Lead Microservices and AI Technical Architect

Federal Goverment; Canberra; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

A major Australian federal agency is transforming its technology foundation and is establishing a first enterprise microservices and AI-enabled platform architecture. They seek a Lead Microservices and AI Technical Architect to provide technical leadership, set architectural standards and drive AI adoption across the service lifecycle.

In this senior role you will shape cloud-native platforms, focus on direction over hands-on coding, and influence architecture decisions while guiding dispersed

Qualifications

• Extensive experience designing and governing cloud-native, microservices architectures in complex enterprise environments.
• Demonstrated expertise in AI engineering and AI-enabled solution delivery.
• Strong platform engineering capability including DevSecOps, CI/CD, automated testing and security by design.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and architectural authority for cloud-native, microservices-based platforms, aligned with enterprise architecture and security objectives.
• Lead the adoption of modern engineering practices, including DevSecOps, CI/CD, platform engineering, automated testing and observability.
• Drive technology modernisation, containerisation and microservices implementation to enhance scalability, resilience and operational performance.
• Build organisational capability through knowledge transfer, mentoring and leadership of multidisciplinary teams.
• Provide technical direction on the integration of AI throughout the software development lifecycle, from inception through to operationalisation.

Skills

Cloud-native design

Microservices architecture

AI engineering

DevSecOps

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Agile delivery

Site Reliability Engineering

Job description

Lead Microservices and AI Technical Architect

The Details

Location: Canberra, ACT (Hybrid working - remote candidates considered; offices nationwide)

Duration: 12 months initially + likely extensions

Security: Must be able to obtain Australian Baseline security clearance (the agency will sponsor); Must be Australian citizen

About the Role

A major Australian federal agency is undertaking a significant technology transformation and is establishing its first enterprise microservices and AI-enabled platform architecture.

They are looking for an experienced Lead Microservices and AI Technical Architect to provide technical leadership, establish architectural standards and help drive the adoption of AI across the service delivery lifecycle.

In this role, you'll be a key technical authority, helping shape how the organisation designs, builds, operates and evolves modern cloud-native platforms. This is a senior technical leadership and architecture role, with a focus on direction and influence rather than hands-on coding.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and architectural authority for cloud-native, microservices-based and AI-enabled platforms, aligned with enterprise architecture and security objectives
• Lead the adoption of modern engineering practices, including DevSecOps, CI/CD, platform engineering, automated testing and observability
• Drive technology modernisation, containerisation and microservices implementation to enhance scalability, resilience and operational performance
• Build organisational capability and technical maturity through knowledge transfer, mentoring and leadership of multidisciplinary teams
• Provide technical direction on the integration of AI throughout the software development lifecycle, from inception through to operationalisation

What We're Looking For

• Extensive experience designing, implementing, and governing cloud-native, microservices, and event-driven architectures within complex enterprise environments
• Demonstrated expertise in AI engineering and AI-enabled solution delivery (semantic search, machine learning, responsible AI practices)
• Strong platform engineering capability: modern frameworks, DevSecOps, CI/CD, automated testing, security by design
• Proven ability to lead enterprise technology transformation initiatives and influence architecture decisions
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement, communication, and leadership skills
• Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) and platform engineering at enterprise scale
• Experience leading delivery in Agile environments with geographically dispersed teams