About Arkeus
Arkeus is a world leader in the provision of wide‐area autonomous optical search systems in the Search, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance space for Defence, Civil Defence and Environmental Sustainment applications. We specialise in design, fabrication, manufacture and distribution of these innovative systems. Backed by the billion‐dollar deep‐tech investors Main Sequence, Beaten Zone Venture Partners and Salus Ventures, we are scaling a next‐generation hardware‐enabled software platform to help customers improve security and save lives. We are a small, fast‐growing company with an inclusive, transparent, merit‐based culture that attracts skilled individuals who share our purpose and values.
About The Role
This is a career‐defining opportunity for the right person, with meaningful financial upside at this stage of growth. As Engineering Manager – Advanced Development, you will lead a critical engineering team at the core of our technical capability, steering a portfolio of concurrent advanced development programs across software, hardware and systems integration from early‐stage prototyping to product readiness and handoff to Product teams. Reporting to executive leadership, you will be accountable for team performance, culture and delivery while shaping how a high‐performing engineering organisation operates in a scale‐up environment.
About You
* You are a technically credible engineering leader who engages at the systems level and earns trust through understanding, not just process.
* You combine engineering rigour with strong people leadership, building alignment across teams and leading through influence as well as authority.
* You are comfortable operating in ambiguity and can introduce structure without unnecessary process.
* You communicate clearly and confidently across all levels, translating complex engineering realities into actionable insights.
* You understand that capability and culture take time to build and require consistent leadership to sustain.
Key Responsibilities
Advanced Development Leadership
* Own and drive delivery across a portfolio of concurrent advanced development programs from concept, prototyping and validation through to product readiness.
* Define technical direction, program milestones and success criteria for early‐stage systems.
* Drive rapid iteration cycles while maintaining engineering quality, traceability and technical debt awareness.
* Set standards for technical decision‐making across the team and provide substantive guidance where it matters.
Team Leadership, Development and Retention
* Lead, coach and develop a high‐performing multidisciplinary team spanning software, hardware and systems engineering.
* Conduct structured performance reviews, set clear expectations and create meaningful development pathways for individuals at all career levels.
* Identify retention risks early and take deliberate action to keep talented engineers.
* Build capability to operate effectively within uncertain, fast‐moving technical environments.
* Foster a culture of ownership, accountability and technical pride.
Prototype‐to‐Product Transition
* Establish and embed robust handover frameworks from Advanced Development into Product teams.
* Ensure solutions are scalable, manufacturable and supportable at the point of transition.
* Partner with Product and Manufacturing to align on readiness criteria, constraints and timelines.
* Maintain continuity of technical knowledge through transition without creating team dependency.
Engineering Excellence
* Implement fit‐for‐purpose engineering processes that enable rapid prototyping without sacrificing rigour.
* Ensure appropriate alignment with relevant standards such as Defence or ISO frameworks where applicable.
* Balance speed of experimentation with reliability, safety and performance expectations.
* Champion documentation and engineering traceability as enablers rather than overhead.
Leadership Reporting and Organisational Contribution
* Report regularly to executive leadership on portfolio status, team, risks and resource requirements.
* Contribute to business development efforts, including customer engagement and capability positioning.
* Represent Arkeus externally at industry forums, with customers and partners, as a technical and leadership voice.
* Contribute to workforce planning, hiring and team structure decisions as the organisation scales.
* Build lightweight systems and processes that grow with the company.
* Drive cross‐functional collaboration with Product, Manufacturing and Program Delivery to increase organisational speed and alignment.
Your Experience And Skills
* Degree in Software, Electronics, Mechanical, Aerospace or Systems Engineering, or a related discipline.
* Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams in prototype, advanced development or early‐stage product environments.
* Track record of delivering hardware‐enabled software systems from concept through to production readiness.
* Experience conducting performance reviews and actively managing team capability and career development.
* Proven ability to manage a portfolio of concurrent technical programs in fast‐moving, ambiguous environments.
* Technically credible at the systems level, engaging meaningfully with engineering decisions across software, hardware and systems domains.
* Strong communication skills to translate complex technical realities for executive, product, customer and operational audiences.
* Experience working in scale‐ups, defence‐adjacent or lean high‐technology environments.
* Postgraduate business or portfolio management qualification highly regarded.
* Commercial awareness, ability to contribute to business development or pricing strategy, is an advantage.
What We Offer
* The knowledge that your work sits inside systems trusted and used by AUKUS defence customers.
* A role that defines what is possible in Australian deep‐tech—complex, fast‐paced and genuinely novel.
* Direct influence on the technical direction of a growing company backed by world‐class investors.
* Leadership of the most technically ambitious team in the business.
* Close collaboration with highly experienced leaders across Defence, aerospace and research.
* Direct access to executive leadership, with a clear path to broader organisational influence as Arkeus scales.
* An inclusive, high‐trust environment where diversity is a genuine value and merit and contribution matter.
* Workplace flexibility and a strong focus on sustainable high performance.
* Executive‐level participation in our Employee Share Option Plan.
* The opportunity to shape Arkeus' next phase of growth and your own career alongside it.
If this sounds like you, please apply even if you don't check every box. Join our team and help us improve security and save lives.
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