Engineering Professional - Hull and Structure

Department of Defence; Perth; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Defence is seeking an Engineering Professional – Hull and Structure in Henderson, WA. You will lead on-site assurance for naval vessel builds, verifying compliance with domestic and international standards and supporting continuous improvement on multi‑discipline teams.

APS 6 role focused on surveillance, design change assessment, testing oversight, and strong stakeholder liaison with naval and civilian staff to ensure quality and safety across the build lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Experience in ship repair/maintenance projects and assurance activities.
• Knowledge of applicable design, fabrication, and quality standards (e.g. Lloyds, DNV).
• Ability to audit processes and verify conformance to contractual requirements.

Responsibilities

• Conduct on-site surveillance and inspections across shipyard builds for progress, quality, and system integration.
• Verify compliance with specifications, contracts, and legislative requirements; audit shipbuilder processes.
• Provide technical advice during construction and acceptance phases; evaluate design changes and non-conformances.
• Identify and document non-conformances; support corrective action tracking and closure.
• Witness system testing activities (FAT, Harbour/Sea Trials) and ensure objectives are met.
• Review technical reports, drawings, and QA documentation for accuracy and suitability.
• Prepare surveillance and progress reports; participate in project forums with transparent issue tracking.
• Maintain relationships with Defence stakeholders, primes, suppliers, and regulators to resolve issues.
• Uphold safety culture and mentor team members on safe work practices at the site.

Skills

Shipbuilding experience

Engineering supervision

Quality assurance

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

The Role Naval Construction Branch (NCB) is seeking a dedicated and skilled individual to join its assurance team as an Engineering Professional – Hull and Structure. This is a unique opportunity to work on a range of navy vessel projects, right at the waterfront in Henderson WA. As an APS 6 Engineering Professional, you will deliver continuity of technical assurance, working with uniform and civilian staff in a team, using your experience in ship repair/maintenance activities to verify the ships are constructed in accordance with agreed approved domestic/international standards throughout the different phases of the build.

Key responsibilities include:

• Conduct on-site surveillance, inspections, and assessments across shipyard builds to monitor construction progress, quality performance, and system integration. Ensure adherence to approved procedures, standards, and classification requirements (e.g. Lloyds, DNV).
• Perform assurance activities to verify compliance with technical specifications, contractual obligations, and legislative requirements. Audit shipbuilder processes to confirm effectiveness and alignment with program standards.
• Provide specialist technical advice throughout construction and acceptance phases, ensuring product quality and system integration outcomes. Support the evaluation of design changes, deviations, and engineering non-conformances.
• Identify, investigate, and document non-conformances, supporting corrective action verification and monitoring closure to promote continuous improvement.
• Witness and provide technical input into system testing activities, including FAT, Pre-Commissioning, Harbour Trials, and Sea Trials, ensuring compliance with test objectives and acceptance criteria.
• Review technical reports, engineering analyses, QA documentation, drawings, specifications, and procedures to ensure accuracy, compliance, and suitability for use.
• Prepare clear and timely surveillance, technical, and progress reports. Participate in project and technical forums, ensuring accurate documentation and transparent issue tracking using project-reporting tools.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with Defence stakeholders, prime contractors, suppliers, classification societies, and regulators to support coordinated delivery and issue resolution.
• Uphold safety and regulatory requirements while promoting a Positive Safety Culture. Mentor team members and reinforce safe work practices across site activities.

About our Team Naval Construction Branch (NCB) is accountable for the assurance of ship construction, set-to work and transit of vessels constructed at the Osborne Naval Shipyard and Henderson precinct. We have branches in Osborne, SA and Henderson, WA, as well as a smaller presence in Port Macquarie, NSW. NCB is furthering continuous naval shipbuilding and growing sovereign capability by overseeing the construction to ensure quality and standards are met, storing lessons learnt and developing standard shipbuilding procedures for construction. NCB will oversee the construction of many different Navy vessels including Offshore Patrol Vessels, Frigates, Landing Craft (Medium and Heavy) and Patrol Boats. Working at NCB will enable you to be at the grassroots of continuous naval shipbuilding, where you are part of a working shipyard, being able to see and contribute to the vessels delivered and used in service by Navy.

Our Ideal Candidate

Our ideal candidate would be an experienced and qualified individual with a strong work ethic and demonstrated leadership behaviours. Our ideal candidate will possess:

• Technical experience within shipbuilding or sustainment environments.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to proactively engage and liaise with multiple Shipbuilder Primes and Classification societies.
• Applied technical capability, demonstrated technical proficiency with the capability to lead the evaluation of technical packages and equipment performance against project specifications, and deliver well-supported recommendations that drive improvements and corrective actions.
• Knowledge sharing and Leadership skills, with the ability to participate in or lead processes involving knowledge transfer within the Shipbuilding or Sustainment domain.
• Commitment to continuous learning, a broad understanding of shipbuilding fundamentals and a desire to expand knowledge across multiple discipline build groups.
• A collaborative approach supported by strong communication skills and the capability to positively influence teams in their work with internal and external stakeholders.