Engineering Manager

Work with cutting-edge AI technology that helps make the world a safer and more secure place. DroneShield (ASX:DRO) develops market-leading counter-drone solutions used by military organisations, government agencies, airports, critical infrastructure operators, and law enforcement operating in some of the most challenging and high-stakes environments in the world. Employees work at the forefront of innovation, solving complex technical problems and delivering mission-critical capabilities where performance, reliability, and speed matter. 

As an ASX200-listed company and the world's only publicly listed pure-play counter-drone business, DroneShield is experiencing rapid growth. Revenue increased from A$57 million in 2024 to more than A$217 million in 2025, supported by record profitability, a global sales pipeline exceeding A$2.5 billion, and annual R&D investment of over A$50 million. 

Since 2017, DroneShield has grown from 11 employees to more than 550 globally, with operations across Australia, the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, supporting customers in over 70 countries.   

Adelaide is one of DroneShield's primary technology and R&D hubs, bringing together engineers and specialists developing next-generation detection, analytics, and counter-drone capabilities. 

About the role  

We are seeking a senior engineering leader to lead, operate, and grow the Adelaide-based R&D organisation. This is a unique leadership role with full accountability for the Adelaide hub, covering people, technology, and site operations. 

The role is responsible for driving engineering execution, technical excellence, and team performance across a multidisciplinary group working on advanced defence technologies. 

You will lead a highly specialised team spanning algorithms, RF engineering, embedded systems, and software development, ensuring alignment with global technology strategy while delivering high-impact innovation locally. 

This position offers a clear pathway to Director-level leadership as the team and site continue to expand. 

The role reports to the VP of Embedded Systems and works closely with senior leadership across product, engineering, and operations. 

Responsibilities, Duties and Expectations  

• Lead and scale the Adelaide R&D engineering function, ensuring strong execution across multiple technical domains 
• Operate as the Adelaide Hub lead, with full accountability across people, technology, and site operations 
• Lead the recruitment and retention of top-tier engineering talent in a competitive market 
• Drive delivery of advanced engineering programs across RF sensing, DSP, embedded systems, AI/ML, and algorithms 
• Align Adelaide R&D Hub initiatives with Sydney headquarters’ technology strategy and product roadmap while maintaining strong local ownership 
• Align timelines with the project management group, manage conflicts and ensure that milestones and project deadlines are met. 
• Manage, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of engineers, fostering a culture of delivery, innovation, accountability, and collaboration 
• Lead end-to-end engineering execution, from concept and prototyping through to production readiness 
• Partner closely with Product, Operations, and global Engineering teams to ensure seamless delivery and integration 
• Establish and enforce engineering best practices across development, testing, and deployment processes 
• Ensure effective resource planning, prioritisation, and delivery against timelines and budgets 
• Contribute to strategic decision-making at the leadership level, providing technical insight into future capabilities and investments 
• Drive continuous improvement in engineering velocity, product quality, and technical capability 

Qualifications, Experience and Skills  

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field 
• 10+ years of engineering experience, with significant leadership responsibility in complex technical environments 
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams at scale, ideally with site or organisational ownership 
• Strong background in at least two of the following areas:  
• • RF systems / signal processing 
  • Embedded systems 
  • AI / Machine Learning 
  • Electronic warfare 
  • Distributed or high-performance systems 
• Demonstrated success in delivering complex R&D or product development programs 
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management capabilities 
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-growth environment with a high degree of autonomy 
• Experience working with defence, aerospace, or similarly regulated industries is highly regarded 

Note for recruitment agencies: We do not accept unsolicited candidates from external recruiters unless specifically instructed.

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