Job Description

As a fully owned subsidiary of Safran Electronics & Defense, Safran Electronics & Defense Australasia Pty Ltd (SEDA) delivers and supports various products including high-performance optronics and inertial navigation equipment.

Headquartered in Sydney, SEDA brings local expertise in the integration of optronics and navigation systems for the air, land, and naval platforms of the Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces.

The Optronics Engineer will lead the design and development of next-generation electro-optical systems. This strategic role involves defining the system architecture, evaluating key technology options, and leading the development of solutions. You will be responsible for bringing together a range of technologies—such as optics, image sensors, processing electronics, stabilisation mechanisms, and control algorithms—into a coherent, integrated system that meets stringent performance and environmental requirements.


In this role, you will be responsible for:

Lead the Electro-Optical Design Studies, including architecture definition, technology trade-offs, and performance evaluation.
Define high-level system requirements and decompose them into subsystem specifications.
Develop models and simulations to predict system performance in operational environments.
Conduct technology assessments and propose suitable solutions across optics, sensors, electronics, and mechanics.
Collaborate with experts from our French parent company to integrate specialist knowledge into the local system design.
Prepare and lead design reviews, technical documentation, and compliance assessments.
Support supplier selection, integration planning, and system validation in lab environments.
Contribute to risk analysis, cost estimation, and planning activities for future production.

Complementary Description

We are looking for a candidate who is confident and has the following attributes:

• Solid planning skills and stakeholders engagement
• Good organizational skills, with the ability to manage technical requirements and
ensure their integration across multiple project areas.
• Must display initiative and be proactive in seeking solutions
• Well-developed problem-solving skills and analytical mind
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task
• Strong customer service ethic and interpersonal skills
• Ability to build & maintain superior customer relationships
• Strong attention to detail
• Must be able to work autonomously as well as within a team environment
• Interest in advanced defence technologies

Job Requirements

To be successful in this role you must have:

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Optics, Physics, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, or related field.
Must hold at least a baseline security vetting on employment commencement, and ability to obtain NV1.
5+ years of experience in the design and development of optronic or electro-optical systems (e.g. imaging payloads, stabilized gimbals, tracking systems, optical sensors).
Demonstrated ability to lead technical design activities and manage system-level integration challenges.
Strong understanding of optical system design, focal plane arrays (e.g. MWIR, SWIR, LWIR), sensor electronics, image processing, and real-time systems.
Familiarity with modelling and simulation tools
Experience working in cross-functional engineering teams and with international partners.
Strong technical communication and documentation skills.
Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills to effectively engage cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities with meticulous attention to detail.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable:
Experience in the defence, aerospace, or space sectors.
Exposure to system development under regulatory or military standards.
Knowledge of stabilisation technologies, servo control, or embedded real-time architectures.
Experience managing technology maturation and transition from study to prototype.

Company Information

Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 100,000 employees and sales of 27.3 billion euros in 2024, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets.
Safran is in the 2nd place in the aerospace and defense industry in TIME magazine's "World's best companies 2024" ranking.

Safran Electronics & Defense offers its customers onboard intelligence solutions allowing them to understand the environment, reduce mental load and guarantee a trajectory, even in critical situations, in all environments: on land, at sea, in the sky or space. The company harnesses the expertise of its 13,000 employees towards these three functions: observe, decide and guide, for the civil and military markets.