Hundreds more job cuts are looming at Australia's peak science organisation the CSIRO as it pushes through its biggest restructure in decades.

The organisation sacked its legal team in Melbourne this week, losing lawyers who have protected the organisation's scientific patents for decades. The axe is expected to fall again among 1600 scientific support staff.

Management confirmed more cuts on Friday, but said it could not provide numbers.

In more bad news for government science jobs, private suppliers are already trying to poach specialists from the Defence Materiel Organisation in Canberra amid widespread expectations that much of procurement group will be privatised - with the loss of up to 3000 jobs.

Defence Minister David Johnston fuelled speculation on Friday that the government would boost private sector involvement in defence purchasing after its Commission of Audit reports.

Heads are also expected to roll among the CSIRO's executive ranks. with the chiefs of 22 divisions and flagships vying for just nine jobs.