AI Enablement Architect — Mission Software Solutions — Melbourne or Canberra

Leidos; Canberra; Hybrid; AUD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos Australia is leading the design and delivery of a next-generation AI-enabled Mission Systems capability. You will shape the technical vision from concept to production, ensuring secure, scalable AI capabilities integrated into mission-critical systems.

You will guide architecture, planning and implementation, collaborating with stakeholders and engineers to translate requirements into practical AI-enabled outcomes and robust designs that meet security standards.

Qualifications

• Must have experience as a Solution/Systems/Platform/Enterprise Architect in complex tech environments.
• Experience designing AI, ML or generative AI solutions with governance and responsible AI practices.
• Ability to develop architectures, roadmaps and infrastructure designs delivering secure, scalable outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture, planning and design for a high-profile AI enablement initiative.
• Define target architecture, BOM and application design for secure, resilient solutions.
• Provide technical leadership across build, integration, assurance and deployment.

Skills

Solution Architect

Systems Architect

Platform Architect

Enterprise Architect

Job description

Description

About Leidos Australia

At Leidos Australia, our work goes beyond a job title. We design, build, operate and support the systems, services and capabilities that help protect and advance the Australian way of life.

Backed by a global organisation of more than 40,000 people, our Australian team of around 2,000 has partnered with government, defence and national security customers for more than 30 years. We deliver mission-critical solutions where reliability, trust and purpose matter.

Leidos is a destination for people who want their work to have purpose, their contribution to be recognised, and their career to grow without needing to fit a single mould. Meaningful work is supported by benefits, flexibility and career pathways that help you grow while balancing life outside work. This includes:

• Flex Your Way - Tailor work to your life with options including Life Days (up to 12 extra days off per year), part-time arrangements, job sharing, and compressed hours.
• Wellbeing That Matters - Free access to Headspace and MeQuilibrium, plus dedicated wellness spaces to support your mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing.
• Learn Without Limits - Access over 120,000 on-demand courses, alongside technical, project management, leadership, and professional development opportunities.
• Work That Makes an Impact - Contribute to nationally significant projects that matter, solve complex challenges, and accelerate your career through unique growth opportunities.
• Build Your Future - Whether you're deepening technical expertise or preparing for leadership, we'll invest in your development every step of the way.
• And Much More - These are just a few of the ways we invest in our people and help them thrive.

About the Team

You’ll join a team where people work with integrity, inclusion, innovation, agility, collaboration and commitment. In practice, that means sharing ownership, solving complex problems together and staying connected to the customer context, the purpose behind the work and how each role contributes to meaningful outcomes.

The Mission Software Solutions business delivers customized and off-the-shelf software solutions to Defence, Intelligence and other Government sectors. The business also builds capabilities that can be used for a wide range of applications in both traditional and non-traditional environments; providing leadership in the advancement of technological modernisation of complex enterprises within Government.

The Opportunity

This role is ideally Melbourne-based however will consider Canberra if willing to travel.

This is not a traditional architecture role. It is an opportunity to lead the design and delivery of a next-generation AI-enabled Mission Systems capability at a pivotal moment in the organisation's technology evolution.

As the AI Enablement Architect, you will shape the technical vision for a strategic AI capability from concept through to production deployment. Working within a complex Mission Systems environment, you will help define how secure, scalable and operationally effective AI capabilities are integrated into mission-critical systems.

• Lead the architecture, planning and solution design for a high-profile AI enablement initiative.
• Define the target architecture, application design and infrastructure Bill of Materials (BOM), ensuring solutions are secure, resilient and operationally ready.
• Partner with stakeholders, engineers and technical specialists to translate operational requirements into practical AI-enabled outcomes.
• Provide technical leadership throughout implementation, guiding build, integration, assurance and deployment activities.

This role offers the opportunity to work with emerging technologies, solve complex technical challenges and play a key role in shaping the future of AI capability within Mission Systems.

About You

You are an experienced Architect who enjoys solving complex technical challenges and turning emerging technologies into real-world outcomes. You bring the ability to balance strategic thinking with practical delivery, influencing stakeholders, guiding multidisciplinary teams and shaping solutions that deliver meaningful operational impact.

Essential

• Australian citizenship and hold a minimum NV1 security clearance, with the ability and willingness to obtain and maintain an NV2 clearance.
• Demonstrated experience as a Solution Architect, Systems Architect, Platform Architect or Enterprise Architect within complex technology environments.
• Experience designing and implementing AI, machine learning or generative AI solutions, including the application of AI governance, assurance and responsible AI practices within enterprise or mission-critical environments.
• Ability to develop solution architectures, technical roadmaps and infrastructure designs that deliver secure, scalable and operationally ready outcomes.
• Experience across cloud platforms, application architecture, systems integration, data ecosystems and cyber security, with the ability to translate complex requirements into practical technical solutions.
• Capability to provide technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams through design, build, integration and deployment activities.

Advantageous

• Experience within Defence, national security, intelligence or other mission-critical environments.
• Experience working within secure, regulated or classified environments.
• Knowledge of MLOps, DevSecOps, CI/CD and modern software delivery practices.
• Experience with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), knowledge services, intelligent search or related AI technologies.
• Experience supporting technology transformation initiatives from concept through to operational handover.

Applicants may also need to meet International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) requirements. In certain circumstances this can place limitations on persons who hold dual nationality, permanent residency or are former nationals of certain countries as per ITAR 126.1.

What to Expect When You Apply

Our hiring process is designed to be straightforward, respectful and easy to navigate. If your skills, experience and qualifications look aligned with the role, our Talent Acquisition team will contact you to discuss the next stage. You can expect:

• An initial conversation with our Talent Acquisition team
• An interview with the hiring manager or interview panel
• Any role-specific assessment, technical discussion or customer step required for the position

We’ll let you know what to expect before each stage, including who you’ll meet and how to prepare. If you need any adjustments or support during the process, please let us know.

Ready to explore what's possible?

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.