Defence & Intelligence Technical Leaders – Mission Software Solutions – Canberra & Melbourne

Leidos; Canberra; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos Australia is seeking experienced Technical and Engineering Leaders to support Defence & Intelligence programs across Australia, with opportunities in Melbourne and Canberra. You will shape technical strategy, build high-performing teams and deliver complex, mission-critical capabilities across secure environments.

Ideal candidates bring leadership, deep domain expertise in at least one Defence/Intelligence area, and a track record mentoring teams and delivering outcomes that matter.

Qualifications

• Leads people through complexity across diverse technical disciplines.
• Creates environments for engineers to grow and deliver.
• Brings deep Defence & Intelligence domain expertise.
• Mentors future leaders and builds high-performing teams.
• Australian citizenship with NV1 clearance able to obtain up to TSPV.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, delivery and sustainment of Defence & Intelligence systems across software, cloud and cyber.
• Mentor multidisciplinary teams spanning engineering, infrastructure and data disciplines.
• Collaborate with Defence customers and program leaders to translate needs into solutions.
• Shape capability roadmaps and long-term delivery approaches.

Skills

Leadership

Team development

Delivery leadership

Domain expertise

Mentoring

Security clearance

Job description

Description

About Leidos Australia

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.

Leidos is a destination for people who want their work to have purpose, their contribution to be recognised, and their career to grow without needing to fit a single mould. Meaningful work is supported by benefits, flexibility and career pathways that help you grow while balancing life outside work. This includes:

• Flex Your Way – Tailor work to your life with options including Life Days (up to 12 extra days off per year), part-time arrangements, job sharing, and compressed hours.
• Learn Without Limits – Access over 120,000 on-demand courses, alongside technical, project management, leadership, and professional development opportunities.
• Work That Makes an Impact – Contribute to nationally significant projects that matter, solve complex challenges, and accelerate your career through unique growth opportunities.
• Build Your Future – Whether you're deepening technical expertise or preparing for leadership, we'll invest in your development every step of the way.
• And Much More – These are just a few of the ways we invest in our people and help them thrive.

About the Team

You’ll join a team where people work with integrity, inclusion, innovation, agility, collaboration and commitment. In practice, that means sharing ownership, solving complex problems together and staying connected to the customer context, the purpose behind the work and how each role contributes to meaningful outcomes.

The Mission Software Solutions business delivers customised and off-the-shelf software solutions to Defence, Intelligence and other Government sectors. The business also builds capabilities for a wide range of traditional and non-traditional environments, with a strong focus on supporting highly secure, intelligence-led mission outcomes and advancing the technological modernisation of complex Government enterprises.

The Opportunity

Leidos is seeking experienced Technical and Engineering Leaders to support the growth of our Defence & Intelligence business across Australia, with opportunities available in both Melbourne and Canberra.

As we position for a number of significant Defence & Intelligence programs, we are building a pipeline of leaders who can shape technical strategy, establish high-performing teams and deliver complex mission-critical capabilities across secure Defence and Intelligence environments that support Australia’s national security objectives.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the design, development, delivery and sustainment of complex Defence & Intelligence systems, spanning software, cloud, cyber, ICT and mission-focused technologies.
• Build, mentor and develop multidisciplinary teams across engineering, software development, infrastructure, cloud, testing, automation, AI and data disciplines.
• Work closely with Defence customers, program leaders and technical specialists to translate operational challenges into secure, scalable and sustainable technology solutions.
• Provide technical leadership across emerging and established Defence & Intelligence programs, helping shape capability roadmaps, delivery approaches and long-term customer outcomes.

We are particularly interested in hearing from leaders with experience in one or more of the following domains:

• Defence & Intelligence software systems and mission applications
• Intelligence, ISR and targeting systems
• Geospatial technologies, remote sensing and data exploitation
• Enterprise ICT, cloud, infrastructure and network environments
• Cyber security, cyber operations and cyber engineering capabilities

The technical environment spans modern software engineering practices, cloud and infrastructure platforms, DevSecOps, automation, AI and data technologies, cyber security frameworks and highly secure Defence & Intelligence environments.

About You

We are looking for people who combine leadership capability, technical credibility and a passion for developing teams and delivering outcomes that matter.

Essential

• You've led people through complexity, bringing together diverse technical disciplines to solve challenging problems and deliver outcomes that matter.
• You know how to create environments where engineers, architects, developers and specialists can do their best work, grow their careers and thrive as a team.
• You're comfortable operating at the intersection of technology, customers and delivery, helping turn ambitious ideas into practical, achievable solutions.
• You bring deep expertise in at least one area of Defence & Intelligence, whether that’s mission systems, intelligence, geospatial, cyber, cloud, ICT or a related domain.
• You enjoy mentoring others, developing future leaders and creating the conditions for long-term team success.
• You are an Australian Citizen who currently holds at least an NV1 Australian Government security clearance and able to obtain and maintain a clearance up to TSPV.

Advantageous

• You've worked on Defence acquisition, systems integration or sustainment programs and understand the realities of delivering capability in complex environments.
• You've helped establish new teams, capabilities or technical functions and enjoy building from the ground up.
• You bring technical depth from areas such as software engineering, systems engineering, cloud, cyber security, AI, data, infrastructure or enterprise technologies.
• You understand the technical, security and regulatory considerations that come with delivering solutions for Defence, intelligence and national security customers.

What to Expect When You Apply

Our hiring process is designed to be straightforward, respectful and easy to navigate. If your skills, experience and qualifications look aligned with the role, our Talent Acquisition team will contact you to discuss the next stage. You can expect:

• An initial conversation with our Talent Acquisition team
• An interview with the hiring manager or interview panel
• Any role-specific assessment, technical discussion or customer step required for the position

Original Posting

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos' name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at [e-mail]. If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.