Principal AI Engineer

Swordfish Computing is an Australian sovereign Defence science and technology professional services company building next-generation AI-enabled, software-driven systems that deliver tactical and strategic advantage. Since 1999, we have worked with Defence, DSTG, academia and industry to undertake innovative R&D and accelerate promising technologies into trusted operational systems. Our technologies help Defence understand, decide and act faster, enable integrated effects, strengthen mission resilience and create asymmetric advantage.

This role is for a highly experienced and motivated Principal AI Engineer to provide technical leadership and people management across our Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) research and engineering capability. It will suit someone who combines deep expertise in AI with strong software engineering capability, and who enjoys solving difficult problems and turning emerging research into robust, practical systems while also acting as a trusted technical advisor, mentor, and leader. The work extends well beyond conventional machine learning, spanning machine perception, explainable reasoning and trusted decision support, autonomous and multi-agent systems, human-machine teaming, modelling and simulation and optimisation, both at HQ and on the edge.

What we are looking for

We are looking for a person with deep expertise in AI, broad engineering judgement and a strong foundation in software engineering. You may currently be a Principal Engineer, Lead AI Engineer, Research Scientist, Technical Lead, Senior Defence Researcher or hold another senior technical role.

You will bring substantial AI expertise and the ability to apply it beyond a narrow area of specialisation. You will be comfortable tackling difficult problems where the solution is not obvious, evaluating competing approaches, designing experiments, challenging assumptions and assessing whether emerging technologies offer genuine value.

The role requires both research curiosity and strong software engineering discipline. You should be as comfortable reasoning about architecture, testing, maintainability and deployment as you are evaluating models, algorithms and experimental results.

We take a practical view of AI. Success is not simply achieving a strong benchmark result. Defence applications require understanding how systems perform under realistic conditions, where they fail, how they interact with people and other systems, and what evidence is needed to establish trust. 

You will also enjoy working with other capable people. We are looking for someone who can provide strong technical direction, challenge ideas constructively and help talented engineers and researchers do their best work.

What you will do

As a Principal AI Engineer, you will provide senior technical leadership across AI research and engineering projects, shaping architectures, technical approaches and experimentation strategies for difficult and often ambiguous problems.

You will work across AI, modelling and simulation, software engineering and systems integration to turn research into practical Defence capability. Working with the CTO and senior technical leaders, you will help shape Swordfish’s AI direction, research priorities and areas of differentiated capability.

You will mentor engineers and researchers, strengthen technical standards and build trusted relationships with Defence, DSTG, academia and industry. You will also contribute to proposals, R&D roadmaps and investment decisions, helping identify emerging technologies with genuine operational potential.

Location

Swordfish is headquartered in the Adelaide CBD with our teams operating from Adelaide and Edinburgh. This is an Adelaide-based role with flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

• Technically challenging work with real impact
• Supportive management and collaborative team members
• Opportunity to work with highly experienced Defence scientists, engineers and researchers
• Influence over the direction of Swordfish's AI research and engineering
• Attractive remuneration
• Support for your professional development

Skills and Experience

The potential breadth of this role is considerable. We expect strong candidates to bring significant depth in a subset of these areas, together with the ability to work across the others.

Relevant skills and experience:

• Technical expertise in AI/ML, with a strong record of solving difficult applied research and engineering problems.
• Strong software engineering capability, including proficiency in programming, testing practices, version control, CI pipelines, and the ability to develop and maintain reliable, high-quality solutions.
• Experience integrating AI/ML into larger engineered systems, rather than treating models as standalone artefacts.
• Modelling and simulation, including experience using simulated environments to develop, test and evaluate complex engineered systems.
• Demonstrated technical leadership, with the ability to guide engineers, scientists or researchers and help others develop.
• Strong technical judgement and experimental rigour, including the ability to critically assess evidence and distinguish genuinely useful technologies from hype.
• Clear communication and strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain complex ideas and build trusted, collaborative technical relationships.

Desirable experience:

• Experience in Defence, national security, aerospace, autonomous systems, robotics, mission systems or other safety- or mission-critical environments would be highly regarded.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, Engineering, Mathematics or a related discipline.
• A Master’s or PhD in a relevant discipline would also be highly regarded, particularly where accompanied by a strong record of applied research or engineering achievement.
• Australian Citizenship.
• Australian Security Clearance - Either already have or be eligible to hold and maintain a NV1 clearance.