Principal Engineer – Maritime Systems | Cairns | NV1

Pinaka Technology Solutions; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 166,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Pinaka Technology Solutions seeks a Principal Engineer – Maritime Systems for the CA42 Army Marine capability, based onsite at HMAS Cairns, Cairns, QLD. The role requires the ability to obtain NV1 security clearance and is offered as a seven-month time and materials engagement.

The Maritime Specialist Engineer acts as the Principal Engineer with technical authority to approve designs, certify materiel as safe and compliant, and mentor engineers within ALMSPO/SS-EMU.

Qualifications

• Must be able to obtain Negative Vetting Level 1 security clearance.
• Experience suitable for an Engineering Level 3 (Advanced Practitioner) resource.
• Proven ability to deliver tasks within the CA42 Army Marine capability.
• Value for money with a daily labour rate as the basis for tasking.

Responsibilities

• Maintain an AEO for CA42 Army Marine capability aligned with Defence procedures.
• Perform surveillance to maintain CA42 AEO status and support external assurance.
• Assign TA to CA42 Army Marine staff and SS-EMU Projects.
• Provide Design Acceptance and Technical Certification for engineering changes.
• Review safety documents, TCPs, SCRs, and Technical Specifications.
• Endorse RODUM actions and advise on safety-related reports.
• Participate in forums (CCBs, System Safety Groups, RODUM Boards) and provide mentorship.
• Coordinate with ALMSPO, SS-EMU, external Army programs, and stakeholder groups.

Job description

Principal Engineer – Maritime Systems | Cairns | NV1

ALMSPO CA42 Principal Engineer

Must be able to obtain Negative Vetting Level 1 security clearance.

Location: Cairns (Onsite).

RFQ Details

• RFQ ID: SG-304506643959 (Portal Reference: 17523)
• Agency: Dept of Defence
• Closing Date: 10:00 6 Nov 2026 (Australia/Sydney)
• Estimated Start Date: 30/11/2026
• Initial Contract Duration: 7 months
• Extension Term: Nil
• Number of Extensions: 0
• Experience Level: Engineering Level 3 (Advanced Practitioner)
• Security Clearance: Ability to achieve and maintain a minimum Security Clearance of NV1
• Location of Work: HMAS Cairns, QLD
• Working Arrangements: Onsite at HMAS Cairns (flexible working arrangements will be considered based on merit)
• Maximum Hours: 8 hours per day

Job Details

Army Littoral Manoeuvre Systems Program Office (ALMSPO) requires the services of a suitably qualified and experienced Engineering Level 3 (Advanced Practitioner) resource to augment Commonwealth resources within the Specialist Systems Engineering Management Unit (SS-EMU). The resource will perform work under the direction and tasking of the Commonwealth Representative (ALMSPO Product Manager).

The Maritime Specialist Engineer is to act as the Principal Engineer (PE). The PE is the senior engineering representative in the CA42 (Army Marine) Authorised Engineering Organisation (AEO) and receives a Technical Authority (TA) delegation from Director Engineering – Army (DENG-A) to approve designs and certify materiel as safe, fit for use and environmentally compliant on behalf of the Commonwealth. The CA42 PE has no staff, however, is supported by engineering staff in ALMSPO and the SS-EMU.

This engagement is a Time and Materials (T&M) professional services arrangement. The requirement is for the provision of a suitably qualified contractor to undertake tasks allocated by the ALMSPO Product Manager for a seven (7) month period, approximately 125 days. The contractor will not be responsible for delivering fixed-price project outcomes, managing a defined service, or assuming responsibility for overall project delivery.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain an AEO for the CA42 Army Marine capability aligned with Army’s Defence Seaworthiness Compliance Strategy and the Land Materiel Safety Manual.
• Perform ongoing surveillance activities to maintain CA42 AEO status inclusive of internal assurance, and support to those external agencies performing assurance on CA42 product.
• Assign TA to staff within CA42 Army Marine and SS-EMU Projects Department (CA42 Army Minor Projects).
• Perform the function of Design Acceptance and Technical Certification for engineering changes. IAW Land Domain Instruction (E&T) 12-6-007 Conduct Design Acceptance and Technical Certification of Land Materiel.
• Review and approve technical plans and endorse safety documents for engineering changes. These documents may include but are not limited to; Systems Engineering Management Plans (SEMP), Technical Certification Plans (TCP), Safety Case Reports (SCRs), and Technical Specifications.
• Review and endorse the course of action for safety related Report on Defective or Unsatisfactory Materiel (RODUM) Reports.
• Attend and provide engineering advice to forums that include, but are not limited to; Configuration Control Boards, System Safety Working Groups and RODUM Review Boards.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to engineers working in the CA42 AEO.
• Liaise with other internal and external stakeholder groups that may include: ALMSPO Business Units, SS-EMU Business Units, external Army Programs, Army Headquarters, Army Capability Operator Representatives and assurance organisations.

Selection Criteria

Essential criteria

1. 1. Security – ability to meet security clearance requirements and access permissions required to perform the role prior to commencement of work,
2. 2. Suitability and depth of contractor qualifications and experience (measured against the position Scope of Task),
3. 3. Demonstrated ability to perform the role – demonstrated understanding of the task, experience in delivering similar tasks and/or recent experience in the land domain,
4. 4. Value for money, with pricing on a daily labour rate (Time and Materials) basis for the proposed resource.