Lead AI Architect – Mission Systems

Leidos Australia; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work options

Wellbeing programs

Learning & development

Impactful projects

Career growth support

Job summary

Leidos Australia is seeking an experienced AI Enablement Architect to lead the design and delivery of a next‑generation AI-enabled Mission Systems capability. Based in Melbourne (travel to Canberra possible), you will shape the technical vision from concept to production in a complex mission systems environment.

You will define secure, scalable architectures, partner with engineers and stakeholders, and provide technical leadership across design, integration and deployment activities to deliver

Qualifications

• Australian citizenship and NV1 clearance with ability to obtain NV2.
• Experience as Solution/Systems/Platform/Enterprise Architect in complex environments.
• Experience designing AI/ML/generative AI solutions with governance and responsible AI practices.
• Ability to develop architectures, roadmaps and infrastructure designs that are secure and scalable.
• Experience across cloud platforms, system integration, data ecosystems and cyber security.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture, planning and design for a high-profile AI enablement initiative.
• Define target architecture, BOM, ensuring secure, resilient and operationally ready solutions.
• Translate operational requirements into practical AI-enabled outcomes with stakeholders.
• Provide technical leadership across build, integration, assurance and deployment activities.

Skills

Architectural leadership

AI/ML architecture

Cloud architecture

Security/compliance

Stakeholder leadership

Tools

MLOps

CI/CD

DevSecOps

Job 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.

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.

Benefits

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.

If this role interests you, we encourage you to apply. We value different experiences and are interested in the capability and potential you could bring.

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 this sounds like a role where you can make an impact and continue to grow, we’d like to hear from you. Please apply via the “Apply Now” button with your resume. If you have any questions about the role or recruitment process, please contact Cam Larkin, Talent Acquisition.

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.

Original Posting

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

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.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at [e-mail].

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

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.