Senior Software Developer Marine Robotic Systems

• Full time, fixed term 12-month position at the Australian Centre for Robotics

• Work with a world leading marine robotics group exploring the translation of robotics research into practice

• Base Salary HEO7 - 8 $117,133 - $147,858 + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The University of Sydney’s Australian Centre for Robotics (ACFR) is one of Australia’s leading robotics research groups and undertakes fundamental and applied research in the area of field robotics. Our marine systems group is focused on the development of autonomous marine vehicle systems for marine survey and has recently been awarded an Australian Economic Accelerator (AEA) Innovate grant to explore the commercialisation of our Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) technology. One of the key objectives of this project is to demonstrate the vehicle capabilities and validate operations in support of marine survey-as-a-service operations across several industry sectors.

Key project outcomes will include demonstration missions at sites around Australia and engaging with a range of key stakeholders as part of our market validation program. In collaboration with a strong existing scientific and industrial userbase, we will validate the developed tools and demonstrate how important scientific insights directly relevant to ecosystem management and commercial development in offshore industries can be derived from underwater imagery and associated data collected by AUV systems. Applications include environmental monitoring and impact assessment, climate change science, marine park management, marine archaeology, deep-sea geology, asset inspection and defence applications. Successful candidates will be expected to spend some time in the field supporting operations and validating the outcomes of their work in real-world trials to demonstrate capability.

To support this work, we are seeking a Senior Software Developer with experience in marine robotic systems. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in developing and refining the core functionalities that enable autonomous operations, including navigation, data processing, communication, and mission planning. Their primary responsibility will be developing communication systems and user-friendly command and control interfaces, allowing operators to easily configure missions and monitor AUV performance remotely as well as data visualisation tools and cloud-based platforms for real-time mission analysis. They will also work on software that allows the vehicles to navigate and adapt to dynamic underwater environments without human intervention, including algorithms for real-time sensor fusion, autonomous decision-making, and path optimisation to ensure the AUV can efficiently execute complex tasks such as underwater mapping or surveillance.

This role is offered across HEO7 and HEO8. At HEO7, you will have demonstrated experience and work independently, contributing to software development and supporting system design. At HEO8, you will bring deeper expertise, operate with a high degree of independence, and take a lead role in shaping and refining overall software design.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• work closely with researchers, engineers and stakeholders to deliver software solutions aligned to research goals

• lead development of software components and applications for marine robotic systems

• design system architecture to optimise performance and reliability

• implement testing methodologies and resolve bugs and errors

• plan and execute software deployments

• maintain technical documentation and support compliance, risk and safety requirements

About you

• postgraduate qualification or equivalent experience in software engineering, robotics or related discipline

• demonstrated experience developing software solutions in agile or scrum environments

• strong programming experience (e.g. Python, C++, JavaScript)

• experience with robotics systems including software development, integration and debugging

• experience designing and implementing testing frameworks and deployment pipelines

• experience working across embedded systems, web applications and user interface development.

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to be eligible to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-employment checks and declarations

Your employment is conditional upon the successful completion of all pre-employment or background checks required for the role in terms satisfactory to the University. Also, to meet the University’s obligations under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Eliminate Gender-Based Violence you will be asked to declare if you have been investigated for, or found to engaged in, sexual harm or gender-based violence in the course of previous employment or in a legal process. 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 are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by 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 LGBTQIA+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Platinum Employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion.

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 Liam Newson and Nicole Feain, Recruitment Operations by email to [email protected]

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Applications Close

Sunday 06 September 2026 11:59 PM