Lead Systems Engineer - Defence

Cleared Recruitment; Canberra; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Cleared Recruitment in Canberra is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to lead LAND 6504 capability development within a Defence environment. You will provide technical leadership across definition, acquisition planning, and approval phases, coordinating a multidisciplinary team to deliver engineering baselines and artefacts.

The role requires strong leadership, stakeholder engagement, and risk management, with extensive Defence lifecycle knowledge and systems integration experience.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree or equivalent relevant experience.
• Minimum 10+ years' demonstrated Systems Engineering experience delivering complex Defence, Government, or large-scale technology programs.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Knowledge of Defence Capability Life Cycle and acquisition processes.
• Experience managing requirements, architectures, and technical baselines.
• Proven leadership of multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Experience conducting technical assessments and trade studies.
• Strong understanding of systems integration and technical risk management.
• Experience developing engineering documentation and technical reports.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, communication, and briefing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate a multidisciplinary engineering team.
• Establish and maintain the LAND 6504 requirements baseline.
• Define system scope, architecture, and engineering baselines.
• Manage technical interfaces, dependencies, risks, and opportunities.
• Provide engineering input to acquisition and implementation planning.
• Conduct technical assessments, trade studies, and solution analysis.
• Develop and review key Systems Engineering artefacts.
• Support engineering governance, reviews, and assurance activities.
• Engage with Defence stakeholders, industry partners, and technical specialists.
• Provide technical advice and reporting to project leadership.
• Support systems integration and capability development activities.
• Ensure engineering activities remain aligned to project milestones.

Skills

Systems engineering

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Risk management

Technical briefing

Documentation

Problem solving

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Reporting tools

Job description

Lead Systems Engineer for a Major Defence Capability

Required Security Clearance Level: NV2 Security Clearance

Location: Canberra - Must live in Canberra

Weekly Hours: 40 Hours (Monday-Friday) Onsite

About the Organisation

Cleared is partnering with a global defence and government services organisation that supports some of Australia's most critical national security and capability programs. Working closely with Defence, the organisation delivers strategic advisory, systems engineering, program management, logistics, sustainment, ICT, and operational support services across complex and high-profile capability projects.

Role Description

As the Senior Systems Engineer - LAND 6504, you will act as the engineering lead supporting the development of a significant Defence capability, providing technical leadership throughout the capability definition, acquisition planning, and approval phases. Working within a client-facing Defence environment, you will collaborate with Defence stakeholders, capability sponsors, delivery agencies, industry partners, systems integrators, OEMs, and technical specialists to establish and maintain the engineering baseline required to support Early Access Funding, acquisition planning, and Combined Pass approval activities.

The role is responsible for leading systems engineering activities across the project lifecycle, including requirements development, architecture definition, technical analysis, engineering governance, and acquisition support. You will provide expert engineering advice to the Project Director, Project Manager, and Project Engineering Manager while coordinating contributions from a multidisciplinary team of engineering specialists.

You will work closely with stakeholders to ensure capability requirements are clearly defined, technically achievable, and aligned with Defence capability objectives. The role also provides leadership in identifying and managing technical risks, interfaces, dependencies, and system integration considerations while supporting informed decision-making through engineering assessments, trade studies, and technical recommendations.

This role requires a highly motivated and experienced systems engineering professional with strong leadership and stakeholder engagement skills, a sound understanding of Defence capability development, and the ability to operate effectively within a complex and dynamic project environment.

Day to Day Tasks include

• Lead and coordinate a multidisciplinary engineering team.
• Establish and maintain the LAND 6504 requirements baseline.
• Define system scope, architecture, and engineering baselines.
• Manage technical interfaces, dependencies, risks, and opportunities
• Provide engineering input to acquisition and implementation planning.
• Conduct technical assessments, trade studies, and solution analysis.
• Develop and review key Systems Engineering artefacts.
• Support engineering governance, reviews, and assurance activities.
• Engage with Defence stakeholders, industry partners, and technical specialists.
• Provide technical advice and reporting to project leadership.
• Support systems integration and capability development activities.
• Ensure engineering activities remain aligned to project milestones.

Deliverables

Essential Requirements

• Engineering degree or equivalent relevant experience.
• Minimum 10+ years' demonstrated Systems Engineering experience delivering complex Defence, Government, or large-scale technology programs, including experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and providing technical leadership.
• Experience leading Systems Engineering activities on complex programs.
• Knowledge of Defence Capability Life Cycle and acquisition processes.
• Experience managing requirements, architectures, and technical baselines.
• Proven leadership of multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Experience conducting technical assessments and trade studies.
• Strong understanding of systems integration and technical risk management.
• Experience developing engineering documentation and technical reports.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, communication, and briefing skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Experience working with Defence, industry, and technical stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and reporting tools.
• Experience supporting Defence approval and acquisition activities.
• Experience within Defence communications, ICT, C4I, or networked systems programs.
• Knowledge of Defence engineering governance and systems engineering frameworks.
• Experience managing architecture development and systems integration activities.
• INCOSE certification or other relevant Systems Engineering qualifications.

Diversity & Inclusion

Cleared is committed to building diverse and inclusive teams. We encourage applications from women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ individuals and people living with disability.

Veterans

Veterans and former serving ADF members are strongly encouraged to apply. Your experience operating within complex, high-pressure environments is highly valued, and we welcome the opportunity to support your transition into Defence and National Security industry roles.

About Cleared

Cleared is a specialist recruitment and workforce partner supporting Australia's Defence, National Security, Federal Government and Intelligence communities. We connect highly skilled cleared professionals with organisations delivering some of the nation's most critical capabilities.