Principal OCS/ICT Engineer
KBR · Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Title:
Principal OCS/ICT Engineer
Who we are?
KBR’s Infrastructure Solutions business employs over 1,500 people across Australia. Our strong project delivery record, industry reputation and trusted partnerships have driven significant growth, creating outstanding career development and project opportunities for our people.
We’re known for our collaborative “One Team” culture and our commitment to working closely with clients and construction partners to achieve exceptional results. Our open, inclusive environment ensures people are valued, supported and able to thrive. By joining KBR, you become part of a team that works together, shares common values and is united in delivering great outcomes.
The Opportunity
We are seeking a Principal ICT / Operational Communications Systems (OCS) Engineer to join our growing Electrical Infrastructure team, delivering some of Australia's most significant rail, defence and transportation projects. This is a career-defining opportunity for an experienced communications systems leader to provide technical direction and strategic oversight across complex, multidisciplinary infrastructure programs.
As a recognised subject matter expert, you will lead the planning, design, integration, assurance, and delivery of critical ICT and Operational Communications Systems that support safe, reliable, and future-ready transport networks. You will act as a trusted advisor to clients, provide technical governance across multiple projects, and play a key role in shaping the growth, capability, and market profile of our transport communications practice.
Working closely with project directors, discipline leads, and key stakeholders, you will drive project outcomes from concept through to commissioning and operational handover while mentoring engineers, developing technical standards, and contributing to business development, bids, and strategic initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide technical leadership and governance for ICT and Operational Communications Systems (OCS) across major rail, metro, road, airport, and transport infrastructure projects.
- Lead the development, review, and approval of complex engineering designs, technical specifications, interface requirements, and project deliverables.
- Act as the discipline lead and technical authority for communications systems including CCTV, PA/VA, Passenger Information Systems, Operational Networks, Help Points, Radio Systems, Fibre Infrastructure, Wireless Communications, and emerging digital technologies.
- Establish project technical strategies, delivery approaches, and system architectures aligned with client requirements and industry best practice.
- Lead multidisciplinary coordination activities and manage critical interfaces across signalling, rolling stock, stations, power, control systems, and operational technologies.
- Provide oversight of systems engineering, requirements management, verification and validation, systems assurance, testing, commissioning, and operational readiness activities.
- Manage and influence key client relationships, acting as a trusted advisor and technical representative throughout project delivery.
- Lead technical reviews, design assurance processes, risk assessments, and governance reviews, ensuring compliance with applicable standards and regulatory requirements.
- Mentor, coach, and develop engineers and technical professionals, fostering a high-performing and collaborative team culture.
- Support resource planning, project execution, and technical quality management across multiple concurrent projects.
- Contribute to business development activities including proposals, bids, client engagement, framework opportunities, and market growth initiatives.
- Drive innovation and continuous improvement through the adoption of emerging communications, digital engineering, cybersecurity, and smart transport technologies.
- Champion safety, quality, sustainability, and engineering excellence across all project activities.
About You
You are an established ICT and Operational Communications Systems leader with a strong track record delivering complex transportation infrastructure projects. You bring deep technical expertise, strategic thinking, and proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams through all phases of project delivery.
You are recognised for your ability to influence stakeholders, provide trusted technical advice, and navigate complex engineering challenges while maintaining a focus on quality, safety, and client outcomes. Beyond project delivery, you are passionate about developing people, growing technical capability, and shaping the future of transport communications and digital infrastructure.
What You Bring
- Significant experience leading the delivery of ICT, telecommunications, operational communications, or systems engineering solutions on major infrastructure programs.
- Demonstrated experience acting as a technical lead, discipline lead, or engineering manager on complex transport projects.
- Strong expertise across Operational Communications Systems and associated transport technologies, architectures, and industry standards.
- Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams and manage complex technical interfaces across large-scale projects.
- Extensive knowledge of systems engineering methodologies, requirements management, assurance, verification and validation, testing, commissioning, and operational readiness.
- Strong client engagement, stakeholder management, negotiation, and influencing skills.
- Demonstrated experience managing design delivery, technical quality, project risks, and commercial considerations.
- Experience mentoring engineers and developing technical capability within a consulting or project environment.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Proficiency with engineering documentation, design management systems, and Microsoft Office Suite.
- Degree qualification in Electrical Engineering, Communications Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, ICT Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline.
As a function of the work that we do, it is a key requirement that you are an Australian citizen and either hold or are eligible for, security clearance with the Australian Defence.
Desirable
- Extensive experience delivering major rail, metro, light rail, airport, or complex transportation infrastructure projects.
- Strong knowledge of Australian rail standards, transport authority requirements, and international ICT and communications standards.
- Experience leading systems assurance, RAMS, cybersecurity, and operational readiness activities.
- Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) status or equivalent professional accreditation.
- Experience leading technical teams within a consulting, engineering advisory, or design consultancy environment.
- Demonstrated involvement in business development, client account management, framework delivery, or strategic growth initiatives.
- Experience developing discipline standards, technical frameworks, methodologies, or engineering governance processes.
Why Join Us?
You will have the opportunity to contribute to some of Australia's most complex and transformative transportation projects, working alongside industry-leading professionals in a collaborative and innovative environment. This role offers significant technical responsibility, career growth opportunities, and the chance to shape the future of transport infrastructure through the delivery of critical communications and operational technology systems.
https://kbr.foleon.com/is-australia/who-we-are/who-we-are
This position gives you the opportunity to continue KBR's success in delivering major Defence, Transport and Infrastructure projects.
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