Systems Engineering Team Lead

Babcock International; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace and defence company in New Zealand seeks an Engineering Systems Team Lead to lead complex systems design for the NZDF fleet. This highly impactful role involves guiding a skilled team, managing resources, and ensuring quality standards in a mission-critical environment. Ideal candidates will have extensive engineering experience and a passion for defence engineering, along with strong leadership skills. A blend of remote and on-site work is supported.

Benefits

Agile work environment

Comprehensive leave entitlements

Career growth support

Discount programs

Wellbeing support programs

Recognition programs

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in complex environments.
• Ability to manage resources, risks, and stakeholder expectations.
• Strong communication skills and sound decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Guide a skilled team of engineers and technicians.
• Ensure delivery of complex systems designs and integration.
• Influence multi-domain engineering outcomes.

Skills

Systems engineering and design integration

Technical documentation review and approval

Risk assessment and mitigation

Engineering lifecycle management

Stakeholder engagement and communication

Team leadership and development

Engineering toolsets (PLM, MRP, simulation software)

Continuous improvement and innovation

Education

~6 years engineering experience

~3 years engineering team management

Membership of relevant engineering institution

Working towards Chartered status with CPD commitment

Job description

Overview

Babcock is looking for the Engineering Systems Team Lead to join the Engineering Change team based in Devonport, Auckland on an 11-month Fixed Term contract.

About the role

Join a high-impact engineering leadership role where your expertise will shape the future of naval capability. As Engineering Team Lead (Systems), you’ll guide a skilled team of engineers and technicians to deliver complex systems designs and integration for the NZDF fleet. You’ll be at the forefront of engineering change, ensuring every solution meets rigorous standards, regulations, and operational requirements. This is your chance to lead technical excellence in a mission-critical environment.

You’ll work closely with senior engineering and portfolio managers to allocate resources, manage risks, and ensure delivery to schedule and budget. Your decisions will influence multi-domain engineering outcomes, and your leadership will drive innovation, safety, and continuous improvement. With opportunities to present to internal and external stakeholders, contribute to business development, and shape future capability, this role offers both strategic influence and hands-on technical impact. Travel opportunities and professional development support round out a compelling career move.

About you

You are a seasoned systems engineer with strong leadership experience, ready to take charge of a high-performing team. You thrive in complex environments, balancing technical depth with strategic oversight. Your ability to manage resources, risks, and stakeholder expectations ensures successful delivery of engineering change proposals. You communicate clearly, make sound decisions, and foster collaboration. With a passion for defence engineering and a commitment to continuous improvement, you bring both technical authority and people leadership to this critical role.

Key Required Skills

• Systems engineering and design integration
• Technical documentation review and approval
• Risk assessment and mitigation
• Engineering lifecycle management
• Stakeholder engagement and communication
• Team leadership and development
• Engineering toolsets (PLM, MRP, simulation software)
• Continuous improvement and innovation

Key Required Qualifications

• ~6 years engineering experience
• ~3 years engineering team management
• Membership of relevant engineering institution
• Working towards Chartered status with CPD commitment

Your future at Babcock – what we offer you

• We provide an agile work environment where you’re able to work onsite and remotely, and to set you up for this we provide a laptop and working from home kit if required.
• Our work life integration policy brings together leave entitlements which include annual leave, wellbeing leave, paid parental leave, defence reservist leave plus more;
• We will provide you with a supportive and engaging environment where you can grow your career, supported by our capability framework plus ongoing access to self-led learning modules through LinkedIn Learning and access to study leave;
• You’ll have access to beRewarded which will provide you with endless discounts across retail, health, entertainment, travel and much more, plus novated leasing options and corporate shares plan;
• Your wellbeing is supported through our online wellbeing program Munch, Mind, Move, Money, access to our employee assistance program plus you can access two days annually from your personal leave as wellbeing days;
• You’ll be able to participate in our weRecognise program which is an opportunity to recognise the outstanding work our people do each and every day in living our principles which are Be kind, Collaborate, Be Curious, Think Outcomes, Be Courageous and Own & Deliver

Who we are

Babcock International Group, the aerospace and defence company, has been trusted to deliver bespoke, highly skilled engineering services for over a century.

Across Australia and New Zealand, Babcock has grown to a team of over 1,600 talented people, and we are on a path of continued growth and expansion. We operate across sectors such as defence, commercial marine, aviation, airports, communications, emergency services and engineering consultancy.

Some of the programs our team across Australia and New Zealand are proud to be a part of involve:

• Providing emergency medical and search & rescue aviation services through our Aviation & Critical Services business;
• Designing and supporting key systems for submarines and surface ships through our Marine business;
• Providing fleet wide through life support and asset management services for Navy customers;
• Managing critical assets for a range of sectors through our Land Business.