Production Engineering Lead
About the Opportunity
Austal Ships require a Production Engineering Lead within the Production Engineering Program Delivery team. The position plays a critical leadership role in ensuring the successful delivery of naval and commercial shipbuilding programs. Responsible for leading a team of Production engineers to bridge engineering designs with manufacturing processes, ensuring production teams meet quality, cost and schedule objectives.
About Austal
Austal is Australia’s global shipbuilder, Defence prime contractor, and maritime technology partner of choice. We design, construct, and support defence and commercial vessels for the world’s leading operators with operations spanning Australia, the USA, Philippines, and Vietnam.
Under the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement, Austal is leading a new era of continuous naval shipbuilding in Western Australia. We’re driving innovation, supporting sovereign capability, and creating long-term opportunities for Australian industry and workers.
Learn more at austal.com/ssa
This is your opportunity to contribute to projects of national significance. The maritime is now.
What’s Involved
- Lead, mentor, and develop Production Engineering staff while fostering collaboration, accountability, and continual improvement.
- Allocate resources effectively, provide coaching, and ensure team performance meets project and organisational objectives.
- Oversee technical reviews, ensuring drawings, specifications, and production plans meet manufacturability and project requirements.
- Provide strategic engineering guidance to resolve complex production issues and support seamless designâtoâbuild integration.
- Drive optimisation of production processes, implementing improvements, automation opportunities, and new technologies.
- Lead root cause analysis, implement corrective actions, and champion lean and continuous improvement practices.
- Collaborate with crossâfunctional teams and external stakeholders to meet program needs and uphold safety, quality, and environmental standards.
- Provide technical guidance to production staff while supporting the development and standardisation of engineering procedures and best practices.
You’ll Need
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical manufacturing, Naval Architecture or Industrial engineering
- 10+ years’ experience in a production manufacture role within shipbuilding, defence, heavy manufacturing or similar industry
- Strong technical understanding of Ships Fabrication / Structure, assembly, Mechanical Systems and manufacturing processes
- Proven ability to manage teams and deliver engineering outcomes to cost, schedule, and quality targets.
- Proficiency in engineering and CA software (AutoCAD or similar)
- Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance
Why Join Us?
- Competitive compensation and benefits package.
- Professional development and training opportunities.
- A supportive and dynamic work environment.
- Opportunities for career advancement within our growing organisation.
At Austal we are committed to providing a safe and inclusive work environment for all. We believe that achieving greater diversity will enhance our operations and as such we actively encourage Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders, people of all backgrounds, ages, sexual orientation, and those with Disability to apply.
Veterans are encouraged to apply.
Learn more at Careers at Austal Australia | Austal: Australia
