Location: Canberra, ACT, AU
Company: CSIRO
Acknowledgement of Country
CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation.
Role highlights
- Protect and secure mission-critical systems for NASA’s Deep Space Network at CDSCC.
- Deliver operational cybersecurity, including SIEM monitoring, incident response and vulnerability management.
- Collaborate with CSIRO and NASA/JPL teams to maintain strict security compliance.
About CSIRO
As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. Many of our iconic innovations were once considered impossible until someone, just like you, joined us and took on the challenge. Visit CSIRO.au for more information.
The opportunity
The Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC) supports ground-based spacecraft telecommunications as part of the international National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Deep Space Network (DSN), under contractual arrangements between NASA and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
The position is a member of the Systems Engineering Group, which provides a range of Engineering & Operational support services at the CDSCC in accordance with the requirements of NASA’s Deep Space Network and closely interacts with the ICT and Engineering teams.
As a Cybersecurity Officer within the Systems Engineering Group, you will play a hands-on role delivering operational cyber‑defensive activities to protect mission and flight systems. Working in a high‑assurance environment, you will help safeguard the confidentiality, integrity and availability of critical space communications while collaborating closely with CSIRO engineers and international partners, including NASA/JPL.
Your high-level duties will include:
- Deliver operational cybersecurity and incident response - Monitor SIEM, EDR and network activity, investigate security incidents, conduct forensic analysis, and coordinate response with NASA/JPL SOC teams.
- Ensure compliance with NASA and DSN security requirements - Maintain adherence to stringent cybersecurity policies and controls through audits, documentation, access management, and ongoing assurance activities.
- Identify and remediate security vulnerabilities - Conduct vulnerability scanning and security testing across mission and flight systems, and work with system administrators to remediate risks.
- Strengthen detection and threat awareness capabilities - Perform post‑incident analysis, research emerging threats, and continuously improve detection, prevention and defensive controls.
- Support secure system operations and access management - Manage user onboarding, privileged access, VPN and web access requests, inventories, and pre-connection security assessments for systems and hardware.
- Engage stakeholders and report on security posture - Collaborate with CSIRO engineers and NASA/JPL stakeholders, support staff training, attend security forums, and deliver regular operational security reports.
Role particulars
Location: Tidbinbilla – Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC), ACT
Salary: AU$109,364 – $143,830 plus Tracking Station Allowance of $139.16 per week, plus up to 15.4% superannuation (also eligible for fleet transport to & from site within a defined Canberra region)
Tenure & work schedule: Indefinite, full-time on a 9-day fortnightly schedule
Reference: 102680
As the successful candidate, you will bring:
Essential
- A tertiary qualification in Cybersecurity and/or equivalent relevant experience.
- Demonstrate a solid understanding of cybersecurity principles and responsible use of privileged system access with a strong commitment to ethical conduct, integrity, and confidentiality.
- Demonstrate hands-on experience mitigating vulnerabilities and resolving technical issues across diverse systems and environments.
- Knowledge of network security, firewalls, and security administration.
- Demonstrated knowledge of operating systems (Windows, Linux) and networking protocols.
- Demonstrated experience using a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platform.
- Willingness to continuously learn, adapt, and apply new skills within changing environments.
- Ability to work effectively, independently, or as part of a diverse multi-skilled team.
Desirable (How to Stand Out)
- Hands-on experience conducting penetration testing to identify system vulnerabilities and test security controls.
- Experience using security tools including: Rapid7, Nessus, Nmap and Wireshark.
- Ability to stay current with evolving threats and security technologies.
- Developing new ways to test system weaknesses.
- Programming/scripting skills (Python, Bash etc.).
- Automation and exploit understanding.
- Exposure to threat hunting and behavioural detection techniques.
- Ability to develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOP) and incident handling playbooks.
For full details about this role, please review the Position Description.
Not sure if you meet all the criteria?
While it is CSIRO policy that the successful candidate must meet all the essential criteria, there are many ways to demonstrate this. Don’t let the list discourage you. If you are unsure about applying, please reach out to the contact person in the Position Description.
Setting You Up for Success
We are committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible to everyone. We recognise that it may be helpful for us to adjust our process to make it equitable for your individual situation. Please contact careersonline@peopleteam.csiro.au and let us know how we can support you.
Life at CSIRO and flexible work arrangements
We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. We can discuss flexible work arrangements with you during the recruitment process. CSIRO also offers a range of leave entitlements, benefits and career development opportunities. To find out more, visit Careers at CSIRO.
Inclusion and belonging
Solving Australia's greatest challenges takes a diversity of minds and lived experiences. We know diverse teams are more effective and deliver more innovative outcomes. As an equal employment opportunity organisation, we are committed to creating diverse and inclusive teams where people feel they belong. We recognise that true diversity encompasses all ages, abilities, cultures, faiths, levels of education, genders, sexualities, diversity of thought and much more. We focus on hiring people who share our values of People First, Further Together, Making it Real and Trusted.
CSIRO holds Gold Status for the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and a Science in Australia Gender Equity Bronze Award.
Eligibility
Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens who can meet the U.S. Export Administration Regulation requirements (eligibility to be determined).
Appointment to this role is subject to the provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.
Child safety
CSIRO is committed to the safety and well-being of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy.
How to apply
Please apply online and provide a CV and a detailed cover letter (maximum 2 pages) that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role. Please attach your selection criteria responses to your cover letter as one document.
Applications close
27 April 2026, 11:00 pm AEST
We strongly encourage you to apply early, as we will review applications as they come in. CSIRO reserves the right to withdraw this ad prior to the closing date, if required.