Lead Microservices & AI Technical Architect (Azure)

Job: - Lead Microservices & AI Technical Architect (Azure)- (Must be able to obtain Baseline Clearance)

Duration: - 12 Months (Potential Extension for another 24 months)

Location: - Canberra, ACT (Hybrid)

Job Summary

We are looking for an experienced Lead Microservices & AI Technical Architect for a long-term contract role with a Federal Agency.

Required Skills

· Extensive experience designing, implementing and governing cloud native, microservices and event driven architectures within complex enterprise environments, delivering scalable, resilient and secure business critical platforms.

· Demonstrated expertise in AI engineering and AI enabled solution delivery, including the development, deployment and operationalisation of enterprise AI capabilities, semantic search, machine learning solutions and responsible AI practices.

· Strong software engineering and platform engineering capability, including modern development frameworks, DevSecOps, CI/CD, automated testing, observability, security by design and operational excellence.

· Proven ability to lead enterprise technology modernisation and transformation initiatives, providing technical direction, influencing architecture decisions and delivering measurable improvements in platform reliability, security, scalability and engineering maturity.

· Exceptional stakeholder engagement, communication and leadership skills, with demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams, delivery partners and senior executives and translating complex business requirements into practical technology outcomes.

Desirable criteria

· Experience designing, implementing and operating container platforms using technologies such as Kubernetes, OpenShift, AKS, EKS or GKE, including platform automation, governance and workload management.

· 2.Experience with cloud platform modernisation, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), platform engineering, observability tooling and enterprise scale automation practices.

· 3.Experience leading delivery within Agile environments, including coaching geographically dispersed teams, driving capability uplift and fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

· Provide technical leadership and architectural authority for the design, governance and evolution of cloud native, microservices based and AI enabled platforms, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture, security and business transformation objectives.

· Lead the establishment of modern engineering and AI delivery practices, including AI enabled software development lifecycle (SDLC), DevSecOps, CI/CD, observability, automated testing and platform engineering standards that support secure, scalable and reliable service delivery.

Visa Status and Security Clearance

· Candidates must be an Australian Citizen and must have the ability to obtain Baseline Clearance

Contract Details

· Experience level: - Lead - EL2 equivalent

· Estimated Start Date: - Thursday, 01 October 2026

· Working arrangements: - Hybrid (The department supports flexible and remote working arrangements where operational requirements permit.)

· Contract length up to 12 months with up to a maximum of 2 × 12 months potential extensions.