Full time, fixed term for 18 months, with the possibility of extension Base Salary $150,628 17% superannuation Based at the Australian Centre for Robotics (ACFR), University of Sydney Lead breakthrough software and autonomy innovation for environmental resilience and sustainable industries About the opportunity Join a world-leading initiative that is shaping the future of sustainable, intelligent systems across environmental and industrial domains. We are seeking a visionary Senior Software Technical Lead to take a foundational role in a new faculty-wide initiative – Intelligent Systems for Environmental Resilience and Sustainable Industries (ISERSI). This initiative is redefining how field robotics, autonomy, digital twinning, and AI systems support climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, humanitarian engineering, and disaster response - ensuring solutions are aligned with real-world industry needs and challenges. Working at the intersection of engineering, computer science, agriculture, public health, and international development, this role offers the opportunity to shape transformative R&D, lead interdisciplinary project teams, and build scalable, real-world software systems designed for autonomous operations in complex, dynamic environments. You will be embedded within the Australian Centre for Robotics (ACFR) - a globally recognised research powerhouse - and contribute directly to the Faculty of Engineering’s broader strategic ambition to establish intelligent systems as a core research strength across disciplines. Your key responsibilities will be to: provide strategic and technical leadership across a portfolio of interdisciplinary software, AI, and autonomy projects aligned with sustainability, resilience, and commercialisation goals translate industry and stakeholder requirements into structured technical roadmaps for software, AI, autonomy, and digital twinning systems lead software architecture, integration, and deployment of AI and autonomy solutions for unstructured, real-time, and resource-constrained environments drive project progression through Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), ensuring prototyping, validation, and real-world application build partnerships with industry, government, and research collaborators, aligning hardware innovations with real-world needs and deployment challenges manage technical risk and budgets, oversee field trials and WHS compliance, and ensure quality delivery across project milestones support the Program Lead with industry and government funding proposals, resource planning, and technical mentoring of team members. About you You are a hands-on technical leader, systems thinker, and collaborator. You thrive in interdisciplinary environments and can translate vision into buildable systems that meet real-world demands. You will have: tertiary qualifications in Computer Science, Robotics, AI/ML, Software Engineering, Autonomous Systems, or a related field proven experience in software development for autonomous and intelligent systems, including robotics, AI/ML, and digital twin technologies strong coding skills (e.g. Python, C++, ROS), and experience in real-time systems, sensor fusion, and autonomy stacks a strong track record of industry-facing engagement and taking projects from concept to field deployment proven ability to manage project resources and budgets to deliver complex technical outcomes on time demonstrated expertise in WHS compliance, risk management, and managing field testing in diverse and challenging environments excellent collaboration skills, with experience engaging across a wide range of stakeholders, and especially academia, industry, and government stakeholders experience leading cross-functional engineering teams and mentoring junior staff. a passion for building technology that addresses sustainability, humanitarian needs, or planetary resilience. What’s in it for you Be part of a flagship University initiative that positions you at the centre of a new generation of sustainable, intelligent systems research. Work with a high-performing team at ACFR, with access to state-of-the-art platforms, sensing suites, and autonomy frameworks. Engage with an interdisciplinary network spanning agriculture, space, public health, and disaster resilience. Influence the design and delivery of student programs such as the Farm Robotics Challenge and Sydney Interplanetary Rover Initiative. Contribute to the strategic direction of large-scale industry bids and longer-term research infrastructure. Work Rights You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment. Pre-employment checks Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment. EEO statement At the University of Sydney, our shared values include diversity and inclusion and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this commitment through our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People , women , people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds , and those who identify as LGBTIQ . We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. How to apply Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page. For employees of the University or contingent workers, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard. Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply. For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Cherie Goodwin or Rebecca Astar , Recruitment Operations by email to recruitment.sea@sydney.edu.au © The University of Sydney The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment. Click to view the Position Description for this role. Applications Close Tuesday 27 May 2025 11:59 PM
