Engineering Operations Manager in Newcastle

At Thales, we know technology has the ability to make our world more secure, sustainable, and inclusive – driving this technology are our people. It takes talented people to build and power the systems and solutions that communities depend on every day. So, we stay curious and make space for diverse points of view. From manufacturing and engineering to cybersecurity and space, we’re driving progress in some of the world’s most important industries – and working together to build a future we can all trust.

Benefits @ Thales:

• Competitive remuneration + super + bonus
• Free medical health insurance for you and your family
• ThalesFlex – flexible working is our everyday
• Fitness Passport discount
• Employee discounts with a range of partners (travel, car hire, tech, and more)
• Modernised paid parental leave
• Novated lease options
• Family support through our partnership with Parents At Work

Our Team:

Our Above Water Systems team provides engineering & maintenance services to Royal Australian Navy vessels and commercial ships. We’re proud to bolster Australia’s sovereign capability through operational support to our defence partners. With ongoing training programs and a team of over 500, our people have room to grow and develop an impactful career with us.

Your job:

Working from the stunning Newcastle site, on Awabakal and Worimi land your role purpose will be:

• Lead engineering operations, workforce planning and resource allocation to ensure effective delivery across bids, projects and products within the AWS Engineering function.
• Act as the primary interface for engineering demand management, providing resource commitments and coordinating delivery with key stakeholders across the business.
• Drive operational performance, continuous improvement and the resolution of engineering delivery issues to support complex maritime Defence programs.
• Partner with Engineering leadership to develop engineering capability, manage critical skills, and provide performance and competitiveness reporting to support business objectives.

Your Experience:

On day one in this role, we’ll expect you to bring the following skills, experience and behaviours:

• Demonstrated experience leading engineering teams and operations within a Defence maritime environment.
• A Bachelor of Engineering degree or equivalent qualification, with Chartered Engineer (CPEng) status or the ability to attain it highly regarded.
• Proven ability to manage engineering resources, stakeholder relationships and cross-functional collaboration to achieve successful delivery outcomes.
• Strong communication, leadership and continuous improvement skills, with a focus on safety, quality and engineering excellence.

Good to Know:

You’ll get an email acknowledgement after you’ve applied, Thales strives to provide a personalised experience for all suitable applicants. As a Defence security clearance is required for this role, candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain an appropriate Australian Government clearance. It’s easy to dismiss the perfect opportunity if you don’t see yourself as the perfect fit. If this role feels right – no matter your background or personal circumstances – we’re committed to supporting a diverse workplace, and that starts here. We’re proud to be endorsed by WORK180 as an Employer for All Women, but we know there’s always more we can do. We’ll continue to foster industry partnerships, employee resource groups (ERGs) and development opportunities to make Thales a genuinely equitable employer, for everyone.