Satellite Ground Station Engineer

About us

Boeing Defence Australia is shaping the future of aerospace and delivering some of the nation's most important programs for the Australian Defence Force.

Joining us is a chance to make your mark, working with a diverse team that is united in pushing the boundaries of imagination and excellence.

We currently employ more than 2,500 people across 14 sites in Australia and three international locations and have a range of opportunities available as we plan for future growth.

The opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and qualified Satellite Ground Station Engineer, to join our Canberra team to provide engineering direction to technical teams supporting ground station antennas and antenna systems across several site locations.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Lead and manage multi-disciplined satellite ground station support teams across several site locations.
• Influence and motivate team members and actively lead team activities
• Coordinate routine maintenance activities on antennas and antenna systems including: physical inspections of their condition; radiofrequency signal and optical signal measurements and calculations of figures of merit; preventive and remediation treatments on system components; create and update technical documentation.
• Provide engineering direction to technical support staff undertaking the operations and maintenance of antennas, RF equipment and associated ground station equipment.
• Coordinate and manage test and evaluation activities and ensure technical artefacts generated are of an appropriate quality
• Build and sustain stakeholder engagement, including the ability to communicate with influence and negotiate effectively.
• Prepare correspondence, briefs and reports as required, including submissions and documents for senior management and leadership.
• Measure, calculate, analyse and interpret satellite ground station antenna system performance against as-commissioned baseline information and develop and evaluate strategies to remediate degradation.
• Provide subject matter expertise to the Australian Government in support of the requirements, acquisition, and sustainment of satellite ground station antennas and antenna systems.

Experience/Qualifications

• Bachelor of Engineering in Mechatronics, Electronics, Telecommunications, or Electrical discipline; equivalent recognised industry applied engineering and technology qualifications will be considered.
• Applicants must be Australian Citizens to meet defence security requirements.
• Ideally, you will have demonstrated experience with:
• Satellite ground station antenna mechanical, electrical, electronic, and control systems (to include diagnostics and fault-finding).
• Design and development of satellite and/or similar radiofrequency systems (including formal design review).
• Development and configuration management of technical documentation, for example test plans, procedures and reports.
• Installation and maintenance of radiofrequency transmission lines utilising waveguide, coaxial and fibre optic media.
• Satellite link radiofrequency signals (and interfering signals), their measurement, and calculations for link budget related performance (to include: power level, antenna gain, Noise Floor, Minimum Discernible Signal, intermodulation products, Signal to Noise Ratio, Dynamic Range, antenna wideband receiver noise temperature, antenna gain-to-noise temperature, Gain Slope, 3 dB Compression Point, Noise Figure etc).
• Measurement of optical signals carrying radiofrequency signals.
• Leading a multi-disciplined team.
• Consultation with a diverse group of stakeholders (both technical and non-technical).

Assessment Criteria

Applicants should address the criteria above and provide examples which demonstrate their ability to perform the duties/responsibilities of the position.

Prior to preparing your application you must also ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria below. In particular, please note the time frames relating to checkable background to meet security clearance requirements.

When you include an example, you should explain;

• Your personal role in the task
• The methods you used
• Any barriers you were able to overcome and
• The outcome.

Applicants should provide at least two referees who can vouch for their most recent work experience and performance.

Eligibility

Psychological Assessment - To be eligible for employment the preferred applicant will be required to undergo a Psychological Assessment.  Psychological assessments are conducted to determine suitability to work in a high security environment and/or to hold a Positive Vetting (PV) security clearance. You must obtain and maintain a PV security clearance to work in designated areas of Defence.

Security Clearance - The preferred applicant will be required to successfully undergo the security clearance vetting process at a Top Secret Positive Vetting level. The preferred applicant MUST be willing to disclose all relevant and required information and MUST have the ability to verify your background for whole of life i.e. birth to present time. The preferred applicant MUST have lived in Australia, or have a checkable background, for at least the preceding: the checkable period is ten years OR from 16 years of age, whichever is greater.

Important: You must be able to provide background information to the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA), to cover the relevant period of time in line with the required security clearance for this position. More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) website

Culture

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. Female applicants, people of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island descent and ex-defence personnel are encouraged to apply.

Benefits

• Flexible working options
• Study assistance
• Salary packaging
• Employee Incentive Program
• Global opportunities