Senior Project Lead - Defence Engineering

Leidos; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work

Wellbeing program

Learning programs

Impactful projects

Career growth

Job summary

Leidos Australia is seeking a Senior Project Lead / Project Engineer to support the delivery of existing and future CBRN and Counter‑CBRN capabilities for the Australian Defence Force. This role would suit an experienced Senior Project Engineer or Project Lead with Defence acquisition program experience.

You will play a key role in leading work packages, coordinating technical and project inputs, engaging with Defence stakeholders and influencing project outcomes across emerging Defence

Qualifications

• Experience leading or coordinating technical work packages and project engineering tasks.
• Strong stakeholder engagement with Defence customers, suppliers and project teams.
• Experience applying systems engineering across requirements, design, integration, verification and sustainment.
• Excellent technical documentation, records, reviews and reporting skills.
• Ability to identify risks, manage dependencies and influence delivery outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate work packages across CBRN programs and Defence capability delivery.
• Coordinate engineering inputs across requirements, design, integration, verification, validation and sustainment.
• Develop and maintain project documentation, including requirements and technical records.
• Support governance reviews (SRR, PDR, DDR, TRR) and customer forums.
• Identify risks and drive practical mitigation to keep outcomes on track.

Skills

Technical leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Systems engineering

Documentation

Risk management

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

About Leidos Australia

At Leidos Australia, our work goes beyond a job title. We design, build, operate and support the systems, services and capabilities that help protect and advance the Australian way of life. Backed by a global organisation of more than 40,000 people, our Australian team of around 2,000 has partnered with government, defence and national security customers for more than 30 years. We deliver mission‑critical solutions where reliability, trust and purpose matter. Leidos is a destination for people who want their work to have purpose, their contribution to be recognised, and their career to grow without needing to fit a single mould. Meaningful work is supported by benefits, flexibility and career pathways that help you grow while balancing life outside work.

Benefits

• Flex Your Way – Tailor work to your life with options including Life Days (up to 12 extra days off per year), part‑time arrangements, job sharing, and compressed hours.


• Wellbeing That Matters – Free access to Headspace and MeQuilibrium, plus dedicated wellness spaces to support your mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing.


• Learn Without Limits – Access over 120,000 on‑demand courses, alongside technical, project management, leadership, and professional development opportunities.


• Work That Makes an Impact – Contribute to nationally significant projects that matter, solve complex challenges, and accelerate your career through unique growth opportunities.


• Build Your Future – Whether you're deepening technical expertise or preparing for leadership, we'll invest in your development every step of the way.


• And Much More – These are just a few of the ways we invest in our people and help them thrive.

About the Team

We deliver prime systems integration projects which build, develop and support military solutions for Defence. The team focuses on leveraging our local engineering, our services expertise, and global products to bring new capabilities to the Australian Defence Force.

The Opportunity

Leidos Australia is seeking a Senior Project Lead / Project Engineer to support the delivery of existing and future CBRN and Counter‑CBRN capabilities for the Australian Defence Force. This role would suit an experienced Senior Project Engineer or Project Lead with Defence acquisition program experience. You will play a key role in leading work packages, coordinating technical and project inputs, engaging with Defence stakeholders and influencing project outcomes across emerging Defence capability areas, for CBRN‑related programs.

Responsibilities

Lead and coordinate assigned work packages across CBRN and Counter‑CBRN capability delivery, acquisition and sustainment activities. Support emerging Defence capability programs, for CBRN‑related initiatives. Coordinate engineering inputs across requirements, design, integration, verification, acceptance, installation, commissioning and sustainment. Develop and maintain clear project and engineering documentation, including requirements, review material, decision evidence and technical records. Support formal technical and project governance reviews, including SRR, PDR, DDR, TRR and customer forums. Identify technical risks, delivery issues and dependencies, and drive practical recommendations to keep outcomes on track. Support planning, estimating, progress reporting, stakeholder updates and project performance activities. Influence project outcomes by bringing structure, engineering judgement and strong stakeholder engagement to complex Defence delivery environments.

About You

We are looking for someone who brings judgement, curiosity and a collaborative approach to work that matters.

Essential

Experience leading or coordinating technical work packages, project engineering tasks or capability delivery activities. Strong stakeholder engagement skills, including experience working with Defence customers, suppliers, subcontractors and project teams. Experience applying systems engineering, project engineering or ILS practices across requirements, design, integration, verification, validation and sustainment activities. Strong documentation skills, including technical records, decision evidence, review material, requirements, traceability and project reporting. Ability to identify risks, manage dependencies, coordinate inputs and influence practical delivery outcomes.

Eligibility

This role requires the successful applicant to be an Australian citizen and hold, or be eligible to obtain, NV1 security clearance. Applicants may also need to meet International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) requirements. In certain circumstances this can place limitations on persons who hold dual nationality, permanent residency or are former nationals of certain countries as per ITAR 126.1.

Pay Range

Pay Range: The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

Posting Information

Original Posting: For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Commitment and Diversity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.