Lead Architect - 12 months

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

Benefits offered by this job

Flexibility options

Headspace access

On-demand courses

Challenging projects

Development opportunities

Job summary

Leidos Australia is seeking a Lead Architect to provide technical authority and architectural governance across the delivery of complex Defence ICT capabilities in Canberra. You will shape, assure and guide system architecture from concept through deployment and handover.

Working within a system integration delivery model, you will collaborate with engineering, infrastructure, security and project teams to ensure secure, resilient solutions aligned to Defence requirements.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Lead or Senior Architect within complex ICT or Defence environments.
• Strong expertise across system architecture, integration and multi-domain solutions.
• Experience delivering across full lifecycle (design, build, test, deployment and handover).
• Demonstrated experience providing technical governance and design assurance.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to clearly communicate complex technical designs.
• Experience guiding cross-functional teams without direct line management authority.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall technical leadership and architectural authority across delivery.
• Define and maintain architecture designs, standards and technical baselines.
• Review and assure key engineering artefacts including architecture and traceability outputs.
• Guide delivery teams through design reviews and technical assurance activities.
• Ensure alignment between architecture, implementation and integration across systems.
• Support technical governance forums such as design reviews and change boards.
• Identify and manage integration risks, dependencies and technical constraints.
• Support verification, validation, deployment and transition into operations.

Skills

Lead Architect

System architecture

Architecture governance

Stakeholder engagement

Cross-functional collaboration

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

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

Our GEOSPACES team is instrumental in developing and maintaining innovative technologies that tackle evolving challenges within the intelligence community. Additionally, these roles will focus on designing, integrating, and validating complex tenant environments tailored to specific use cases, supporting critical customer objectives.

The Opportunity

As a Lead Architect, you will provide technical authority and architectural governance across the delivery of complex Defence ICT capabilities. You will play a critical role in shaping, assuring and guiding system architecture from concept through to deployment and operational handover.

Working within a system integration delivery model, you will collaborate with engineering, infrastructure, security and project teams to ensure solutions are secure, resilient and aligned to Defence requirements.

• Provide overall technical leadership and architectural authority across delivery
• Define and maintain architecture designs, standards and technical baselines
• Review and assure key engineering artefacts including architecture and traceability outputs
• Guide delivery teams through design reviews and technical assurance activities
• Ensure alignment between architecture, implementation and integration across systems
• Support technical governance forums such as design reviews and change boards
• Identify and manage integration risks, dependencies and technical constraints
• Support verification, validation, deployment and transition into operations

About You

Essential for this role:

• Proven experience as a Lead or Senior Architect within complex ICT or Defence environments
• Strong expertise across system architecture, integration and multi-domain solutions
• Experience delivering across full lifecycle (design, build, test, deployment and handover)
• Demonstrated experience providing technical governance and design assurance
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to clearly communicate complex technical designs
• Experience guiding cross-functional teams without direct line management authority

Advantageous, but not essential:

• Experience within Defence or national security environments
• Exposure to geospatial or mission systems
• Familiarity with Defence governance or assurance frameworks (e.g. ATO-aligned delivery)

This role requires the successful applicant to be an Australian citizen and hold, or be eligible to obtain NV2 security clearance and be successful for DISA.

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.

If you have any questions about the role or recruitment process, please contact Michael Pua, Talent Acquisition.

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.