Head of System Architect and Systems Engineering Manager

This leadership role involves heading the Systems Architecture and Engineering team, ensuring combat system solutions are integrated, future-ready, and aligned with customer and organizational goals. Based in Woolloomooloo, the role is critical for shaping architectural vision across maritime platforms and guiding multidisciplinary teams in delivering complex naval systems. You will provide senior technical leadership, drive governance, and ensure consistent, compliant and coherent architectural solutions across the AWS portfolio.

Must Have

• Define, maintain and govern system and combat system architectures.
• Align architectural decisions with strategic, operational and customer needs.
• Lead system design, modelling, trade-offs and technical reviews.
• Integrate navigation, communications, sensor, propulsion, weapons and related subsystems.
• Oversee requirements definition, system integration, verification and validation.
• Manage architecture documentation, ICDs and systems engineering plans.
• Ensure compliance with maritime standards, certification and cyber-resilience requirements.
• Provide leadership and guidance to engineering teams and stakeholders.
• Strong background in the Defence maritime environment.
• Degree in Engineering.
• 15+ years’ systems engineering experience.
• Skilled in model-based engineering tools (e.g. DOORS, JIRA, Enterprise Architect).
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an appropriate Australian Government security clearance.

Good to Have

• Master’s, CPEng or INCOSE certification.
• Deep knowledge of standards and tools.
• Experience with Naval Combat Systems, Sensor Systems, CMS and Fire Control Systems.
• Proven leadership capability, stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Experience in complex problem solving and real-time systems.

Perks & Benefits

• 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

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 Head of Systems Architecture and Engineering to lead our architecture capability and ensure our combat system solutions are integrated, future-ready, and aligned with customer and organisational goals. This is a critical leadership role within our Engineering organisation, responsible for shaping the architectural vision across multiple maritime platforms and guiding multidisciplinary teams in delivering complex, high-performance naval systems. You will provide senior technical leadership, drive governance, and ensure consistent, compliant and coherent architectural solutions across the AWS portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Define, maintain and govern system and combat system architectures.
• Align architectural decisions with strategic, operational and customer needs.
• Lead system design, modelling, trade-offs and technical reviews.
• Integrate navigation, communications, sensor, propulsion, weapons and related subsystems.
• Oversee requirements definition, system integration, verification and validation.
• Manage architecture documentation, ICDs and systems engineering plans.
• Ensure compliance with maritime standards, certification and cyber-resilience requirements.
• Provide leadership and guidance to engineering teams and stakeholders.

How about you?

• Strong background in the Defence maritime environment.
• Degree in Engineering; Master’s, CPEng or INCOSE certification preferred.
• 15+ years’ systems engineering experience, with deep knowledge of standards and tools.
• Experience with Naval Combat Systems, Sensor Systems, CMS and Fire Control Systems (preferred).
• Skilled in model-based engineering tools (e.g. DOORS, JIRA, Enterprise Architect).
• Proven leadership capability, stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Experience in complex problem solving and real-time systems.

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.

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