Lead Network Architect - Transport and Core

Excolo Partners Pty; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Excolo Partners Pty in Australia is seeking a Lead Network Architect to own critical design decisions across transport and core networks. You will shape the architecture, standards and engineering principles guiding long-haul, optical transport and IP core deployments.

With 12+ years building carrier-grade networks, you will engage senior stakeholders, evaluate carrier connectivity, and define reference architectures that delivery teams will implement and operate.

Qualifications

• 12+ years designing carrier-grade networks.
• Deep expertise across optical transport and IP core.
• Experience developing reference architectures and design standards.
• Ability to influence critical decisions with senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Design and own transport and core network architecture across long-haul, optical and data centre interconnects.
• Evaluate connectivity options with carriers and vendors and define diversity and resilience.
• Define reference architectures that engineering teams and delivery partners will implement.
• Maintain design standards and technical principles to support growth and evolution.

Skills

Carrier-grade networks

Optical transport

IP core

Reference architectures

Leadership

Vendor management

Job description

Lead Network Architect - Transport and Core

The Opportunity There's a type of network architect who's designed real networks. Long-haul, optical, IP core, the lot. They've done it twice, maybe three times, and done it well.

But often inside something big. The strategy came from a committee. The carrier was chosen before they joined. The route diversity was whatever procurement signed. They've been the best architect in the room and still not the one deciding how the network should be designed.

This role is for that person. We're partnering with a leading technology infrastructure organisation looking for a Lead Network Architect to take ownership of critical design decisions across its transport and core network environment. This is an opportunity to shape the technical direction of a complex, high-performance network, establishing the architecture, standards and engineering principles that will support the business over the coming years. You'll work across long-haul connectivity, optical transport, IP core and data centre interconnect, balancing performance, resilience, scalability and commercial considerations.

You'll evaluate carrier connectivity, transport technologies and infrastructure options, determine the right approach to network diversity and resilience, and define reference architectures that engineering teams and delivery partners will build to.

You'll have significant autonomy, direct engagement with senior technical stakeholders and the opportunity to influence decisions that genuinely matter. What Success Looks Like A resilient, scalable transport and core architecture that you've helped design, implement and transition into operations. Clear design standards and technical principles that support future growth. Strong relationships with engineering teams, carriers and technology partners, with a network architecture that's built to perform and evolve.

Who This Suits You'll bring 12+ years of experience designing carrier-grade networks within a telecommunications carrier, service provider, hyperscaler, cloud provider or large-scale network environment.

You'll have deep expertise across both optical transport and IP core, with demonstrated experience designing complex networks end to end. You've developed reference architectures and design standards, led technical evaluations and influenced critical decisions involving carriers, vendors and network infrastructure.

You're comfortable operating at both a strategic and technical level, with the confidence to challenge assumptions and make decisions backed by evidence. Australian citizenship or permanent residency required.

Interested in learning more?