Senior AI Engineer / Azure AI Foundry - Federal Government

Senior AI Engineer / Azure AI Foundry - Federal Government

12-month contract + 2 x 12-month extension options | ACT, NSW, VIC or QLD | Hybrid

An opportunity is available for an experienced Senior AI Engineer to join a specialist Federal Government team delivering enterprise AI, data, automation and DevOps capability.

This role is suited to a senior engineer with strong experience across Azure AI Foundry, Azure OpenAI, generative AI, AI agents, Python, RAG architectures and MLOps.

You will design, build and operationalise enterprise AI solutions, integrating intelligent applications with existing systems and data platforms while ensuring security, governance, scalability and responsible AI principles are embedded throughout delivery.

The opportunity

Working within a specialised Data Analytics, Transformation, Automation & AI team, you will help design and deliver enterprise AI solutions supporting a major Federal Government department and its partner agencies.

The role spans the full AI solution lifecycle — from experimentation and solution design through to deployment, integration, monitoring and optimisation.

You will work with business and technical stakeholders to identify opportunities for AI-enabled improvement and translate those needs into secure, practical and scalable solutions.

Key responsibilities

You will:

• Design, build and deploy AI solutions using Azure AI Foundry, Azure OpenAI and Microsoft AI services

• Develop AI agents, generative AI applications and machine learning solutions

• Integrate AI capabilities with enterprise systems, applications and data platforms

• Configure and maintain AI models, prompts, workflows and knowledge repositories

• Design and implement RAG-based architectures

• Build secure, scalable and reliable AI services aligned with enterprise standards

• Apply responsible AI, security, privacy and governance requirements

• Monitor and optimise AI solution performance, quality, usage and cost

• Implement AI engineering, DevOps and MLOps best practices

• Manage the end-to-end AI solution lifecycle from design to production support

• Provide technical advice across AI architecture, platforms and solution design

• Support proof-of-concepts, pilots and experimental AI initiatives

• Contribute to the ongoing enhancement of Azure AI Foundry and related platforms

• Develop technical documentation, standards and operating procedures

• Share knowledge and help build AI engineering capability across the organisation

What we're looking for

You will be a senior AI engineer or technical specialist with demonstrated experience delivering enterprise AI solutions within complex technology environments.

You will bring:

• Demonstrated experience designing, building and deploying enterprise AI solutions using Azure AI Foundry, Azure AI Services, generative AI and machine learning platforms

• Proven experience developing AI agents and intelligent applications

• Strong experience integrating AI solutions with enterprise systems and data platforms

• Strong knowledge of Python, REST APIs and cloud-based integration

• Experience designing and implementing RAG architectures

• Strong understanding of AI engineering, DevOps and MLOps practices

• Demonstrated experience delivering secure, scalable and reliable AI services

• Experience applying responsible AI, privacy, security and governance controls

• The ability to provide practical technical advice across AI architecture and solution design

• Strong stakeholder engagement skills across both technical and business teams

Technical environment

Experience across the following technologies and capabilities will be highly relevant:

• Azure AI Foundry

• Azure OpenAI

• Microsoft AI Services

• Generative AI

• AI agents

• Python

• REST APIs

• Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)

• Microsoft Copilot technologies

• Azure cloud services

• GitHub

• Azure DevOps

• MLOps

• AI governance

• Security and privacy

• Enterprise systems integration

Highly regarded

Experience in the following will be particularly well regarded:

• AI proof-of-concepts and pilot programs

• AI experimentation and rapid prototyping

• Optimising Azure AI Foundry and related Microsoft AI platforms

• Enterprise-scale AI adoption

• AI platform engineering

• Government or other highly regulated environments

• Working across Agile, DevOps and multidisciplinary delivery teams

About the team

The Data Analytics, Transformation, Automation & AI section is a specialist team responsible for delivering reliable and high-quality ICT capability across the department and its partner agencies.

The team provides enterprise data analytics platforms, AI solutions, DevOps services and automation capability, using modern delivery approaches including Agile, DevOps and traditional delivery frameworks.

Its work supports informed decision-making, operational efficiency and the responsible adoption of data and AI technologies across government.

Contract details

• Level: Senior / EL1 equivalent

• Contract: 12 months

• Extensions: Up to 2 x 12-month extensions

• Closing: 12pm Thursday, 17 September 2026

• Hours: Up to 40 hours per week

• Locations: ACT, NSW, VIC or QLD

• Working arrangements: Hybrid

• Security: Must be able to obtain an Australian Government Baseline security clearance

If based in Canberra, the successful candidate may be required to attend the Canberra office approximately three days per week and/or as operationally required.

Candidates based outside the ACT may be required to attend a relevant state office or regional hub and may occasionally be required to travel to Canberra.

Applying

Please apply through seek and address your response to Maria

Applicants will need to provide a response of up to 5,000 characters addressing the essential criteria and demonstrating relevant experience, supported by practical examples of work delivered.