Engineering Lead - Communications Systems

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

Job summary

Blacktree Technology in Canberra leads mission-critical communications programs for defence and global customers. The Engineering Lead will champion end-to-end systems engineering and sustain high availability across complex radio and satellite platforms.

You will manage cross-functional engineering activities, supervise subcontracted work, oversee lifecycle tasks from requirements to sustainment, and ensure ICT security accreditation where required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering with 10+ years experience, or 15 years technician level experience and AMIEAust eligibility.
• Experience in large Australian Defence programs, planning, and contract artefacts.
• Technical knowledge of communications systems and technologies.
• Strong technical writing and Defence document understanding.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional engineering activities and supervise subcontractor work.
• Oversee lifecycle tasks from requirements to sustainment for acquisition and programs.
• Manage ICT security accreditation where required and ensure compliance.
• Collaborate with leadership to improve tools and maintain framework compliance.
• Engage with customers and management, provide reporting and guidance.

Skills

Systems engineering

Leadership

Technical writing

Customer liaison

Defence domain knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

Job description

Engineering Lead - Communications Systems

- Exciting small business employment opportunity

-Ongoing professional and career development opportunities.

About the Role

An exciting opportunity for an Engineering Lead to join the Canberra based Blacktree Technology team to lead the engineering efforts on Mission Critical Communications Systems.

About Us

Blacktree Technology is an innovative solutions integrator working with leading edge radio and satellite communications technology to connect people and organisations across the globe. Blacktree’s expertise covers all RF bands and technologies from HF, through to Commercial & Defence UHF, Satellite and Microwave.

We specialise in solving mission-critical communication problems in challenging and geographically diverse environments. Supporting critical Defence programs, our team specialises in both new and legacy communication technologies. We provide comprehensive services, including the design, engineering, procurement, manufacturing, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of communication systems.

About The Role

We are seeking an Engineering Lead with demonstrated experience championing a system and maintaining systems with high availability.

This role will be responsible for

Manage, support, and undertake planning, resourcing, monitoring, control, and delivery of cross-functional engineering activities, including managing technical teams and supervision of subcontractor engineering activities when assigned, to achieve Blacktree and contract requirements and objectives.

Develop and maintain a comprehensive, end-to-end understanding of the specifications, architectures, designs, interfaces, functions, performance characteristics, and operations of all systems and subsystems, including, when required, ICT security.

Manage and undertake all systems engineering activities, including providing hands-on support, across the full lifecycle (requirements, definition, architecture, design, manufacture, assembly, integration, verification, validation, installation, test, transition to sustainment, operations, and sustainment), as required for acquisition and sustainment programs, and within assigned Technical Authority (TA).

Manage system ICT security, where required, to ensure system ICT Security Accreditation is maintained.

Manage, support, and undertake Technical Information Reviews (TIRs), Engineering Investigations (EIs), Change Requests (CRs), and Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs) development and review within assigned TA.

Manage, support, and undertake contract deliverable and engineering artefact development, update, maintenance, and review as required, including the review of subcontract artefacts and deliverables, within assigned TA.

Collaborate with the Chief Technical Officer, Chief Engineer, Engineering Services Manager and other Engineering Leads/Managers to suggest improvements to engineering tools and systems and to continually improve and monitor ongoing compliance of the Blacktree engineering framework.

Collaborate and communicate effectively with customer representatives, actively participate in program and contract meetings, contribute to regular reporting, and support program and contract managers and management activities to achieve key outcomes.

Review and recommend improvements to the performance of customer assets and systems and develop and review the necessary documentation and artefacts to implement recommendations in concert with the wider Blacktree engineering team.

Manage, support, and undertake the implementation of engineering processes to support acquisition, sustainment, and manufacturing programs.

Engage with customers, where appropriate, to support the formulation of Blacktree’s responses to future program requirements, highlighting the opportunities for Blacktree to provide systems services.

Provide pre-sales engineering support to proposals and tenders.

Coach and mentor junior team members to develop and mature their engineering, technical, and professional knowledge, skills, techniques and practices.

Our Ideal Candidate

Blacktree Technology invites applications from candidates who can satisfy most or all of the following criteria:

Bachelor’s Degree in the field of Engineering with a minimum of 10 years’ experience, or 15 years of technician level experience and professional competencies sufficient to satisfy the entry requirements for membership in the IEAust as an engineering officer at the membership grade of Engineering Associate (AMIEAust).

Large Australian Defence engineering and technology program experience, or exposure, and is skilled in planning, organising, prioritising, and executing tasks, and developing contract artefacts and deliverables, with limited resources.

Technical knowledge of communications systems and technologies.

Strong technical writing experience and clear understanding of Defence technical document requirements.

Professional presentation and a demonstrated ability to liaise with customers, staff and management in an effective manner.

Innovative, resourceful, adaptable, and thrives in dynamic environments, can think critically and strategically, confidently making decisions and crafting solutions amidst uncertainty.

Proactive and hands-on, can lead initiatives, challenge established practices to drive continuous improvement, collaborate, and communicate effectively with senior leadership, team members, customers, and suppliers.

An Australian citizen, or with the right to work in Australia, with a Defence Security Clearance at NV1, or previous NV1 clearance which can be re-instated quickly

Must be able to undertake domestic and international travel as required.

Minimum of 5 years’ experience as a manager of a System.

Previous experience in implementation and sustainment of UHF SATCOM in the Australian Defence environment.

Previous Australian Standard for Defence Contracting (ASDEFCON) experience, ideally, with strategic materiel, complex vol 2, or support contracts.

Awareness of contract, trade control and intellectual property management and administration.