Job description:
Acknowledgement of Country
CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation.
Role highlights
* Great opportunity to support Australia's net‑zero energy transition
* Apply your power systems and renewable energy expertise with industry impact
* Join our team to deliver evidence‑based insights for a changing energy sector
About CSIRO
As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. Many of our iconic innovations were once considered impossible until someone, just like you, joined us and took on the challenge.
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The opportunity
Australia's energy sector is entering a decade of rapid and complex transformation. As the nation moves toward a net‑zero emissions future, there is a growing need for senior specialists who can connect industry challenges with research‑driven solutions. CSIRO's Networks & DER team plays a central role in this work by delivering trusted, evidence‑based insights that support Australia's evolving energy landscape.
In this role, you will draw on significant experience in the utility sector - either within a DNSP, retailer or through extensive industry‑based project delivery - to lead and shape work at the low‑voltage network level. You will work directly with utilities and partners across Australia and other regions, using your established industry knowledge to identify challenges, co‑design solutions, and create new opportunities.
As a senior engineer, you will take a lead role in delivering projects, scoping and negotiating new work, and bringing strategic insight to CSIRO's power system transformation research. You will act as a trusted advisor to clients, apply specialist expertise to complex and emerging issues, and ensure research outcomes are translated into meaningful, real‑world impact. You will also play a critical role in strengthening CSIRO's industry presence - collaborating across multidisciplinary teams, fostering partnerships, supporting knowledge transfer to industry, identifying future research pathways, and contributing to CSIRO's broader energy research objectives.
If you're passionate about renewable energy integration and are ready to bring your established utility expertise to an impact‑driven national organisation, this is a great opportunity to influence the future of Australia's energy system - and we would love to hear from you
Your high-level duties will include:
* Leading/Delivering projects, including the negotiation and management of contracts and resources.
* Initiating and maintaining collaborative relationships with industry partners.
* Applying specialist expertise to solve complex problems within a discipline or across a diverse range of projects.
* Taking a lead role in in project scoping and planning, making significant contributions to the research or technological direction.
* Initiating and taking responsibility for tasks/functions within larger projects and across Research Units which align with your expertise of renewable energy and power systems.
* Developing approaches and techniques for solving challenges associated with power system transformation.
Role particulars
Location and office arrangements: Perth (Kensington) WA; Newcastle NSW; Melbourne (Clayton) VIC; Canberra (Black Mountain) ACT; or Hobart TAS - other locations are also considered.
Salary: AU$135K - AU$158K per annum (pro-rata for part-time) plus 15.4% superannuation
Tenure & work schedule: Indefinite; Full-time (preferred) - part-time and flexible work arrangements may be considered based on the needs of the role and individual circumstances.
Reference: 101774
As the successful candidate, you will bring:
* Relevant tertiary degree in Electrical Engineering, Renewable Energy Engineering, Control Systems Engineering or a similar/related discipline.
* Significant demonstrated industry experience in electricity generation/distribution/transmission/system control or market operator/retailer/metering functions.
* Experience with utility integration of DER, especially small-scale solar PV.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and interpersonal skills with the ability to work constructively with colleagues, collaborators, and clients, and to build strong networks with internal teams and external stakeholders.
* An enthusiasm for applied research solving problems for commercial partners.
* Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects, from planning and development through to successful delivery.
For full details about this role, please review the Position Description.
Not sure if you meet all the criteria?
While it is CSIRO policy that the successful candidate must meet all the essential criteria, there are many ways to demonstrate this. Don't let the list discourage you. If you are unsure about applying, please reach out to the contact person in the Position Description.
Setting you up for success
We are committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible to everyone. We recognise that it may be helpful for us to adjust our process to make it equitable for your individual situation. Please contact the Talent Acquisition Partner via email (see details in the Position Description) and let us know how we can support you.
Eligibility
Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens, New Zealand Citizens, and Australian Permanent Residents.
Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.
Life at CSIRO and flexible work arrangements
We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. We can discuss flexible work arrangements with you during the recruitment process. CSIRO also offers a range of leave entitlements, benefits and career development opportunities. To find out more, visit Careers at CSIRO.
Inclusion and belonging
Solving Australia's greatest challenges takes a diversity of minds and lived experiences. We know diverse teams are more effective and deliver more innovative outcomes. As an equal employment opportunity organisation, we are committed to creating diverse and inclusive teams where people feel they belong. We recognise true diversity encompasses all ages, abilities, cultures, faiths, levels of education, genders, sexualities, diversity of thought and much more. We focus on hiring people who share our values of People First, Further Together, Making it Real and Trusted.
CSIRO holds Gold Status for the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and a Science in Australia Gender Equity Bronze Award.
Child safety
CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy.
How to apply
Please apply online, and provide a CV and a detailed cover letter, responding to each of the selection criteria in detail, that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role. Please attach your selection criteria responses to your cover letter as one document.
Applications close
22 February 2026, 11:00pm AEDT
We strongly encourage early applications as we will be reviewing applications as they come through. CSIRO reserves the right to close the advertising early if we find our desired candidate.