Sustainment Program Engineering Manager

Location:

Keswick, SA, AU 5035, Abbotsford, VIC, AU 3067

Onsite or Hybrid:
Hybrid

• Competitive rewards and benefits
• Flexible working options

Shape the future of Defence high‑frequency communications by driving engineering excellence across a complex, nationally significant sustainment program.

As a Sustainment Program Engineering Manager at Babcock, you’ll lead the engineering function supporting the sustainment of the Defence High Frequency Communications System (DHFCS) and the future sustainment of the Enhanced DHFCS (EDHFCS).

You’ll apply your technical expertise, judgement and leadership to drive the timely delivery of all sustainment engineering activities, ensuring alignment with scope, standards and quality requirements. Your role will see you coordinating complex engineering interfaces, managing risks, and ensuring outcomes are delivered as planned.

You’ll also lead a high‑performing team, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where people are empowered to grow. From mentoring and capability development to process improvement and technical assurance, your influence will be felt across the full engineering lifecycle.

You’re an experienced engineering leader who thrives in complex, multi‑domain technical environments. You bring deep systems engineering capability, strong communication skills, and the confidence to make sound technical decisions that shape program outcomes.

You’re passionate about developing people, improving processes, and driving engineering excellence. You understand how to balance technical rigour with practical delivery, and you enjoy working collaboratively across teams to achieve shared goals.

To be successful in this position you will bring:

• Approximately 10 years’ experience in relevant technical/engineering roles
• About 2 years’ experience managing engineering functions or technical delivery
• Strong systems engineering experience, ideally within RF, HF or communications disciplines
• Excellent understanding of engineering toolsets (PLM, MRP, design, simulation, analysis software)
• Ability to lead technical investigations, reviews and decision‑making
• Strong communication skills and the ability to present technical information to stakeholders
• Experience developing and maintaining engineering management documentation
• A commitment to continuous improvement, innovation and knowledge sharing
• An accredited engineering degree (Washington Accord) in Systems, Hardware, Software or Sustainment Engineering
• Additional technical or management qualifications
• Membership of a relevant engineering body, preferably with chartered status

• Our agile working policies offer more choice and autonomy. For you, this could mean flexible start and finish times, a mix of office and home working, or even condensed working weeks.
• Our work life integration policy offers attractive leave entitlements including wellbeing leave, volunteer leave, paid parental leave, defence reservist leave, and we are proud to be a Work
  180 endorsed employer.
• Babcock’s supportive and engaging environment, coupled with our capability framework, aims to advance your career with internal development programs, self‑led learning modules through Linked In Learning and access to study leave.
• Our be Rewarded platform offers endless discounts across retail, health, entertainment, travel and much more, plus novated leasing options and a corporate shares plan.
• As a principles‑driven organisation, our we Recognise programme aims to recognise the outstanding work our people do each and every day in line with our Principles which are Be kind, Collaborate, Be Curious, Think Outcomes, Be Courageous and Own & Deliver.

Babcock Australasia combines the best talent and in‑country expertise while leveraging the rich 130+ year global heritage of Babcock International Group, a FTSE 100 international defence company.

Our team of 1,800+ experienced staff ensure critical services and assets are readily available, affordable, and future‑proof. From maritime sustainment and secure communications, to lifesaving helicopter missions and managing critical fleets, we ensure our customers are…