Research Associate – UNSW Defence-funded project

Opportunity

The Research Associate will work on a Defence‑funded project to develop LLM‑agent‑driven tools that reconstruct network topology, services, and administrator intent from partial information during crises, enabling rapid situational awareness across diverse, multi‑vendor environments. The project is conducted in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Sydney. Only citizens of Australia, the Five Eyes Countries (New Zealand, Canada, the USA, and the UK), and NATO member countries will be considered. The role reports to Professor Salil Kanhere, Dr Rahat Masood, and A/Prof Gustavo Batista and has no direct reports.

• Salary: Level A – $91,381 – $121,838 per annum + 17% superannuation
• Employment type: Full Time
• Contract duration: Fixed‑term to March 2027
• Location: Kensington, Sydney, Australia

Key Qualifications

• PhD (or soon to be awarded) in computer science, electrical engineering, or related area with demonstrated experience in computer networks and artificial intelligence.
• Experience researching computer networking, network protocols, routing protocols, network management, and network performance measurement.
• Hands‑on experience with networking tools and simulators.
• Good understanding and experience with machine learning and Large Language Models (LLMs).
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research with limited supervision.
• Demonstrated track record of publications in top‑rated journals and conferences in the discipline.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team, collaborate across disciplines, and build effective relationships.
• Strong interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to communicate and interact with a diverse range of stakeholders, external clients and students.
• Ability to supervise undergraduate students or equivalent experience in the supervision of junior staff in related projects.

Application Eligibility

Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment. Applicants must hold Australian working rights or Australian citizenship. Eligible candidates are citizens of Australia, the Five Eyes Countries (New Zealand, Canada, the USA, and the UK) and NATO member countries.

Additional Information

UNSW is committed to evolving a culture that embraces equity and supports a diverse and inclusive community where everyone can participate fairly, in a safe and respectful environment. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and encourage applications from people of diverse gender, sexual orientation, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, people with disability and those with caring and family responsibilities. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff.

The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.