Engineering Manager: Defence, Product Development & Release

Rashi Joshi; Perth; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Rashi Joshi is seeking an Engineering Manager to lead and grow engineering teams in a fast-moving, highly regulated environment. The role emphasizes strong technical credibility, exceptional people leadership, and the ability to operate with autonomy to drive initiatives forward.

You will shape product development and release activities, ensure governance around product safety, and work across stakeholders to deliver impactful solutions with domestic and international reach.

Qualifications

• Australian citizenship required
• Proven track record of building high-performing teams
• Autonomy with accountability and minimal micromanagement
• Background in product development and product release activities
• Experience in highly regulated industries
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills
• Ability to balance strategic leadership with operational delivery
• Experience within Defence or highly regulated sectors
• Exposure to growing or scaling engineering organisations
• Experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Continuous improvement and process optimisation experience

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow high-performing engineering teams
• Drive autonomous decision-making and accountable delivery
• Oversee product development and product release governance
• Champion continuous improvement and process optimisation
• Influence business outcomes through technical leadership and strategic vision

Skills

Leadership

Autonomy

Product development

Stakeholder engagement

Regulated industries

Defence experience

Engineering management

Process improvement

Job description

Engineering Manager We're seeking a proven engineering leader who combines strong technical credibility with exceptional people leadership capability. You enjoy bringing teams together, developing talent and creating an environment where people can perform at their best. Equally, you're comfortable operating autonomously, making decisions and driving initiatives forward. Most importantly, you're motivated by the opportunity to make a genuine impact within a growing organisation where your contribution will be highly visible.

Your New Business

An established organisation entering an exciting phase of growth and expansion. With innovative products reaching both domestic and international markets, the business has built a reputation for technical excellence, agility and delivering solutions that make a real impact. Operating in a dynamic and highly regulated environment, they continue to invest heavily in their people, products and future capability. This is a rare opportunity to join at a pivotal point in the company's journey, where you'll have genuine influence, strong visibility across the organisation and the ability to help shape the next stage of growth. With a collaborative culture, ambitious leadership team and a focus on innovation rather than traditional sustainment-based work, this organisation offers a unique environment for leaders who enjoy building teams, driving outcomes and making a meaningful contribution to business success.

What You Need to Succeed

• Essential Australian Citizenship
• Strong leadership capability with a track record of building high-performing teams
• Enjoy operating with a high degree of autonomy and accountability (no micromanagement & less bureaucracy - you are motivated by driving things forward and getting things done).
• You must have a background in product development and product release activities
• Understanding of product safety considerations and governance associated with product release
• Experience working within highly regulated industries
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills
• Ability to balance strategic leadership with operational delivery
• Highly Regarded Experience within Defence or highly regulated sectors
• Exposure to growing or scaling engineering organisations
• Experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Continuous improvement and process optimisation experience

What's In It For You?

• Join at a pivotal point of growth and expansion
• Senior leadership position with genuine influence across the business
• Significant autonomy and ownership of engineering outcomes
• Opportunity to shape, grow and develop a rapidly expanding team
• Strong visibility across the organisation and executive leadership group
• Exposure to innovative products with both Australian and international reach
• Clear career progression opportunities within a growing, stable and dynamic organisation
• Work on genuinely interesting and complex products rather than traditional sustainment-focused programs
• Be part of a collaborative, high-performing environment where ideas are valued and outcomes are celebrated
• Opportunity to make a visible impact on the future direction of the business

Who Will Thrive Here?

This role will suit an Engineering Manager who enjoys:

• Getting things done and driving outcomes
• Working in a fast-paced, evolving environment
• Leading from the front and supporting others to succeed
• Building and growing strong engineering teams
• Taking ownership and operating with autonomy
• Influencing business outcomes beyond engineering alone
• Working on innovative products that solve real-world challenges
• Progressing their career within an ambitious and forward-thinking organisation