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Systems Engineering Manager (AU) - Job Opportunity at DroneShield Limited

Pyrmont, Australia
Full-time
Senior
Posted: July 3, 2025
On-site
AUD 180,000 - 220,000 per year based on the senior management role, team size responsibility (17 direct reports), specialized defense industry focus, location in Sydney's premium business district, and the company's significant funding and growth trajectory

Benefits

Opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology in Electronic Warfare, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning, positioning you at the forefront of rapidly evolving defense technologies
Exposure to high-profile customers across militaries, government agencies, airports, and critical infrastructure, providing exceptional networking and career advancement opportunities
Employment with one of Australia's largest listed defense companies by market capitalization, offering job security and growth potential
Access to a state-of-the-art 4,000sqm facility in Pyrmont, Sydney, designed to accommodate rapid company expansion
Professional development opportunities in a hypergrowth environment with significant funding backing ($250m raised in 2024)
International exposure through the company's global presence in USA, Denmark, Mexico, UAE, and distributors in over 70 countries

Key Responsibilities

Lead and strategically manage a team of 17 Systems Engineers in the Counter-UxS space, directly impacting the development of critical defense technologies that protect against emerging drone threats
Drive organizational excellence by implementing systems, processes, methodologies and tools that establish best practices framework, significantly improving product development efficiency and project success rates
Ensure technical excellence and consistency across all team outputs including system design, requirements management, architecting, risk assessment and testing protocols, maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and completeness
Facilitate high-level stakeholder engagement both internally and externally, effectively communicating complex technical risks and solutions to senior management and key clients
Conduct strategic engineering investigations and analysis to drive continuous product improvement, coordinating innovative solutions across cross-functional teams
Manage critical project tracking and timeline adherence, ensuring the Systems Engineering Team meets key milestones and performance metrics in a fast-paced defense environment
Apply and champion industry-leading systems engineering practices in Requirement Management, Risk and Safety Management, and System Architecting

Requirements

Education

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

Experience

5+ years of experience managing systems engineering teams within complex project environments and 10+ years of demonstrated experience in the field of Systems Engineering

Required Skills

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 Understanding of cybersecurity practices in systems engineering Skilled in systems integration, testing frameworks, and troubleshooting Ability to prioritise activities based on urgency and impact Experience with Atlassian ecosystem and Jira project management tools Experience working with Requirement Management Software such as Doors or Jama
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The defense technology sector is experiencing unprecedented growth driven by emerging threats from commercial and weaponized drones, creating massive demand for counter-drone systems and expertise. This trend is accelerated by recent conflicts demonstrating the critical importance of unmanned aerial vehicle countermeasures in modern warfare and security operations. Electronic warfare and RF sensing technologies are becoming increasingly sophisticated as adversaries develop more advanced drone capabilities, requiring systems engineers who can architect complex, multi-layered defense solutions that integrate AI, machine learning, and sensor fusion technologies. The global defense market is shifting toward rapid prototyping and agile development methodologies, particularly in the counter-UAS space, as traditional lengthy procurement cycles prove inadequate against fast-evolving drone threats in both military and civilian contexts.

Role Significance

Leading a large, specialized team of 17 Systems Engineers represents substantial management responsibility in the engineering organization, likely comprising one of the largest technical teams within the company structure
This is a senior management position with significant organizational impact, reporting directly to VP level and responsible for managing a substantial team of 17 engineers while owning critical processes including requirements management, system architecture, and risk management across the entire product portfolio

Key Projects

Development and deployment of integrated counter-drone systems for military applications in active conflict zones Design of AI-powered threat detection and classification systems for critical infrastructure protection Architecture of distributed sensor networks for airport and government facility security Implementation of electronic warfare countermeasures against sophisticated drone swarms Development of real-time RF sensing and signal processing systems for threat identification

Success Factors

Ability to balance technical excellence with rapid product development timelines in a hypergrowth environment where market demands are constantly evolving Strong stakeholder management skills to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences including military officials, government agencies, and senior executives Deep understanding of systems engineering fundamentals combined with cutting-edge knowledge of AI, machine learning, and electronic warfare technologies Proven leadership capabilities to manage and develop a large team of specialized engineers while maintaining high performance standards Strategic thinking ability to anticipate future threats and architect scalable solutions that can adapt to evolving drone technologies and countermeasures

Market Demand

Extremely high demand due to the critical shortage of experienced systems engineering managers in the defense sector, particularly those with counter-drone expertise and the ability to manage large technical teams in hypergrowth environments

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Systems engineering expertise is absolutely essential as this role owns the fundamental processes of requirements management, system architecture, and risk management that determine product success in complex defense applications. Without strong systems engineering foundations, the technical complexity of counter-drone solutions cannot be effectively managed. Team management and leadership skills are critical given the responsibility for 17 specialized engineers in a hypergrowth environment where maintaining team cohesion, productivity, and technical excellence while scaling rapidly presents significant challenges. Stakeholder communication abilities are vital because this role must effectively translate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences including military officials, government agencies, and senior executives who make critical funding and procurement decisions.

Beneficial Skills

Electronic warfare and RF sensing expertise would provide significant competitive advantage given the specialized nature of counter-drone technology and the company's focus on sophisticated signal processing and electronic countermeasures Cybersecurity knowledge in systems engineering is increasingly valuable as drone threats evolve to include cyber attack vectors and counter-drone systems must maintain security integrity while operating in contested environments Experience with agile development methodologies and rapid prototyping would be highly beneficial given the fast-paced nature of the threat landscape and the need to quickly adapt products to emerging drone capabilities

Unique Aspects

Opportunity to work on cutting-edge counter-drone technology that directly impacts global security and safety, positioning the role at the intersection of national defense and emerging technological threats
Leadership role in a hypergrowth defense company with substantial recent funding, offering exceptional career acceleration opportunities in a rapidly expanding organization
Exposure to high-profile military and government customers worldwide, providing unique insights into global security challenges and defense requirements
Management of one of the largest systems engineering teams in the Australian defense sector, offering significant leadership development and team building experience

Career Growth

3-5 years to VP level given the rapid growth trajectory of the company and the increasing strategic importance of counter-drone technologies in global security

Potential Next Roles

VP of Engineering or Chief Technology Officer positions within defense technology companies Director of Systems Engineering at larger defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, or Northrop Grumman Technical Program Director roles at government defense agencies or military research organizations Founder or CTO positions at defense technology startups focusing on emerging threats

Company Overview

DroneShield Limited

DroneShield Limited (ASX:DRO) is a rapidly growing Australian defense technology company specializing in counter-drone solutions, with a strong focus on electronic warfare, artificial intelligence, and RF sensing technologies. The company has established itself as a leader in the counter-UAS market with significant recent funding success and expansion plans.

As one of Australia's largest listed defense companies by market capitalization with approximately $250 million raised in 2024 alone, DroneShield holds a strong position in the growing counter-drone market and is well-positioned to capitalize on increasing global security concerns
The company maintains a significant presence in the Asia-Pacific region with its Sydney headquarters housing 300+ staff, while expanding globally with operations in the USA, Denmark, Mexico, UAE, and distribution networks spanning over 70 countries
The organization promotes a high-empowerment, fast-paced culture that attracts high-achieving professionals, with significant investment in state-of-the-art facilities and rapid team expansion indicating strong commitment to employee growth and development
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