Head of Engineering Operations

This Head of Engineering Operations role at Thales, based in Newcastle or Sydney, is crucial for the effective operation, planning, and delivery of engineering services for complex maritime Defence programs. The successful candidate will lead all operational activities within the Above Water Systems (AWS) Engineering function, driving performance, coordinating resources, and ensuring stakeholder satisfaction. This involves close collaboration with various internal teams like Heads of Disciplines, Procurement, Operations, Finance, and Bids & Programs to ensure efficient and high-quality engineering delivery, contributing significantly to Australia's sovereign capability.

Must Have

• Lead engineering workforce planning and resource allocation.
• Act as single interface for engineering demand and commitments.
• Establish arrangements for Engineering Work Packs delivery.
• Manage WBS/OBS structures, estimation, and cost data.
• Support Engineering Director with data consolidation.
• Facilitate resolution of operational issues.
• Lead continuous improvement activities.
• Ensure engineering reviews incorporate safety, security, cost, manufacturability, acceptance, and service.
• Consolidate and report on competitiveness metrics.
• Define critical engineering skill requirements and monitor development plans.
• Demonstrated experience in Defence maritime environment.
• A Bachelor of Engineering degree or equivalent.
• Proven experience in line management of engineering teams.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an appropriate Australian Government security clearance.

Good to Have

• Chartered Engineer status (CPEng) or competencies to attain CPEng.
• Eligibility for Australian state engineering registration and the National Engineering Register.

Perks & Benefits

• Competitive remuneration + super + bonus
• Free medical health insurance for you and your family
• ThalesFlex – flexible working
• Fitness Passport discount
• Employee discounts with a range of partners (travel, car hire, tech, and more)
• Modernised paid parental leave
• Novated lease options
• Family support through our partnership with Parents At Work

At Thales, we know technology has the ability to make our world more secure, sustainable, and inclusive – and that it’s all driven by human intelligence.

Because it takes human intelligence to build and power the systems and solutions that people depend on every day. So we stay curious and make space for diverse points of view. We share what we know and we challenge what’s possible.

From manufacturing and engineering to cybersecurity and space, we’re driving progress in some of the world’s most important industries – and working together to build a future we can all trust.

Benefits @ Thales:

• Competitive remuneration + super + bonus
• Free medical health insurance for you and your family
• ThalesFlex – flexible working is our everyday
• Fitness Passport discount
• Employee discounts with a range of partners (travel, car hire, tech, and more)
• Modernised paid parental leave
• Novated lease options
• Family support through our partnership with Parents At Work

Our Team:

Our Above Water Systems team designs and engineers commercial and naval ships – as well as providing in-service support capabilities. We’re proud to bolster Australia’s sovereign capability through operational support to our Navy. With ongoing training programs and a team of over 500, our people have room to grow and move as they make a meaningful contribution to Australia’s Defence.

About the Role:

Opportunity for an experienced and collaborative Head of Engineering Operations to join our AWS Engineering Team based in Newcastle or Sydney (Woolloomooloo). This pivotal role ensures the effective operation, planning and delivery of engineering services that support complex maritime Defence programs.

You will lead all operational activities within the AWS Engineering function—driving performance, coordinating resources, and ensuring satisfaction of key stakeholders across the business. You will work closely with Heads of Disciplines, Procurement, Operations, Finance, and the Bids & Programs teams to enable efficient, high-quality engineering delivery.

In this role, you will be accountable for:

• Leading engineering workforce planning and, in coordination with Heads of Disciplines, allocating resources to bids, projects and products within the AWS domain.
• Acting as the single interface to Functions and Segments to receive demand inputs and provide engineering commitments.
• Establishing standing arrangements—working with Bids & Programs—for the delivery of Engineering Work Packs to internal and external customers.
• Managing generic WBS/OBS structures, estimation approaches and maintaining reference cost data from historical bids, projects and products.
• Supporting the Engineering Director by consolidating data and inputs from across AWS Engineering, in collaboration with IS/IT.
• Facilitating the resolution of operational issues to meet stakeholder expectations.
• Leading continuous improvement activities in partnership with Heads of Discipline, Functions and Segments.
• Ensuring all engineering reviews and activities incorporate safety, security, cost, manufacturability, acceptance and service considerations across relevant disciplines.
• Consolidating and reporting on competitiveness metrics for the Competence Centre.
• Defining critical engineering skill requirements, consolidating assessments, identifying skill risks, and monitoring succession and capability development plans in partnership with Heads of Discipline.

How about You?

• Demonstrated experience in the Defence maritime environment.
• A Bachelor of Engineering degree or equivalent.
• Chartered Engineer status (CPEng) or the competencies required to attain CPEng (desirable).
• Eligibility for Australian state engineering registration and the National Engineering Register (desirable).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven experience in line management of engineering teams.

Good to Know:

You’ll get an email acknowledgement after you’ve applied, Thales strives to provide a personalised experience for all suitable applicants.

As a Defence security clearance is required for this role, candidates Must be eligible to obtain and maintain an appropriate Australian Government clearance. To learn more about clearances please visit – http://www.defence.gov.au/AGSVA/

It’s easy to dismiss the perfect opportunity if you don’t see yourself as the perfect fit. If this role feels right – no matter your background or personal circumstances – please introduce yourself or join our community.

We’re committed to supporting a diverse workplace, and that starts here.

We’re proud to be endorsed by WORK180 as an Employer for All Women, but we know there’s always more we can do. We’ll continue to foster industry partnerships, employee resource groups (ERGs) and development opportunities to make Thales a genuinely equitable employer, for everyone.

Read more about our WORK180 endorsement.