High Voltage Specialist

Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Parental leave

Vacation care subsidy

Healthy lifestyle subsidy $235

Study assistance

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources, through the National Measurement Institute, seeks a Senior Electrical Scientist/Metrologist to lead high-voltage and high-current measurement capabilities for Australia’s electricity sector.

You will drive testing, calibration, and research programs, engage with national and international standards bodies, and mentor technical staff while advancing national measurement science in a dynamic, policy-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in Electrical Engineering, Physics or a closely related discipline.
• Postgraduate qualification or PhD in a relevant field highly regarded but not essential.
• Experience leading scientific or technical teams, mentoring staff and managing complex projects.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and innovative capabilities in high-voltage testing and calibration.
• Ability to build productive relationships with clients, regulators, standards bodies and industry partners.
• Commitment to safe work practices, quality assurance and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead or contribute to development, maintenance and improvement of Australia's national high-voltage and high-current measurement standards and reference systems.
• Deliver and oversee complex testing, calibration and measurement services for power systems.
• Drive research, service development and stakeholder engagement to address emerging measurement needs.
• Provide technical leadership, supervision and mentoring to staff; oversee durability of accreditation and quality systems.
• Represent NMI in national and international forums and standards development activities.
• Ensure ISO/IEC 17025 compliance and alignment with departmental policies.

Skills

Leadership

High-voltage measurement

Power systems testing

Analytical skills

Education

Electrical Engineering

Job description

Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources – Sydney NSW

The Department of Industry, Science and Resources and our broader portfolio are integral to the Australian Government’s economic agenda. Our purpose is to help the government build a better future for all Australians through enabling a productive, resilient and sustainable economy, enriched by science and technology. We do this by:

• Growing innovative & competitive businesses, industries and regions
• Investing in science and technology
• Strengthening the resources sector.

The APS and the department offer a clear direction and meaningful work. You will be able to create positive impact in people’s lives whilst contributing to improved outcomes for Australia and our people.

If you would like to feel a strong connection to your work and you are accountable, committed and open to change, join us in shaping Australia’s future.

Please see the APSC’s APS Employee Value Proposition for more information on the benefits and value of employment within the APS.

About the Department

The Department of Industry, Science and Resources and our broader portfolio are integral to the Australian Government’s economic agenda. Our purpose is to help the government build a better future for all Australians through enabling a productive, resilient and sustainable economy, enriched by science and technology. We do this by:

• Growing innovative & competitive businesses, industries and regions
• Investing in science and technology
• Strengthening the resources sector.

The APS and the department offer a clear direction and meaningful work. You will be able to create positive impact in people’s lives whilst contributing to improved outcomes for Australia and our people.

If you would like to feel a strong connection to your work and you are accountable, committed and open to change, join us in shaping Australia’s future.

Please see the APSC’s APS Employee Value Proposition for more information on the benefits and value of employment within the APS.

About the team

National Measurement Institute

We are the Australian Government’s national authority on measurement.

At the National Measurement Institute (NMI), we empower innovation and protect trust in Australian industry and society through world-class measurement science. Join a team where your expertise drives national impact, your curiosity is nurtured, and the work you do creates trusted measurement for a fair, safe, healthy, and competitive Australia. Our employees enjoy career development opportunities, flexible working arrangements and the opportunity to shape Australia’s economic future through world-class measurement science.

At NMI, precision meets purpose.

We’re committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and impactful workplace by hiring people who share our values and bring integrity, collaboration, and innovation to everything they do.

Physical Metrology Branch

NMI’s Physical Metrology Branch provides Australia’s peak measurement standards for physical quantities. This enables measurements made in Australia to be accepted internationally, which is particularly important for trade. Our people share their expertise by providing measurement services from calibration and testing to technical advice and training. We contribute actively to international measurement forums and enhance our capabilities through research and development in line with national and international requirements.

Power Systems Technology Team

NMI's Power Systems Technology team develops advanced measurement technologies and delivers specialist testing and calibration services that support Australia's electricity network and clean energy transition. The team operates Australia's largest high-voltage and high-current laboratory and provides critical services to electric power utilities, equipment manufacturers and industry stakeholders. Supporting Australia's Net Zero ambitions, our work underpins the generation, storage, transmission and use of clean energy. Its capabilities span three key areas: high-voltage testing and calibration, calibration of power system voltage and current sensors, and the design and manufacture of highly accurate digital and analogue measurement systems.

The team delivers more than 30 specialised testing and calibration services across a diverse range of power system equipment and measurement parameters. It also undertakes applied research in collaboration with universities, national metrology institutes and industry partners to develop innovative measurement techniques and technologies. Our team's experts contribute to the development of Australian and international standards through active participation in Standards Australia and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). We provide technical leadership across a range of national and international working groups, helping shape the future of power system measurement science and engineering.

The opportunity

This is a senior opportunity for an experienced electrical or power system engineer to apply their expertise to nationally significant infrastructure and measurement challenges. The role supports Australia’s high-voltage and high-current measurement capability, helping ensure that critical electricity infrastructure can be tested, calibrated and assessed with confidence.

The Senior Electrical Scientist/Metrologist will work at the interface of practical power engineering, specialised measurement systems and national standards. The role involves leading or contributing to high-value testing and calibration services, capability development, applied research, stakeholder engagement, and representation in national and international technical forums.

As the electricity sector evolves—with increasing renewable generation, high-voltage transmission, power electronics, grid-scale storage and emerging electrical infrastructure—the role offers the opportunity to shape measurement capability that is directly relevant to industry, regulators and the national electricity system.

What’s in it for you?

Join a community of professionals committed to technical measurement excellence and cutting-edge research. We invest in advanced facilities, foster collaboration with leading institutions, and support innovation in areas that include nanometrology, sports integrity, forensic analysis, cancer diagnostics, high voltage electricity, and clean energy. You will work with people who have diverse skill sets including scientists, engineers, policy specialists and regulatory professionals.

You will build sought-after experience leading nationally significant high-voltage testing, calibration and capability development, while deepening your expertise in measurement science and national standards.

As part of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, employees at NMI are covered by an enterprise agreement and benefits include:

• Parental leave
• a vacation care subsidy
• $235 annual healthy lifestyle subsidy
• access to study assistance
• access to Employee Assistance Program - health, wellbeing, counselling and support when needed.

For candidates with highly specialised skills and experience, remuneration above the standard salary may be considered through an Individual Flexibility Arrangement (IFA), subject to delegate approval and departmental policy.

Our ideal candidate

• Leadership skills in a technical or scientific environment.
• Experience developing, operating or maintaining complex measurement, testing or calibration systems involving high-voltage and high-current applications.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and innovation skills, including the ability to develop new measurement capabilities and improve existing test and calibration services.
• Demonstrated ability to build productive relationships with clients, regulators, standards bodies, industry stakeholders and scientific peers.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to present technical information to a range of audiences and contribute to scientific publications, technical committees and professional forums.
• Demonstrated commitment to safe work practices, quality assurance and continuous improvement.

Additional qualities sought at the S&T8 level include:

• Demonstrated leadership of scientific or technical teams, including mentoring and capability building.
• Experience developing strategic capability roadmaps, investment priorities and long-term technical programs.
• Demonstrated leadership and influence in technical forums related to national and international standards, accreditation or research.
• Recognition as a technical authority within a specialised field of measurement science or engineering.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in Electrical Engineering, Physics or a closely related discipline.
• A postgraduate qualification or PhD in a relevant field would be highly regarded but is not essential.

We’re looking for individuals who bring personal integrity and a sense of purpose, and who embody NMI values (Inclusive, Innovative, Accountable, Adaptable, Influential, and Strategic) while upholding the APS Code of Conduct. Our department has a commitment to inclusion and diversity, with an ambition of being the best possible place to work. This reflects the importance we place on our people and on creating a workplace culture where each and every one of us is valued and respected for our contribution. Our ideal candidate adds to this culture and our workplace in their own way. Even if you’re not sure you meet all the requirements, we’d love to hear from you!

The key duties of the position include:

• Lead or contribute to the development, maintenance and improvement of Australia's national high-voltage and high-current measurement standards, reference systems, traceability chains, uncertainty analyses and specialist capabilities.
• Deliver and oversee complex testing, calibration and measurement services, applying expert technical knowledge to solve complex measurement challenges and provide authoritative advice to clients and stakeholders.
• Drive innovation, research and service development activities to address emerging measurement needs and support future capability requirements within Australia's electricity sector.
• Lead or contribute to strategic capability, workforce and infrastructure planning, while providing technical leadership, supervision and mentoring to scientific and technical staff.
• Ensure laboratory operations comply with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation requirements, NMI quality systems, technical procedures and workplace health and safety obligations.
• Build and maintain productive stakeholder relationships and represent NMI and Australia in national and international technical committees, standards development activities, accreditation forums, conferences and industry events.

Classification Expectations

S&T7

At the S&T7 level, the successful candidate will typically:

• Lead complex technical projects with the potential and willingness to develop into a leading national authority in power systems testing and calibration.
• Provide specialist technical advice within their field of expertise.
• Supervise and develop staff, including mentoring early-career scientists.
• Contribute to strategic planning and future capability development.
• Build effective relationships with stakeholders and clients to achieve program outcomes.

S&T8

At the S&T8 level, the successful candidate will in addition:

• Provide strategic leadership for Australia's high-voltage and high-current measurement capability.
• Lead a team and allocate resources to achieve organisational objectives and national priorities.
• Influence technical directions, measurement strategies and standards development at a national and international level.
• Develop and implement long-term capability roadmaps and investment priorities.
• Act as a recognised national authority on power systems testing and calibration.
• Represent NMI in senior national and international forums and partnerships.

Eligibility

To be eligible for employment in the APS and the department, candidates must be Australian Citizens.

Positions require a Baseline security clearance and successful candidates will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.

Notes

A merit pool may be established and used to fill future vacancies within 18 months from the date the vacancy was first advertised in the Gazette.

The department does currently offer flexible work opportunities for many roles. This position is based at NMI’s Lindfield headquarters in New South Wales, although flexible or remote work arrangements may be considered. Please reach out to the contact officer to discuss this further.

Getting to know the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR)

The department’s Enterprise Agreement and policies provide for a flexible working environment to assist staff balance their work and home life. Staff and managers work together to balance the operating needs of the department with the needs of the individual. Options may include full time/part time working arrangements, working from home or other arrangements. Our employees say they recommend our department as a good place to work. Our workplace is one that encourages and supports all employees to have a sense of belonging and a culture that allows them to bring their authentic selves to work every day. Our reconciliation vision supports a workforce with opportunities and career pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The vision allows them to feel empowered and helps to ensure that the department and broader community can benefit from the knowledge and experience of Australia’s First Peoples. We encourage applications from people of all ages, abilities, nationalities and backgrounds including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, mature age, culturally and linguistically diverse people, people of the LGBTIQA+ community and people with disability. The department wants to give candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their full potential during a recruitment process. We encourage candidates who require any adjustments or support as part of the recruitment process to reach out and discuss them with the job’s contact officer. Candidates are also welcome to contact our Inclusion team at *********@industry.gov.au for a confidential discussion if you identify from any of these diverse backgrounds and would like to discuss how we can support you.