Principal Manufacturing Engineer; Engineer Manufacturing

Principal Manufacturing Engineer (Engineer Manufacturing
4) - 29068

Location: Virginia Beach, VA, Western Australia, Australia

Requisition Number: 29068

Required Travel: 11 - 25%

Employment Type: Full Time/Salaried/Exempt

Anticipated Salary Range: $ - $

Security Clearance: Ability to Obtain

Level of

Experience:

Senior

HII-Australia is seeking a Principal Manufacturing Engineer to join the team! This position will be located in Henderson, Australia.

Drive the uplift of Australia’s defence manufacturing capability through high‑stakes supplier audits and maturity assessments. Influence program outcomes by applying deep technical judgement across investigations, risk assessments and assurance activities.

• Extensive experience within the US or UK Naval Nuclear enterprise, applying technical or engineering expertise in high‑integrity, safety‑critical environments.
• Deep working knowledge of MILSPECs and NAVSEA requirements, including SUBSAFE and nuclear‑classified component standards.
• Proven subject‑matter expertise in nuclear‑related manufacturing disciplines such as weld engineering, machining, forging/casting and advanced manufacturing processes.

You are a seasoned manufacturing engineering professional who thrives in complex, high‑accountability environments where technical excellence and disciplined execution matter. You bring a deep understanding of manufacturing processes, supplier capability and engineering governance, and you know how to apply that knowledge to real‑world challenges with clarity, confidence and sound judgement.

You are comfortable leading supplier audits, guiding corrective action programs and shaping the maturity of supply chains through rigorous assessment, coaching and continuous improvement. You have a natural ability to mentor others, share knowledge and elevate the capability of the people around you. You take pride in being a trusted technical authority who can interpret standards, assess risk and make informed decisions across the engineering lifecycle.

You communicate with transparency and respect, building strong working relationships across teams, suppliers and stakeholders. You are motivated by purpose and aligned to values that emphasise integrity, accountability, safety and excellence. You understand the importance of a nuclear‑minded safety culture and bring a disciplined, detail‑driven approach to every task. You are proactive in identifying hazards, resolving issues and maintaining a safe working environment for yourself and others.

You are adaptable and prepared for frequent interstate travel, with the flexibility to support overseas engagements when required. Above all, you are committed to continuous learning, professional growth and contributing to a culture where people support one another and deliver with pride.

• Play a pivotal role in strengthening supplier capability, ensuring compliance and embedding technical excellence across our programs.
• Lead and support onboarding audits, conduct supplier assessments and guide the development of corrective actions that uplift manufacturing maturity and ensure suppliers meet contractual and technical requirements.
• Plan and execute independent assurance activities, maintain accurate audit records and contribute to program reviews with clear, evidence‑based engineering insight.
• Your work will directly influence procurement decisions, operational planning and the integration of technical requirements across the supply chain.
• Conduct complex investigations, apply engineering judgement to resolve issues and produce high‑quality technical documentation that supports through‑life knowledge capture.
• Lead discussions with internal and external customers, provide expert advice across your discipline and contribute to the development of business artefacts that support successful bids.
• Help shape engineering processes, drive continuous improvement and champion standardised manufacturing and supplier due‑diligence practices.
• As a leader, you will guide and mentor engineering practitioners, support succession planning and foster a culture of clear communication, capability development and operational…