McKellar will join the Brumbies on Monday as the club's defence and skills coach.

He's the last piece of the coaching revamp following Jake White's decision to quit the final two years of his contract.

McKellar will join head coach Stephen Larkham and director of rugby Laurie Fisher.

The former Queensland Reds squad member and Vikings coach says joining Larkham and Fisher is the start of his long-term goal to coach at the top.

''I'm someone who looks at coaching as a career, it's not something I just want to do for a couple of years and I would like to coach at the highest level,'' McKellar said.

''My first coaching job was as a 25-year-old in Ireland … it's something I've always wanted to do. But the next few years is my role with the Brumbies, learning off Steve and Laurie and getting experience. Hopefully we have some success and opportunities come from there.''

Larkham and Fisher are putting a major emphasis on producing local Super Rugby players in the coming seasons.

When the Brumbies started, 30 per cent of the squad was from Canberra. That has dropped to 10 per cent and Larkham and Fisher want that to change.

McKellar led the Vikings to John I Dent Cup premierships in 2011 and last year before starting an assistant coaching job with NTT Docomo in Japan.

White's decision to quit prompted Larkham and Fisher to ask if McKellar, a former loosehead prop, would return to Canberra.

The 37-year-old will also take on responsibility of the scrum to allow Fisher to focus on his duties developing rugby in Canberra.

McKellar's arrival also means the Brumbies won't require former NRL coach Brian Smith as part of the coaching structure.

Smith was recruited as a collision coach, but McKellar will be in charge of the defensive game plan and tackle area.

The Brumbies are still finalising their roster for next season.