

Skills

GenAI security

AI risk validation

Cybersecurity fundamentals

Threat modelling

Adversarial testing

Programming (Python)

Technical leadership

Communication skills

AI safety frameworks

Agentic AI experience

Tools

Git

Automated testing

Reproducible environments

CI/CD

Job description

AI Engineering and Validation Senior Manager

Sydney

Job ID

25066

12-Nov-2026

Permanent - Full time, Senior

Other, Risk Management, Technology - Data Scientist, Technology - Engineering, Technology - Security

Our Model and AI Risk team provides independent oversight and challenge to help ensure model and AI risks are well managed across Macquarie globally. We assess whether AI systems are fit for purpose, appropriately controlled and aligned with the firm’s risk appetite and regulatory expectations. Our team enables safe adoption of advanced AI through robust validation, clear challenge and sound risk-based decisions.

We are a global financial services group operating in 30 markets with 57 years of unbroken profitability. At Macquarie, you’re empowered to shape a career that is fulfilling and creates value. You will bring your insights and expertise to the task at hand and feel supported as you make your own kind of impact for a better future.

What role will you play?

In this role, you will lead independent, risk-based validation of advanced AI systems and their supporting control environments, with an initial focus on security and risk assessments of agentic tools and frontier AI models used within cyber security, while also supporting other high-impact AI and agentic systems across the Group. You will drive end-to-end validation engagements from scoping, testing and analysis through to reporting and closure, combining hands-on technical assessment with sound judgement to evaluate reliability, robustness, harmful or erroneous outputs, susceptibility to manipulation, model limitations and control failures. You will assess key AI safety risks, including unsafe or unintended agent behaviour, excessive autonomy, unsafe tool usage and containment failures, while evaluating the effectiveness of guardrails, agent harnesses, containment mechanisms, access and egress controls, monitoring and logging capabilities, and human oversight frameworks.

You will also help develop validation methodologies for emerging AI risks where established testing approaches do not yet exist, form clear and evidence-based validation conclusions, and communicate findings, limitations and residual risks to both technical and senior stakeholders. As a senior leader within the team, you will provide technical direction across validation engagements, establish testing strategies and quality standards, coach and develop validators, challenge technical assessments, and build reusable methodologies and tooling that enhance the broader Model and AI Risk capability.

What you offer

• Significant hands-on experience in engineering, evaluating, securing or assuring GenAI and agentic AI systems, particularly in production or security-sensitive environments
• Strong understanding of cyber security fundamentals relevant to AI systems, including identity and access management, secrets management, sandboxing and containment, network egress, software supply-chain risk, monitoring and logging
• Practical knowledge of AI safety and security frameworks and testing methodologies, such as the OWASP AI Testing Guide, MITRE ATLAS and established threat-modelling approaches
• Hands-on experience with adversarial testing, AI red teaming or security testing, with the ability to translate threat scenarios into reproducible tests and defensible evidence
• Strong hands-on programming skills and experience with modern software engineering practices, including Git, automated testing and reproducible development environments
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex technical engagements, exercise sound risk judgement and drive delivery through ambiguity
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical issues into clear risks, findings and practical recommendations for both technical and senior stakeholders
• A curious and self-directed mindset, with the ability to stay current with rapidly evolving AI capabilities, safety risks and cyber threats
• We recognise that no candidate will meet every requirement, candidates with strong depth in AI engineering and demonstrable cyber assurance capability, or strong cyber engineering depth with hands‑on agentic AI experience, are encouraged to apply.

What we offer

• 1 wellbeing leave day per year
• Up to 5 additional service bonus leave days per year
• Up to 20 weeks’ paid parental leave for primary caregivers along with 12 days of transition leave upon return to work, and 6 weeks’ paid leave for non-primary caregivers
• 2 days of paid volunteer leave and donation matching
• Up to 12 months’ gender affirmation leave, including 6 weeks’ paid leave
• Access to Employee Assistance Program and wellbeing benefits including skin and health checks, and flu vaccinations
• Access to a wide range of salary packaging options
• Access to a wide range of learning and development opportunities, including reimbursement for professional membership or subscription
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements, dependent on role
• Reimbursement for work from home equipment

About the Risk Management Group

Our Risk Management Group works as an independent, and centralised function, responsible for independent and objective review and challenge, oversight, monitoring and reporting in relation to Macquarie’s material risks. We are a global team that aims to manage the risks of today and anticipate the risks of tomorrow. Our divisions include compliance, credit, financial crime risk, market risk, operational risk, aggregate risk and prudential, and central.

Inclusion at Macquarie

We are committed to providing an inclusive environment for all, where different experiences, skills and perspectives are valued and respected. Macquarie provides access to opportunities for all individuals regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, marital status, gender identity or any other characteristic or circumstance.

We provide reasonable adjustments to individuals who may need support during the recruitment process and employment. If you require an adjustment, please let us know during the application process.