Work with cutting edge technology, making the world a safer and more secure place. DroneShield (ASX:DRO) offers an opportunity to solve some of the world’s most challenging technical problems in Electronic Warfare, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, RF sensing, Sensor Fusion and distributed systems. Working with high profile customers across militaries, government agencies, airports, critical infrastructure, law enforcement and many others.
With one of the largest listed defence company market capitalisations in Australia and having raised approximately $250m in 2024 alone, DroneShield is undergoing hypergrowth stage, fuelled by rapidly increasing use of drones for nefarious applications, from battlefield, to terrorism, to contraband delivery and commercial espionage.
This role is in the DroneShield Sydney headquarters in Pyrmont, Sydney. There are approximately 300 staff based in the 4,000sqm facility today, scheduled to grow to approximately 400 staff by end of 2025. Overseas on the ground presence includes USA, Denmark, Mexico, and UAE, as well as distributors in over 70 countries globally.
About the role
DroneShield is seeking a Systems Engineering Manager with relevant experience to join the product development team in Sydney, Australia. The position will report to the VP of Quality Engineering. The role will manage the Systems Engineering Team (17 Systems Engineers), mature a strong and capable discipline and provide guidance, direction and training where needed. The role will own the requirement management, system architecting and risk management processes.
Responsibilities, Duties and Expectations
- Manage, lead and coordinate the Systems Engineering Team within the Counter-UxS space, providing technical guidance and support ensuring alignment between the team’s objective and broader organisation’s goals.
- Introduce systems, processes, methodologies and tools that promote best practices and provide a framework for product development, seeking to increase efficiency and improve project outcomes.
- Oversee and manage consistent outputs across the team for system design, requirements, architecting, risk management and testing ensuring a high level of accuracy and completeness.
- Facilitate engagement between internal and external project stakeholders to ensure alignment, communicating risks and technical information to senior management.
- Conduct engineering investigation and analysis to ensure continual improvement of the products and coordinate solutions with cross-functional teams.
- Support project tracking and timelines keeping the Systems Engineering Team informed of key milestones and performance metrics.
- Apply best systems engineering practices in Requirement Management, Risk and Safety Management, System Architecting and cross functional communication.
Qualifications, Experience and Skills
- BS or Masters degree in relevant engineering discipline (Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software/Firmware Engineering, Embedded Systems), or similar technical field of study or equivalent practical experience.
- 5+ years of experience managing systems engineering teams within complex project environments.
- 10+ years of demonstrated experience in the field of Systems Engineering
- Ability to influence without authority and effectively advocate for the team’s needs and viewpoints.
- Demonstrated experience in the successful development and delivery of products comprised of complex embedded system architecture.
- Ability to work under pressure and time constraints.
- Experience across the entire product development lifecycle from product discovery and inception to delivery and sustainment.
- Exposure to Electronic Warfare, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, RF sensing, Sensor Fusion and distributed systems is desirable.
- Understanding of cybersecurity practices in systems engineering to ensure the integrity and security of systems is desirable.
- Skilled in systems integration, testing frameworks, and troubleshooting, with a systematic approach to problem-solving.
- Ability to prioritise activities based on urgency and impact.
- You are comfortable working within the Atlassian ecosystem and have experience managing project deliverables using Jira or other project management tools.
- Experience working with a Requirement Management Software such as Doors or Jama
- You excel in a high empowerment, fast paced, environment, surrounded by likeminded, high achieving people.
Note for recruitment agencies: We do not accept unsolicited candidates from external recruiters unless specifically instructed.