C4DASI – Autonomous Systems & Artificial Intelligence Assurance

About the Role

The Department of Defence is seeking a highly experienced Systems Engineering professional to support the Command, Control, Computers and Communications Design and Autonomous Systems Integration Directorate (C4DASI) within VCDF Force Integration. This role supports the Director General Joint Warfare Design (DG JWD) as the Joint Force Integrator (JFI) for Autonomous Systems and Teaming (AST), contributing to the design guidance, assurance, interoperability and integration of Autonomous Systems (AS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies across the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The successful candidate will work within a highly strategic Defence environment focused on integrated warfighting capability across the Maritime, Land, Air, Cyber and Space domains. This opportunity is ideal for candidates with strong Defence systems engineering backgrounds combined with expertise in autonomous systems, AI-enabled technologies, policy development, interoperability assurance and Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).

Position Details

• Directorate: C4DASI – VCDF Force Integration
• Role Title: Autonomous Systems & Artificial Intelligence Assurance
• Start Date: 13 July 2026
• Location: Canberra ACT
• Security Clearance: Positive Vetting (PV) Mandatory

Key Responsibilities

The successful contractor will be responsible for:

Autonomous Systems & AI Assurance

• Provide specialist technical advice and assurance relating to Autonomous Systems (AS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies within Defence environments.
• Support the development and integration of autonomous systems capabilities across the ADF Joint Force.
• Contribute to interoperability assurance and design guidance activities for emerging Defence technologies.

Systems Engineering & Integration

• Apply systems engineering principles to support integrated force design activities.
• Support systems-of-systems integration and interoperability across Defence operating domains.
• Contribute to Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) activities and Defence architectural processes.

Defence Capability Development

• Support Autonomous Systems and Teaming capability development activities including:
  • Working groups
  • Exercises
  • Testing and experimentation
  • Technical conferences
  • Defence stakeholder engagements
• Assist with capability assurance and technical governance activities.

Policy, Governance & Risk

• Develop and contribute to:
  • Defence policies
  • Regulations
  • Risk management plans
  • Technical guidance documentation
• Support the evolution of autonomous systems governance frameworks within military contexts.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Engage with senior Defence leaders, technical SMEs, Defence committees and international partners.
• Facilitate workshops and technical discussions within Defence environments.
• Prepare and present technical briefs, committee papers and assurance documentation.

Deliverables & Reporting

• Produce monthly milestone reports and technical deliverables.
• Deliver outputs including:
  • Technical analysis
  • MBSE artefacts
  • Design guidance
  • Standards profiles
  • Risk assessments
  • Committee briefs
  • Meeting documentation

Essential Experience & Skills

Candidates must demonstrate:

• Strong theoretical and practical expertise in one or both of the following:
  • Autonomous Systems
  • Artificial Intelligence applications within Autonomous Systems
• Experience shaping policy and regulations within Defence or military environments.
• Demonstrated systems engineering experience within complex Defence programs.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and workshop facilitation skills.
• Experience working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of Defence capability development environments.

Highly Desirable Experience

Candidates with the following experience will be highly regarded:

• Autonomous systems development and risk controls
• AI systems development and assurance
• One Defence Capability System (ODCS) experience
• Defence Test & Evaluation (T&E) and experimentation activities
• Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) toolsets
• Defence architecture frameworks
• Systems-of-systems engineering
• Experience briefing senior Defence stakeholders