Senior Mechanical Specialist

Usyd; Sydney; On-site; AUD 113,000 - 123,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Sydney is seeking an experienced Senior Mechanical Specialist on a full-time, fixed-term basis at the Camperdown Campus in the School of Physics. The role focuses on mechanical engineering for complex astronomical instrumentation and leads a small engineering team across design, analysis, verification, and MAIT processes.

You will work within Astralis-USyd, collaborating with scientists, engineers and external partners to deliver precision instruments for large telescopes, with

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or diploma in mechanical engineering or related discipline.
• Proven CAD design and mechanical drawing production skills.
• Proven capability in structural, thermal and kinematic analysis for precision mechanical engineering.
• Proven track record in opto-mechanics or mechatronics for scientific or technical instrumentation.
• Knowledge of and/or training in systems engineering practices for technical projects.
• Experience collaborating and working as part of a multi-discipline team, directing junior staff and engaging with external partners.
• Experience delivering astronomical instrumentation for large telescopes (MAIT and commissioning) is highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Develop concepts, system and subsystem level mechanical designs and parts drawings for instrument projects.
• Perform structural, kinematic, vibration, and thermal analyses through FEA and other analytical techniques.
• Develop alignment, assembly, and test plans for verification and acceptance of mechanical and opto-mechanical sub-systems.
• Develop technical specifications for procurements and source parts.
• Develop, assemble, test and characterize mechanical parts and components of instruments.
• Produce documentation for reviews, subsystem analysis and tests, and for instrument operation and maintenance manuals.
• Take ownership of requirements management, interface control, verification and validation, and product assurance oversight—from final design through deployment and commissioning.
• Work collaboratively with scientists and external research partners.

Skills

CAD design

Mechanical drawing

Structural analysis

Thermal analysis

Kinematic analysis

Opto-mechanics

Mechatronics

Systems engineering

Team leadership

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering

Diploma in mechanical engineering or related discipline

Job description

• Full time, fixed term position until 30 June 2028, with the possibility of extension.
• Located on the Camperdown Campus at the School of Physics
• Base Salary $112,628 - $122,702 (HEO7) + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The School of Physics is currently seeking an experienced Senior Mechanical Specialist to provide specialist technical skills in mechanical engineering for the development and delivery of complex, multidisciplinary astronomical instrumentation.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at Astralis-USyd, which is one of three nodes of Australia's Astronomical Instrumentation Consortium, Astralis. Astralis-USyd has a team of instrument scientists, engineers, project managers, astrophotonics specialists and astronomers who build astronomical instruments for the World's largest telescopes. The larger Astralis Consortium consists of over 120 people. The projects are collaborative across the three nodes of Astralis, with potential further career opportunities across the Astralis network.

In this role you will lead a small engineering team that will:

• develop concepts, system and subsystem level mechanical designs and parts drawings for instrument projects
• perform structural, kinematic, vibration, and thermal analyses through FEA and other analytical techniques
• develop alignment, assembly, and test plans for the verification and acceptance of mechanical and opto-mechanical sub-systems
• develop technical specifications for procurements and source parts
• develop, assemble, test and characterize mechanical parts and components of instruments
• produce documentation for reviews, subsystem analysis and tests, and for instrument operation and maintenance manuals
• take ownership of requirements management, interface control, verification and validation, and product assurance oversight—from final design through deployment and commissioning

• work collaboratively with scientists and external research partners

About you

The University values courage and creativity; openness and engagement; inclusion and diversity; and respect and integrity. As such, we see the importance of recruiting talent aligned to these values and are looking for a Senior Mechanical Specialist who has:

• a Bachelor’s degree or diploma in mechanical engineering or related discipline
• demonstrated skills in CAD design and mechanical drawing production
• proven capability in structural, thermal and kinematic analysis for precision mechanical engineering
• proven track record in opto-mechanics or mechatronics for scientific or technical instrumentation
• knowledge of and/or training in systems engineering practices for technical projects
• experience collaborating and working as part of a multi-discipline team, directing junior staff and engaging with external partners
• experience in delivery of astronomical instrumentation for large telescopes, from design to Manufacture, Integration, Assembly and Testing (MAIT), to commissioning will be highly regarded.

Work Rights: you must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-employment checks

Your employment is conditional upon the successful completion of all pre-employment or background checks required for the role in satisfactory manner to the University. Also, to meet the University’s obligations under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Eliminate Gender-Based Violence you will be asked to declare if you have been investigated for, or found to engaged in, sexual harm or gender-based violence in the course of previous employment or in a legal process. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

EEO statement

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTIQ+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Gold employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion.

Click to view the Position Description for this role.

The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.

Applications Close

Thursday 22 October 2026 11:59 PM