Antenna Systems Manager

CSIRO; Canberra; On-site; AUD 163,000 - 181,000; Full time

Job summary

CSIRO's Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC) in ACT invites a senior engineering leader to oversee antenna systems and drive strategic direction for mechanical, servo, RF, transmitter, cryogenic and electronics subsystems.

Reporting to the CDSCC Director, you will lead a multidisciplinary team, manage budgets and schedules, and coordinate with NASA/JPL and DSN partners to deliver complex space‑communications projects.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Electrical, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering.
• Demonstrated leadership and managerial experience in an industrial maintenance environment at a senior level.
• Experience managing trades and technical positions in maintenance/operations.
• Proven ability to lead and develop multidisciplinary teams and balance long-term planning with short-term oversight.
• Experience implementing cultural change and safe working practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Antenna Systems Group, setting strategy and priorities for mechanical, servo, RF, transmitter, cryogenic, and electronics systems.
• Provide technical leadership and specialist advice on complex engineering and operational challenges across CDSCC and the Deep Space Network.
• Oversee maintenance, reliability, and asset management programs to maximise system performance, availability, and operational resilience.
• Manage the delivery of antenna system projects, upgrades, resources, schedules, and stakeholder coordination with NASA/JPL and DSN partners.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary team, fostering a high-performance, collaborative, and safety-focused culture.
• Manage budgets, procurement, and governance responsibilities while contributing to strategic decision-making as a member of the CDSCC Management Team.

Skills

Leadership

Management

Engineering leadership

Strategic thinking

Change management

Safety & environment

Team building

Education

Electrical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Industrial Engineering

Tools

CMMS

Job description

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation.

Acknowledgement of Country

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation.

Role highlights

• Lead critical deep space operations by overseeing the Mechanical, Servo, and RF/Microwave Engineering teams
• Drive strategic engineering leadership as a key member of the CDSCC Management Team
• Collaborate with global space partners to support NASA's Deep Space Network and some of the world's most significant space exploration missions

About CSIRO

As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. Many of our iconic innovations were once considered impossible until someone, just like you, joined us and took on the challenge.

Visit CSIRO.au and www.cdscc.nasa.gov for more information.

The opportunity

Join CSIRO's Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC) and play a pivotal leadership role supporting NASA's Deep Space Network, one of the world's most sophisticated space communications systems.

Reporting to the Director CDSCC and leading a team of specialist engineers and technical experts, you will provide strategic direction, technical leadership, and operational oversight of critical antenna systems that enable communication with spacecraft exploring our solar system and beyond. Working closely with NASA/JPL and international stakeholders, you'll help solve complex engineering challenges while contributing to globally significant space and scientific missions.

This role strikes a good balance between leadership, technical expertise, project delivery, stakeholder engagement, and people management.

Your high-level duties will include

• Lead the Antenna Systems Group, setting strategy and priorities for mechanical, servo, RF, transmitter, cryogenic, and electronics systems.
• Provide technical leadership and specialist advice on complex engineering and operational challenges across CDSCC and the Deep Space Network.
• Oversee maintenance, reliability, and asset management programs to maximise system performance, availability, and operational resilience.
• Manage the delivery of antenna system projects, upgrades, resources, schedules, and stakeholder coordination with NASA/JPL and DSN partners.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary team, fostering a high-performance, collaborative, and safety-focused culture.
• Manage budgets, procurement, and governance responsibilities while contributing to strategic decision-making as a member of the CDSCC Management Team.

Role particulars

Location: Tidbinbilla – Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC), ACT

Salary: AU$163,199 – $180,568 plus up to 15.4% superannuation

Tenure & work schedule: Indefinite - Position will also be considered as part-time (minimum 0.9 FTE) or 1.0 FTE with a compressed 9-day fortnight arrangement

Reference: 103857

As the successful candidate, you will bring

Essential

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Electrical, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering, in conjunction with demonstrated leadership and managerial experience in an industrial maintenance environment at a senior level.
• Broad experience in management and customer-focused maintenance and operations, and the delivery of complex engineering outcomes on time and to budget.
• Demonstrated experience working with Trades and Technical positions in a similar maintenance and operations environment.
• A strong history of leading and working effectively in teams, encouraging new ideas, building trust, and providing support for the development of emerging skills.
• Proven ability to think strategically and balance long-term planning with short-term operational oversight.
• The capacity to embrace change management initiatives with demonstrated success in the implementation of cultural change.
• Demonstrated experience in ensuring safe working practices and effective environmental management.

Desirable (How To Stand Out)

• Experience in engineering-based Computerised Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS).
• Relevant qualification in Project Management or equivalent experience, with relevant experience demonstrated within large or complex organisations.
• An understanding of the technologies and functions associated with telecommunications and an appreciation of the unique attributes required for spacecraft communications.
• An understanding of, and experience with, Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs).

For full details about this role, please review the Position Description .

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens & Australian Permanent Residents only, who can meet the US Export Administration Regulation requirements (eligibility to be determined).

Appointment to this role is subject to the provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

Not sure if you meet all the criteria?

While it is CSIRO policy that the successful candidate must meet all the essential criteria, there are many ways to demonstrate this. Don’t let the list discourage you. If you are unsure about applying, please reach out to the contact person in the Position Description.

Setting you up for success

We are committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible to everyone. We recognise that it may be helpful for us to adjust our process to make it equitable for your individual situation. Please contact and let us know how we can support you.

Life at CSIRO and flexible work arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO , offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. We can discuss flexible work arrangements with you during the recruitment process. CSIRO also offers a range of leave entitlements, benefits and career development opportunities. To find out more, visit Careers at CSIRO .

Inclusion and belonging

Solving Australia's greatest challenges takes a diversity of minds and lived experiences. We know diverse teams are more effective and deliver more innovative outcomes. As an equal employment opportunity organisation, we are committed to creating diverse and inclusive teams where people feel they belong. We recognise true diversity encompasses all ages, abilities, cultures, faiths, levels of education, genders, sexualities, diversity of thought and much more. We focus on hiring people who share our values of People First, Further Together, Making it Real and Trusted.

CSIRO holds Gold Status for the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and a Science in Australia Gender Equity Bronze Award.

Child safety

CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy .

Applications close

30 August 2026, 11:00 pm AEST

We strongly encourage early applications as we will be reviewing applications as they come through. CSIRO reserves the right to close the advertising early if we find our desired candidate.