Overview
Engineering Professional - Hull and Structure, Auxiliaries. Naval Construction Branch (NCB) is seeking an APS 6 Engineering Professional to join its assurance team. This role involves working on navy vessel projects at the waterfront in Henderson, WA, to verify construction compliance with approved domestic/international standards during the build, in collaboration with uniform and civilian staff.
Responsibilities
* Shipyard Surveillance & Quality Oversight
o Conduct on-site surveillance, inspections, and assessments across shipyard builds to monitor construction progress, quality performance, and system integration. Ensure adherence to approved procedures, standards, and classification requirements (e.g., DNV).
* Verification, Assurance & Compliance
o Perform assurance activities to verify compliance with technical specifications, contractual obligations, and legislative requirements. Audit shipbuilder processes to confirm effectiveness and alignment with program standards.
* Technical Advice & Support
o Provide specialist technical advice throughout construction and acceptance phases, ensuring product quality and system integration outcomes. Support the evaluation of design changes, deviations, and engineering non-conformances.
* Non-Conformance Management
o Identify, investigate, and document non-conformances, supporting corrective action verification and monitoring closure to promote continuous improvement.
* Test & Evaluation
o Witness and provide technical input into system testing activities, including FAT, Pre-Commissioning, Harbour Trials, and Sea Trials, ensuring compliance with test objectives and acceptance criteria.
* Technical Documentation Review
o Review technical reports, engineering analyses, QA documentation, drawings, specifications, and procedures to ensure accuracy, compliance, and suitability for use.
* Reporting & Communication
o Prepare clear and timely surveillance, technical, and progress reports. Participate in project and technical forums, ensuring accurate documentation and transparent issue tracking using project-reporting tools.
* Stakeholder Engagement
o Build and maintain effective working relationships with Defence stakeholders, prime contractors, suppliers, classification societies, and regulators to support coordinated delivery and issue resolution.
* Safety & Work Practices
o Uphold safety and regulatory requirements while promoting a Positive Safety Culture. Mentor team members and reinforce safe work practices across site activities.
* Site Centric Role
o Provide a strong on-site presence across multiple shipyard and production areas, leading and performing field-based surveillance activities as required.
* Hull and Structure
o Assess the condition and integrity of ship hulls, structures, and coatings across various platforms.
o Weld inspections, including traceability checks, non-destructive testing (NDT), and weld heat treatment follow-ups.
o Coating inspections, including surface prep, film thickness measurement, holiday testing, touchups.
o Assess the quality of pipe fabrication and installation, witness pressure testing and system flushing.
o Assure installation of machinery via factory acceptance tests, pre-delivery maintenance and system set-to-work activities.
* Auxiliaries
o Assess the quality of pipe fabrication and installation, witness pressure testing and system flushing.
o Assure installation of machinery via factory acceptance tests, pre-delivery maintenance and system set-to-work activities.
About our Team
Naval Construction Branch (NCB) is accountable for the assurance of ship construction, set-to-work and transit of vessels constructed at the Osborne Naval Shipyard and Henderson precinct. We are headquartered in Osborne, SA and have a detachment in Henderson, WA and a smaller presence in Port Macquarie, NSW. NCB is fostering continuous naval shipbuilding and sovereign capability by overseeing construction to ensure quality and standards are met, storing lessons learnt and developing standard shipbuilding procedures for construction.
NCB will oversee the construction of many different Navy vessels including Offshore Patrol Vessels, Hunter Class Frigates, Young Endeavour, Evolved Cape Class and Pacific Patrol Boats. Working at NCB places you at the grassroots of continuous naval shipbuilding, contributing to vessels delivered and used in service by the Navy.
NCB brings together highly skilled and diverse shipbuilding experience to grow hands-on construction knowledge. You will work alongside Navy personnel, internal project management officers and Prime contractors. Industry placement opportunities are available.
Workplace Benefits and Conditions
Defence offers a supportive and flexible working environment that promotes wellbeing, professional development, and work-life balance.
Key benefits include:
* Enterprise Agreement Salary Structure – Salaries governed by an enterprise agreement with scheduled annual increases.
* DECA Day – One undefined leave day per year for personal wellbeing.
* Annual Leave at Half-Pay – Option to extend leave duration by taking annual leave at half-pay.
* Purchased Leave – Option to purchase additional leave for personal flexibility.
* Paid Stand-Down Break – Paid stand down between Christmas and New Year.
* PFADS – Performance Feedback Assessment and Development Scheme, with annual performance-based payments.
* Flex-Time Option – Flexible working hours available to support personal and operational needs.
* Career Progression – Structured pathways and development opportunities to advance your career.
Our Ideal Candidate
Our ideal candidate is an experienced and qualified individual with a strong work ethic and demonstrated leadership behaviours.
Ideal candidate will possess:
* Technical experience within shipbuilding or sustainment environments.
* Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to liaise with multiple Shipbuilder Primes and Classification societies.
* Applied technical capability, ability to lead evaluation of technical packages and equipment performance against project specifications, and deliver well-supported recommendations that drive improvements and corrective actions.
* Knowledge-sharing and Leadership skills, ability to participate in or lead knowledge transfer within the Shipbuilding or Sustainment domain.
* Commitment to continuous learning, broad understanding of shipbuilding fundamentals and desire to expand across multiple discipline build groups.
* A collaborative approach, with strong communication skills and the ability to positively influence teams with internal and external stakeholders.
Security Clearance & Qualifications
Security Clearance: Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at "Negative Vetting Level 1".
Mandatory Qualifications
This engineering position requires a Bachelor of Engineering from an Australian institution, or a qualification gained elsewhere, that satisfies the Washington Accord for recognition as a Professional Engineer.
Getting to know the Department of Defence
The Department of Defence employs around 18,000 Australian Public Service (APS) employees. Defence APS employees work in a wide variety of critical roles across Australia, enabling Navy, Army and Air Force operations. For career opportunities with Defence, visit https://www.defence.gov.au/jobs-careers
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