Combat Systems Engineer

Join our Downer Professional Services team and play a key role in delivering complex defence and national security projects that safeguard Australia’s future.  

Downer Professional Services is comprised of two business units, our Technical, Advisory, and Capability consulting practice and Team Downer, a major service partner to Defence. Together, we are a multi-disciplinary advisory and delivery partner of choice for our clients in Defence and National Security. 

We currently have an opportunity for a Combat Systems Engineer (Requirements/FPS) in either Sydney or ACT to work on complex naval combat systems modernisation projects.

What You’ll Do 

These roles offer a broad scope, with key role responsibilities including: 

• Develop, review and maintain Functional Performance Specifications (FPS) for combat system elements and platform interfaces, ensuring alignment with Royal Australian Navy operational requirements.
• Decompose stakeholder and Commonwealth requirements into measurable, testable requirements that support system design, integration and verification activities.
• Support requirements management activities, including traceability, verification cross-reference matrices, baseline management and change control using requirements management tools such as DOORS.
• Collaborate with external primes and contractors, and other stakeholders to define interface requirements and resolve integration constraints.
• Contribute to major engineering reviews including System Requirements Reviews (SRR), Preliminary Design Reviews (PDR) and Critical Design Reviews (CDR), as well as verification and validation planning.

What You’ll Bring  

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Experience developing functional or performance specifications for complex defence, naval or electronic systems.
• Knowledge of requirements decomposition, traceability, verification methodologies and requirements management tools such as DOORS.
• Strong technical writing, stakeholder engagement and cross-functional communication skills.

Due to the nature of the work, the successful applicant must be an Australian citizen and hold and maintain an AGSVA Security Clearance, as required by the Commonwealth. In some cases, compliance with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) may also be required.

Why Downer Professional Services 

At Downer Professional Services, we’re not just a workplace - we’re a business dedicated to contributing to the shaping of the future of defence in Australia. As the country’s only sovereign prime, we’re committed to making a real difference in protecting Australia’s interests.  

What is means to belong at Downer Professional Services  

• Meaningful work: Help to deliver critical Defence projects that protect Australia and shape its future. 

• Professional development: Access career mapping, accelerated learning programs, and shared learning through our Communities of Practice. 

• Great perks: Enjoy discounts on healthcare, retail, vehicles, and more through Perks@Downer. 

• Veteran support: Benefit from initiatives like up to 20 days of Reservist Leave to stay connected post-service. 

You want your work to matter and so do we.  With over 26,000 people across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, our team is made up of individuals with unique perspectives, backgrounds, and ideas. 

We know that diversity makes us stronger and we actively celebrate it through our commitment to inclusion and belonging. 

We’re committed to building a team that reflects the diverse communities we serve and we welcome people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, cultures, abilities, and lived experiences. We especially encourage applications from those whose voices have traditionally been underrepresented in our industry, including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pasifika Peoples, veterans, people with disability, and neurodivergent individuals.  Even if your experience doesn’t align perfectly with this role, we’d still like to hear from you. If it feels like the right fit, apply - potential counts, and so do you. 

As a WORK180 Endorsed Employer, we support flexibility that works for your life, inclusive leadership that values your voice, and equitable access to opportunity so you can do your best work and bring your whole self to it. 

If you need support or adjustments through the recruitment process, just let us know, we’re here to help you put your best foot forward.