Systems Engineering Manager

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Date: 20 Mar 2026

Location: Canberra, ACT, AU

Company: CSIRO

Acknowledgement of Country 

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation. 

 

Role highlights

  • Lead mission‑critical systems for NASA’s Deep Space Network at the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex—one of only three such facilities worldwide.
  • Senior technical and people leadership role with end‑to‑end accountability across engineering, ICT, and cyber security in a complex, high‑reliability environment.
  • Influence at the highest levels, working closely with CSIRO, NASA/JPL, and international stakeholders on globally significant space communications operations.

 

About CSIRO

As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. Many of our iconic innovations were once considered impossible until someone, just like you, joined us and took on the challenge.

Visit CSIRO.au for more information.

 

The opportunity 

Reporting to the Director of CDSCC and as part of the CDSCC Management Team, the Systems Engineering Manager plays a key role in a multidisciplinary environment supporting critical space communications. This role involves close collaboration with staff, customers, and stakeholders at both operational and executive levels.

Working under limited direction, the Systems Engineering Manager provides high-level advice on complex engineering and ICT issues—both on-site and across the Deep Space Network (DSN). The role requires deep technical expertise to deliver innovative solutions to complex challenges. Leading both the Engineering and ICT teams, the manager is responsible for critical decisions regarding site systems, ensuring alignment with DSN standards and CSIRO/CDSCC policies and procedures.

Flexibility is essential, with some meetings required outside standard hours to align with our international partner, JPL/NASA.

 

Your high-level duties will include:

 

  • Strategic & Operational Leadership - Conduct innovative, high‑impact astrophysics research in collaboration with senior scientists, delivering outcomes of strategic importance to CSIRO.

  • Technical Authority & Governance - Deliver authoritative technical expertise, contributing to DSN technical reviews, engineering change management, and assessment of new projects and system proposals in line with NASA/JPL standards.

  • Delivery of Mission‑Critical Systems - Oversee the delivery, maintenance, and upgrade of complex operational systems, ensuring performance, reliability, testing, and calibration requirements are met.

  • Regulatory & Standards Compliance - Ensure compliance with network‑wide standards and regulatory obligations, including spectrum management, airspace exclusion zones, radiation safety, and cybersecurity, through effective stakeholder engagement.

  • Senior Stakeholder Engagement & Advice - Provide high‑level advice and reporting as a member of the CDSCC senior management team, liaising with internal and external stakeholders to support operational and strategic outcomes.

  • People and resource management & Culture - Lead multidisciplinary teams, manage budgets and resources, and foster a collaborative, high‑performing culture that supports capability development and continuous improvement.

 

Role particulars

Location: Tidbinbilla – Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC), ACT 

Salary: AU$163,199 – $180,568 plus up to 15.4% superannuation  

Tenure & work schedule: Indefinite - Position will also be considered as part-time (minimum 0.9 FTE) or 1.0 FTE with a compressed 9-day fortnight arrangement 

Reference: 102782

 

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

Essential

  • Tertiary qualifications in a relevant Engineering and/or Information Technology field.
  • Broad experience in Systems Engineering /ICT management, and the delivery of complex engineering outcomes on time and to budget.
  • A strong history of establishing and working effectively in teams, encouraging new ideas, building trust, and providing support for the development of emerging skills. 
  • Demonstrated experience providing innovative solutions, project management and related change management activities.
  • Proven ability to think strategically and balance long term planning with short term operational activities and goals.
  • Demonstrated experience in ensuring safe working practices.

 

Desirable (How to Stand Out)

  • An understanding of the technologies, functions and unique attributes associated with spacecraft radiocommunications.
  • Experience related to IT and Cyber Security technologies and practices.
  • Experience with regulatory processes and related technical matters in the areas of Spectrum Management, Airspace regulation, and Radiation Safety Management.

 

For full details about this role, please review the Position Description. 

 

Eligibility 

Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens & Australian Permanent Residents only, who can meet the US Export Administration Regulation requirements (eligibility to be determined).

Appointment to this role is subject to the provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

 

Not sure if you meet all the criteria?

While it is CSIRO policy that the successful candidate must meet all the essential criteria, there are many ways to demonstrate this. Don’t let the list discourage you. If you are unsure about applying, please reach out to the contact person in the Position Description.

 

Setting you up for success

We are committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible to everyone. We recognise that it may be helpful for us to adjust our process to make it equitable for your individual situation. Please contact careersonline@peopleteam.csiro.au and let us know how we can support you. 

 

Life at CSIRO and flexible work arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. We can discuss flexible work arrangements with you during the recruitment process. CSIRO also offers a range of leave entitlements, benefits and career development opportunities. To find out more, visit Careers at CSIRO.

 

Inclusion and belonging

Solving Australia's greatest challenges takes a diversity of minds and lived experiences. We know diverse teams are more effective and deliver more innovative outcomes. As an equal employment opportunity organisation, we are committed to creating diverse and inclusive teams where people feel they belong. We recognise true diversity encompasses all ages, abilities, cultures, faiths, levels of education, genders, sexualities, diversity of thought and much more. We focus on hiring people who share our values of People First, Further Together, Making it Real and Trusted.

CSIRO holds Gold Status for the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and a Science in Australia Gender Equity Bronze Award.

 

Child safety 

CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy. 

 

How to apply 

Please apply online, and provide a CV and a detailed cover letter. Make sure to attach your selection criteria responses to your cover letter as one document and addressing/responding to each of the individual selection criteria in detail, so that your application best represents your ability to meet the requirements of this role. (Note: additional documents uploaded separately cannot be viewed by the selection panel).

 

Applications close 

12 April 2026, 11:00 pm AESTWe strongly encourage early applications as we will be reviewing applications as they come through. CSIRO reserves the right to close the advertising early if we find our desired candidate.