Principal Engineer – Maritime Systems

Azooa; Cairns Regional; On-site; AUD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Azooa is seeking a Principal Engineer for Maritime Systems to support the Army Littoral Manoeuvre Systems Program Office (ALMSPO) and the CA42 Army Marine capability in Cairns, Queensland. This on-site, time-and-materials engagement runs for seven months and 125 days, beginning 30 November 2026.

You will provide senior engineering governance, design acceptance, safety certification and environmental compliance, mentoring engineers and coordinating with Commonwealth stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Engineering from an Australian institution, preferably mechanical or marine, or Washington Accord recognised equivalent.
• Ability to meet Chartered Professional Engineer status with Engineers Australia or equivalent.
• Ability to meet export-control approvals and access requirements.
• Knowledge of Defence legislative frameworks and decision-making requirements.

Responsibilities

• Maintain engineering governance for CA42 Army Marine capability per Defence requirements.
• Perform design acceptance and technical certification for engineering changes.
• Review safety documentation and endorse safety cases.
• Lead and mentor engineers, coordinating with ALMSPO and stakeholders.
• Engage with program business units and capability operator representatives.
• Ensure clear communication of requirements and progress across groups.

Skills

Engineering governance

Safety assurance

Technical certification

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical/Marine)

Job description

PRINCIPAL ENGINEER – MARITIME SYSTEMS

ALMSPO CA42 Principal Engineer | RFQTS 17523

HMAS Cairns, Queensland | On-site | Contract

Bring your engineering judgement to a role supporting the safety, assurance and sustainment of Defence’s Army Marine capability.

Azooa is preparing a response to the Department of Defence for RFQTS 17523 and is seeking a qualified Principal Engineer. This is a Specialist Engineering – Maritime Systems opportunity at Level 3, Advanced Practitioner.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Army Littoral Manoeuvre Systems Program Office (ALMSPO) requires an experienced engineer to augment Commonwealth resources within its specialist engineering management environment. You will work under the direction and tasking of the ALMSPO Product Manager, providing senior engineering support for the CA42 Army Marine capability.

As Principal Engineer, you will support engineering governance, design acceptance, technical certification, safety assurance and environmental compliance. This role calls for sound professional judgement and clear, practical engineering advice for all relevant stakeholders.

This position has no direct staff. You will be supported by engineering personnel and will provide leadership and mentoring through your professional expertise and contribution to engineering activities.

This is a Time and Materials professional services engagement for approximately seven months and 125 days. Tasks are allocated by the Commonwealth representative. The engagement is for engineering support services, rather than fixed-price project outcomes, management of a defined service or responsibility for overall project delivery.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain engineering governance for the CA42 Army Marine capability in accordance with applicable Defence seaworthiness and materiel safety requirements.
• Conduct surveillance and internal assurance activities, and support external organisations undertaking product assurance.
• Perform design acceptance and technical certification activities for engineering changes in accordance with applicable Defence engineering requirements.
• Review and approve technical plans and endorse safety documentation associated with engineering changes.
• Work with documentation such as Systems Engineering Management Plans, Technical Certification Plans, Safety Case Reports and Technical Specifications.
• Review proposed courses of action for safety-related defective or unsatisfactory materiel reports and provide appropriate engineering advice.
• Contribute engineering advice to configuration, system safety, materiel assurance and other relevant forums as required.
• Provide leadership and mentoring to engineers working on the capability.
• Engage with relevant program business units, Army stakeholders, capability operator representatives and assurance organisations.
• Maintain effective communication across stakeholder groups so that engineering requirements, task progress and issues are understood.

KEY DELIVERABLES

You will provide Principal Engineer support services addressing the duties above and contribute to a structured approach to managing the engineering work throughout the engagement.

1. 1. Principal Engineer Task Management Plan

   Develop a plan for maintaining the engineering organisation and associated capability requirements. The plan will cover initial task scoping, requirements, stakeholder engagement, communication strategy, workshop facilitation, progress discussions and the November 2026–June 2027 schedule.

2. 2. Delivery of the approved plan

   Coordinate and deliver the approved Task Management Plan, including the engineering duties and support activities allocated within the role. Maintain engagement with relevant stakeholders through workshops, progress discussions and agreed communications.

3. 3. Engineering-change and materiel assurance support

   Provide support services aligned with performance requirements for engineering changes and materiel assurance for the CA42 Army Marine capability.

4. 4. Engineering framework and documentation

   Develop an engineering framework, engineering management plan and engineering instructions for the capability and related ALMSPO projects.

Performance will be assessed against value for money, delivery in accordance with the scope and deliverables, regulatory acceptability and effective stakeholder communication.

QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL STANDING

This position requires:

• A Bachelor of Engineering from an Australian institution, preferably in mechanical or marine engineering; or an overseas qualification satisfying Washington Accord requirements for recognition as a Professional Engineer; or other relevant postgraduate qualifications considered appropriate to the duties of the position.
• The ability to meet the requirements for Chartered Professional Engineer status with Engineers Australia, Registered Professional Engineer status with Professionals Australia, or Fellow/Member status with the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, or demonstrate the ability to obtain such status.
• The ability to meet applicable export-control approvals and access requirements for the role.
• Knowledge of, and compliance with, applicable legislative frameworks, government decision‑making requirements and Defence mission and policy requirements.

EXPERIENCE THAT WILL BE VALUED

The RFQ places weight on the suitability and depth of contractor qualifications and experience, a demonstrated understanding of the task, experience delivering similar work and/or recent experience in the land domain.

Relevant evidence in your CV may include:

• Senior engineering support in a maritime, marine or relevant Defence engineering environment.
• Engineering governance and assurance across a capability or regulated engineering organisation.
• Design acceptance, technical certification and review of engineering changes.
• Review of engineering plans, technical specifications and safety documentation.
• Assessment of safety‑related materiel issues and development or review of proposed responses.
• Development of engineering management plans, frameworks or instructions.
• Communication with capability stakeholders, engineering teams, operators and assurance organisations.
• Professional leadership and mentoring of engineers without relying on a direct reporting relationship.

ENGAGEMENT AT A GLANCE

• Location: HMAS Cairns, Queensland.
• Working arrangement: On‑site. Flexible working arrangements will be considered on merit.
• Planned commencement: 30 November 2026.
• Completion: 30 June 2027.
• Duration and effort: Approximately seven months and 125 days.
• Engagement basis: Time and Materials professional services.
• Extension options: None available under the RFQ.
• Travel: Required ALMSPO travel outside the Cairns region will be funded by the Commonwealth in accordance with the applicable DSS Deed provisions, including applicable per diem arrangements.

SECURITY AND COMMENCEMENT REQUIREMENTS

The role requires the ability to achieve and maintain a minimum NV1 security clearance. Proposed personnel may hold, or be capable of obtaining and maintaining, the required clearance and access permissions. The RFQ evaluates the ability to meet those requirements before work commences.

Known restrictions affecting access to export‑controlled information or the ability to perform the full role must be identified during submission preparation. Applicable export‑control and access requirements must be met for the engagement.

Personnel must comply with applicable Defence security requirements and sign a Deed of Confidentiality before commencement. The contractor will undertake the relevant ALMSPO induction.

Required training must be completed on commencement and at least annually thereafter, with evidence of completion. The RFQ identifies awareness training covering workplace behaviour, fraud and integrity, security, work health and safety, family and domestic violence, and the protection of official information.

Applications close on 9 November 2026 at 11:59 pm Canberra/Sydney time.

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