Defence Communications & Interoperability Systems Engineer

Sypaq Systems; Canberra; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Days leave

Learning & certifications

Reservist Leave

Job summary

Leidos Australia seeks an experienced Defence engineer to develop and maintain engineering plans, specs and verification docs for LC4 capability delivery. You will support acquisition through technical requirements, SOWs and ASDEFCON artefacts, applying governance frameworks to ensure auditable outcomes.

You will analyse requirements, evaluate options and advise on capability decisions, while supporting integration, verification and certification activities to ensure performance and acceptance.

Qualifications

• Accredited or recognised engineering degree required.
• Defence Technical Authority Level (minimum Level 4) capability.
• Experience with the Land Technical Regulatory Framework and Land System Safety Manual.
• Experience with verification programs, including AT&E.
• Experience producing Functional Performance Specifications or Detailed Statement of Requirements.
• Ability to analyse, develop and implement work plans to deliver outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain engineering plans, specifications, requirements, verification docs and reports for LC4 capability acquisition and delivery.
• Support acquisition activities through development, review and assurance of technical requirements, SOWs and ASDEFCON artefacts.
• Apply Defence engineering governance frameworks to ensure compliant outcomes.
• Analyse operational and technical requirements and develop recommendations for capability decisions.
• Support system integration, verification, validation and technical certification activities for capability performance and acceptance.
• Manage engineering risks, baselines and change activities to maintain technical integrity across lifecycle.

Skills

Defence governance

Requirements analysis

System integration

Risk management

Analytical thinking

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

TCN Waveforms

TCN systems

Job description

What You’ll Do

• Develop and maintain engineering plans, specifications, requirements, verification documentation and technical reports supporting LC4 capability acquisition and delivery.
• Support acquisition activities through development, review and assurance of technical requirements, Statements of Work and ASDEFCON artefacts.
• Apply Defence engineering governance frameworks, policies and standards to ensure compliant and auditable engineering outcomes.
• Analyse operational and technical requirements, evaluate solution options and develop recommendations supporting informed capability decisions.
• Support systems integration, verification, validation and technical certification activities to assure capability performance and acceptance.
• Manage engineering risks, configuration baselines and change activities to maintain technical integrity throughout the capability lifecycle.

What You’ll Bring

• An accredited or recognised engineering degree and engineering work experience after completing the degree, e.g. Electrical, Mechatronics, Software Engineering, Computer Science or similar.
• Ability to obtain and hold a Defence Technical Authority Level (of a least Level 4).
• Experience with the Land Technical Regulatory Framework and the Land System Safety Manual.
• Experience with verification programs, including Acceptance Test and Evaluation (AT&E).
• Experience in the production of Functional Performance Specifications or Detailed Statement of Requirements.
• Ability to analyse, develop and implement work plans to support delivery of outcomes, understanding critical success factors and recommend changes.
• Experience with TCN systems and networks, including TCN Waveforms.

Due to the nature of the work, you are required to currently hold and maintain an AGSVA Security clearance as required by the Commonwealth. In some instances, compliance with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) requirements may also be an inherent requirement.

More than anything, you’ll bring a strong work ethic, a positive attitude, and a commitment to delivering high-quality outcomes for our clients.

Why Downer Professional Services

We’re not just a workplace - we’re a business dedicated to contributing to the shaping of the future of defence in Australia. As the country’s only sovereign prime, we’re committed to making a real difference in protecting Australia’s interests.

What is means to belong at Downer Professional Services

• Meaningful work: Help to deliver critical Defence projects that protect Australia and shape its future.
• Professional development: Access career mapping, accelerated learning programs, and shared learning through our Communities of Practice.
• Great perks: Enjoy discounts on healthcare, retail, vehicles, and more through
• Veteran support: Benefit from initiatives like up to 20 days of Reservist Leave to stay connected post-service.

We want your work to matter and we want you to grow with us. With over 26,000 people across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, our team is made up of individuals with unique perspectives, backgrounds, and ideas. Diversity and inclusion are core to our culture and we welcome people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, cultures, abilities and lived experiences, especially women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pasifika Peoples, veterans, people with disability and neurodivergent individuals.

We’re committed to building a team that reflects the diverse communities we serve.

At Leidos Australia, our work goes beyond a job title. We design, build, operate and support the systems, services and capabilities that help protect and advance the Australian way of life. Backed by a global organisation of more than 40,000 people, our Australian team of around 2,000 has partnered with government, defence and national security customers for more than 30 years. We deliver mission‑critical solutions where reliability, trust and purpose matter.

Our core benefits include:

• Up to 12 Life Days of additional leave each year
• Support for learning, development and relevant certifications
• Opportunities to work across programs, domains and emerging technologies
• Career pathways that can evolve with your interests, capability and ambition

What you will be expected to do:

• Provide engineering expertise, assurance and advice by reviewing technical deliverables, plans and engineering outcomes, and advising senior project engineering stakeholders on technical issues and solutions.
• Coordinate systems change across the ship design, including technical data management and systems change management through the end of the design phase and into production.
• Support requirements, engineering change and technical risk management, assessing design and production issues, system characteristics, likely performance and compliance with relevant technical requirements.
• Support design integration through verification and validation, identifying practical solutions that enable programme delivery while meeting Engineering Directorate requirements.
• Engage with Commonwealth, Navy and industry stakeholders, building the relationships and technical credibility needed to influence outcomes and support project decisions.

Practical details of the role, security and background responsibilities are as provided in the listing above.