AI Developer

Azooa is preparing a response for RFQTS 80289 – AI Behaviour Development for EW Autonomous Systems Teaming and is seeking suitably qualified contractors with strong experience in autonomous agent behaviour development, artificial intelligence, modelling and simulation, robotics, and electronic warfare systems. This is a specialist Defence Science and Technology Group opportunity supporting the development and integration of intelligent behaviours for teams of autonomous platforms.

About the Role

• Role: Senior AI Behaviour Developer – EW Autonomous Systems
• RFQTS number: 80289
• Project: AI Behaviour Development for EW Autonomous Systems Teaming
• Client environment: Defence Science and Technology Group
• Working arrangement: Primarily onsite, with remote work of up to two days per week by agreement
• Required commencement: 14 September 2026
• Initial completion: 17 September 2027
• Extension: One extension period of up to 12 months at the Commonwealth’s discretion
• Security classification: Up to and including SECRET
• Clearance requirement: Negative Vetting Level 1

Responsibilities

• Developing and enhancing intelligent agent behaviours for autonomous platforms.
• Designing autonomous decision-making logic using behaviour trees, Belief-Desire-Intention models, state machines or comparable reasoning frameworks.
• Augmenting and integrating behaviours within DSTG’s existing agent behaviour libraries.
• Configuring and validating DSTG’s Operations Research Computer-Generated Forces application and associated behaviour-library plugins.
• Developing explainable, robust and verifiable reasoning models.
• Implementing autonomous behaviours using Python, C++ or comparable programming languages.
• Developing behaviours for individual platforms and coordinated multi-platform teams.
• Developing parameterised task-command interfaces between external applications, Computer-Generated Forces systems and behaviour libraries.
• Enabling the exchange of planning, task-progression, telemetry, platform-state and sensor information.
• Developing phased mission plans using mission-schema-based frameworks.
• Supporting Electronic Support data sharing and fusion.
• Developing autonomous Electronic Attack effect-generation behaviours.
• Producing Electronic Attack effector outputs within the simulation environment.
• Integrating automated electronic-warfare applications and message exchanges into the existing architecture.
• Conducting quality assurance, verification, validation and regression testing.
• Supporting laboratory integration and software testing.
• Troubleshooting software, behavioural-model and systems-integration issues.
• Documenting architectures, interfaces, developed behaviours, software changes and test outcomes.
• Participating in weekly meetings and communicating progress, risks and issues.
• Working collaboratively with DSTG personnel, technical specialists and international partners.
• Complying with Defence security, confidentiality, export-control and ITAR requirements.

Required Skills

• Practical experience with behaviour trees, BDI models, state machines or other autonomous decision-making algorithms.
• Experience gained through autonomous systems, robotics, modelling and simulation, gaming engines or comparable environments.
• Strong programming capability in Python, C++ or similar autonomy-development languages.
• Experience designing explainable, robust and verifiable reasoning models.
• Experience conducting quality assurance and validation testing for autonomous behaviours.
• Experience integrating software components within modelling, simulation or distributed-system environments.
• Ability to design, develop, test, troubleshoot and document complex software and behavioural models.
• Ability to contribute immediately within a multidisciplinary technical team.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to participate in weekly progress meetings and communicate clearly regarding deliverables, risks and issues.
• Ability to work onsite at DSTG Fishermans Bend for at least three days per week.
• Ability to hold or obtain and maintain an Australian Government NV1 security clearance.
• Capacity to work with information classified up to SECRET.
• Ability to comply with Australian Defence security requirements and applicable United States ITAR controls.

Preferred Skills

• Understanding of aircraft dynamics.
• Understanding of avionics and aircraft mission systems.
• Knowledge of electromagnetic environments.
• Experience with electronic-warfare systems or concepts.
• Experience with Electronic Support or Electronic Attack.
• Experience developing cooperative behaviours for teams of autonomous platforms.
• Experience with Computer-Generated Forces applications.
• Experience with air-operations modelling and simulation.
• Experience within human-in-the-loop simulation facilities.
• Experience developing mission-planning or mission-schema frameworks.
• Experience with sensor-data processing, fusion, platform telemetry or state information.
• Defence Science and Technology Group experience.
• Australian Defence or national-security project experience.
• Experience collaborating with United States Government or international Defence partners.
• Familiarity with ITAR-controlled technical information.
• An active NV1, NV2 or Positive Vetting clearance.

Pay range and compensation package

Azooa recommended competitive bracket: $120–$145 per hour including super.

Azooa considers a rate below $145 per hour including super to provide the strongest competitive position for this opportunity.

Applications will also be accepted at rates between $145 and $170 per hour including super where the candidate’s experience, security clearance and technical alignment support the higher rate.

Rates above $170 per hour including super may still be considered where they can be clearly justified by specialist autonomous-systems expertise, electronic-warfare knowledge, active security clearance, Defence experience or exceptional alignment with the role.

It is important that the final bid reflects current market conditions so that a strong candidate is not priced out of the opportunity. Azooa will review each suitable candidate’s expected rate and help position the submission competitively.

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