Hook
If you’re a hands-on engineer who loves shaping performance from the drawing board to real-world impact, a top-tier opportunity awaits in Australia’s elite sports ecosystem.
Introduction / context
At the intersection of aerospace-grade precision and high-performance sport, the AIS Sports Engineering team crafts tailor-made equipment for Australia’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes. This isn’t about generic gear; it’s about intentional, tech-driven solutions that push athletes to their best while meeting the exacting standards of professional motorsport and aerospace manufacturing. The role taps into a fast-paced, collaborative environment where engineers partner with athletes, coaches, and the National Institute Network (NIN) to translate cutting-edge innovations into tangible performance gains.
What the role offers
- A full-time position focused on designing, building, and validating custom sporting equipment and instrumentation for elite performers.
- Regular collaboration with a high-caliber team and external stakeholders to deliver high-quality project outcomes that meet aerospace/professional standards.
- Exposure to the entire project lifecycle—from concept and design to manufacture, testing, and delivery—using the latest technologies.
Key responsibilities and why they matter
- End-to-end equipment projects: You’ll be involved in ideation, design for manufacture, prototyping (including 3D printing), testing, and delivery. What makes this interesting is the blend of creativity and rigor: you’re solving real athlete needs with hardware that must be dependable under competition pressure.
- Innovation delivery: The role emphasizes best-practice, cutting-edge approaches and new methods to advance technology in sport. This is the kind of work where incremental improvements compound into podium-level performance.
- Stakeholder partnerships: You’ll establish and maintain productive relationships with athletes, coaches, and the broader AIS/NIN network. Strong collaboration here isn’t optional—it’s the engine that converts technical capability into performance outcomes.
- Advisory and education: Beyond building gear, you’ll educate teams on innovation and technology, helping accelerate strategic initiatives across sport science and engineering.
What the ideal candidate looks like
- Education: An undergraduate degree in mechatronic, mechanical, or aerospace engineering (or an equivalent discipline).
- Experience: At least three years in mechanical or mechatronics engineering, with evidence of hands-on design for manufacture across diverse technologies (both additive and subtractive).
- Electronics and instrumentation: Demonstrated project design and construction experience for electronics systems, plus practical know-how in assembling high-performance components.
- Materials and fabrication: Experience working with high-performance materials and hands-on manufacturing skills, including 3D printing.
- Project management: A track record of managing engineering technology projects from inception to delivery, including client-facing project delivery.
Eligibility and safeguarding context
- Citizenship and security: The role is restricted to Australian citizens who can obtain and maintain an AGSVA security clearance.
- Child safety: In line with the Commonwealth Child Safety Framework, the organization requires a Working with Vulnerable/Children Checks for positions involving contact with young people.
- Commitment to screening: Applicants working with children must complete the necessary screenings prior to appointment.
Practical notes for applicants
- If a merit pool is created, it may be used to fill ongoing or fixed-term roles within 18 months from the ad date.
- The organization operates under the Australian Sports Commission Act 1989 and may recognize prior service when applicable.
- If you hit any technical glitches with the recruitment system, the People & Culture Hub is your go-to contact via email or phone.
Cultural note: acknowledging place and people
The ASC explicitly honors the traditional custodians of lands across Australia and extends respect to First Nations peoples. This isn’t just ceremonial—it reflects a broader, values-driven approach to sport that recognizes equity, reconciliation, and the social impact of athletic excellence.
What makes this opportunity compelling
What stands out is the chance to operate at a rare convergence of advanced engineering discipline and elite sport. This role isn’t about incremental tweaks; it’s about engineering as a performance differentiator. You’re not just designing a device—you’re instrumenting a pathway for athletes to transcend boundaries, supported by a system that treats precision as a competitive edge.
Additional context and reflections
- The emphasis on “aerospace/professional motorsport standard” signals a demanding quality bar. For engineers, that means tight tolerances, robust validation, and documentation practices that survive high-stakes environments.
- The integration with NIN highlights the value of cross-institution collaboration. Innovation in sport often flourishes when researchers, coaches, and athletes align around a shared problem and a shared timeline.
- The safeguarding requirements aren’t merely compliance; they reflect the real-world complexity of working with athletes and youth—an important reminder of the ethical stakes in sports engineering.
Conclusion and takeaway
This role represents a rare career juncture where deep mechanical and electronics expertise meets the mission-driven world of Olympic sport. If you’re energized by transforming technical knowledge into tangible athlete advantage, and you’re comfortable operating under high standards and fast cadences, this position could be a meaningful platform to shape performance and contribute to a broader national purpose. It’s not just a job; it’s an invitation to engineer excellence at the highest level of sport.
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