Textiles Technician

Department of Defence; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Defence seeks an experienced textile product designer with strong pattern engineering skills to deliver production-ready textiles for military clothing and PME. You will apply CAD capabilities and hands-on pattern drafting to prototypes while ensuring safety and quality standards.

This role requires autonomy, stakeholder engagement, and the ability to translate operational requirements into engineered solutions within Defence specifications.

Qualifications

• This technical position requires AQF Level 5 qualification or equivalent experience.
• Extensive textile pattern design and manufacturing experience.
• Experience with manual and CAD-based pattern development.

Responsibilities

• Develop textile products through design, pattern drafting and prototype manufacture.
• Lead prototype workshops and ensure Defence standards are met.
• Collaborate with engineers and suppliers to deliver production-ready textiles.

Skills

Textile design

Pattern engineering

Pattern drafting

Prototype manufacture

Stakeholder engagement

Problem solving

Education

AQF Level 5 qualification

Tools

Gerber CAD

Lectra CAD

Job description

About our Team

This role is responsible for delivering moderately complex to complex textile product design, development, assessment, and manufacturing activities that support Defence capability. Operating with a high degree of technical autonomy, the position provides specialist expertise across the entire materiel lifecycle, including concept development, design reviews, pattern engineering, pattern drafting, prototype manufacture, technical assessments, documentation, and workshop management.

The role plays a critical part in developing and improving military clothing, personal military equipment (PME), and other textile-based systems to ensure they meet operational, safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.

Key responsibilities include applying sound technical judgement, interpreting and implementing relevant standards and specifications, supporting continuous improvement initiatives, and ensuring delivery outcomes are achieved safely, efficiently, and to schedule.

The successful candidate will possess extensive experience in manual and CAD-based pattern development, textile manufacturing, prototype construction, technical materials and equipment, industrial machinery operation and maintenance, while demonstrating strong analytical, stakeholder engagement, and problem-solving skills.

Land Systems Division’s (LSD) mission is to acquire and support capability that enables the ADF to generate and sustain deployable Land power for an integrated force, in peace and war. We aim to be agile, innovative and outcomes-focussed as we collaborate closely with the Services and industry to deliver the latest equipment to maximise ADF performance.

The Land Engineering Agency (LEA), within LSD, supports a broad range of projects and Systems Program Offices (SPO) to ensure successful technical outcomes for the acquisition and in-service support of Defence capability.LEA provides services in engineering, testing, design and development, technical data and configuration management across the Defence Capability Life-Cycle.

The Diggerworks Innovation Centre is the Textiles prototyping arm of LSD staffed by LEA Technical and Engineering members. Diggerworks is a multi-disciplinary team, consisting of operationally experienced soldiers, engineers and project managers that are connected to users through close liaison with Army’s functional commands.

The team’s purpose is to drive innovation and integration that enhances the Soldier Combat System (SCS) though continuous research, regular interaction with command teams, field trials, co-operation with capability managers and engagement with industry, academia and international security partners.LSD is dedicated to providing staff with an inclusive and healthy work-life environment, and we will invest in your ongoing professional development to ensure your work with us is deeply rewarding.

Our Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate combines the technical expertise of a senior pattern engineer, the craftsmanship of a master sewing machinist, and the innovation of a product development specialist and be capable of transforming operational requirements into fully engineered, production-ready textile solutions.

The applicant will have demonstrated experience in textile products design, pattern making and manufacture, with strong skills in both manual pattern and Gerber/Lectra CAD systems as well as proven cut-make-trim expertise with the ability to produce high-quality prototypes that meet Defence standards.

The applicant will have experience in leading prototype workshops, first-article manufacture, or low-volume specialised production environments. The applicant will be technically proficient, detail-oriented and capable of translating user requirements into practical textile solutions, while preparing accurate technical documentation and design packs.

Strong problem-solving, communication and stakeholder engagement skills are essential, as the role works closely with military users, engineers and industry partners to develop and refine textile-based equipment.

Mandatory Qualifications:

This technical position requires the individual to have obtained a recognised Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 5 qualification in a relevant technical domain or relevant skills and work experience such that an individual can reasonably achieve a recognised AQF qualification if required by the position.

Security Clearance:

Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at “Negative Vetting Level 1”.

The key duties of the position include:

This role is responsible for delivering moderately complex to complex textile product design, development, assessment, and manufacturing activities that support Defence capability. Operating with a high degree of technical autonomy, the position provides specialist expertise across the entire materiel lifecycle, including concept development, design reviews, pattern engineering, pattern drafting, prototype manufacture, technical assessments, documentation, and workshop management.

The role plays a critical part in developing and improving military clothing, personal military equipment (PME), and other textile-based systems to ensure they meet operational, safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.

Key responsibilities include applying sound technical judgement, interpreting and implementing relevant standards and specifications, supporting continuous improvement initiatives, and ensuring delivery outcomes are achieved safely, efficiently, and to schedule.

The successful candidate will possess extensive experience in manual and CAD-based pattern development, textile manufacturing, prototype construction, technical materials and equipment, industrial machinery operation and maintenance, while demonstrating strong analytical, stakeholder engagement, and problem-solving skills.

The Role

This role is responsible for delivering moderately complex to complex textile product design, development, assessment, and manufacturing activities that support Defence capability. Operating with a high degree of technical autonomy, the position provides specialist expertise across the entire materiel lifecycle, including concept development, design reviews, pattern engineering, pattern drafting, prototype manufacture, technical assessments, documentation, and workshop management.

The role plays a critical part in developing and improving military clothing, personal military equipment (PME), and other textile-based systems to ensure they meet operational, safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.

Key responsibilities include applying sound technical judgement, interpreting and implementing relevant standards and specifications, supporting continuous improvement initiatives, and ensuring delivery outcomes are achieved safely, efficiently, and to schedule.

The successful candidate will possess extensive experience in manual and CAD-based pattern development, textile manufacturing, prototype construction, technical materials and equipment, industrial machinery operation and maintenance, while demonstrating strong analytical, stakeholder engagement, and problem-solving skills.

Eligibility

This technical position requires the individual to have obtained a recognised Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 5 qualification in a relevant technical domain or relevant skills and work experience such that an individual can reasonably achieve a recognised AQF qualification if required by the position.

Mandatory Qualifications:

This technical position requires the individual to have obtained a recognised Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 5 qualification in a relevant technical domain or relevant skills and work experience such that an individual can reasonably achieve a recognised AQF qualification if required by the position.

Security Clearance:

Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at “Negative Vetting Level 1”.

Getting to know the Department of Defence

The Department of Defence employs around 18,000 Australian Public Service (APS) employees. Defence APS employees work in a wide variety of critical roles, Australia wide, enabling our three services Navy, Army and Air Force, to do their job. Defence has a range of Australian Public Service (APS) career opportunities that offer interesting, challenging, and unique work. Our workforce includes administrative support, accountants, intelligence analysts, engineers, policy advisors, graphic designers, lawyers, social workers, IT specialists and contract managers to name a few. We offer a rewarding career that includes professional development, work-life balance, recognition, a flexible and supportive work environment and a diverse workforce. To find out more about a career with Defence please visit https://www.defence.gov.au/jobs-careers