Network Engineering Lead

The Living Company; Sydney; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid leave days

Retail and leisure discounts

Annual vaccination

Skin checks

Employee referral program

Employee assistance program

Job summary

The Living Company in Sydney is seeking a Network Engineering Lead to head the network engineering function across Scape and Aveo. You will own architecture, design, performance and security of the network including switching, wireless, firewalls, resident gateways, SD‑WAN, and connectivity, ensuring reliability for resident connectivity and building operations.

You will manage vendor relationships, budgets, and multi-site deployments, mentor a small technical team, and travel interstate as

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with switching and wireless infrastructure in large multi-site environments.
• Strong RF design/troubleshooting skills for high-density residential networks.
• Experience managing vendors, ISPs, SLAs and budgets for national deployments.
• Experience leading or mentoring a small technical team and balancing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Own architecture, design, performance and security of the network across Scape and Aveo.
• Maintain and upgrade portfolio elements like Ruckus, Meraki, and OpenWiFi/OpenLAN environments.
• Monitor network performance and resolve complex RF, switching, firewall and WAN issues.
• Lead network rollouts for new buildings and upgrades; support BAU operations.
• Manage vendor and carrier relationships, SLAs and contract spend.

Skills

Network switching

Wireless design

RF troubleshooting

Fortinet

Sophos

Meraki

OpenWiFi/OpenLAN

Vendor management

Team leadership

Tools

Ruckus

Meraki

OpenWiFi/OpenLAN

SD-WAN

Firewalls

Job description

Founded in 2013 as Scape Australia, leaders in student housing, we’ve since grown into a vertically integrated living platform known as The Living Company; managing $18B in assets across Student Living (Scape), Rent to Live – Affordable Housing (RTL Co.), and Retirement Living (Aveo); spanning site origination, investment, planning, design, development, construction, and operations. The Living Company is reshaping the way Australians live by delivering sustainable, community-driven, and high-quality spaces across the country.

Location: Marrickville & CBD Office (5-days onsite) | Regular travel to Scape and Aveo properties nationally

Reports to: Senior Manager, Infrastructure & Property Technology

THE ROLE

As our Network Engineering Lead, you’ll lead the Network Engineering function and the critical networks across Scape and Aveo. You’ll be responsible for its architecture, reliability, security and ongoing performance, ensuring the technology supporting resident connectivity, building operations and corporate systems remains secure, reliable and fit for purpose. This includes corporate LAN, building systems and resident-facing connectivity at Scape, alongside corporate systems, building systems and communal-area connectivity at Aveo.

It’s an opportunity to shape the future of networking across a national portfolio, leading the transition to open, disaggregated networking while balancing hands‑on technical delivery and continuous improvement.

Day-to-day you will be (but not limited to):

Owning the architecture, design, performance and security of the network across Scape and Aveo, including switching, wireless, firewalls, resident gateways, SD‑WAN, point-to-point wireless links and ISP/carrier connectivity.

Along with the physical elements of the network, we place a huge emphasis on our high-quality Wireless environment, which supports ~20,000 residents. Proven experience with RF and Wireless design/troubleshooting is required.

Maintain existing elements of the portfolio (Ruckus Virtual SmartZone, Ruckus AP's & Switching) and National multi-site Meraki environments along with OpenWiFi/OpenLAN (TIP).

Supporting BAU existing environments in parallel to designing, scoping and executing network rollouts for new buildings and upgrades.

Monitoring network performance, resolve complex RF, switching, firewall and WAN issues, and participate in a rotating on‑call roster.

Managing vendor, ISP and carrier relationships, including technical escalations, SLAs and contract spend.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

Hands‑on experience with the switching and wireless infrastructure mentioned above, residential or other complex Wireless/RF environments, and Fortinet, Sophos, Meraki experience is advantageous.

Experience managing network vendors, ISPs, SLAs and budgets, with a track record supporting multi‑site operations.

Experience leading or mentoring a small technical team, with a hands‑on approach, strong communication skills and the ability to balance operational priorities with continuous improvement.

Willingness to join an on‑call roster and travel interstate as required. Multi‑tenant property portfolios/MDU environments and project management experience will be highly regarded.

WHY SHOULD YOU JOIN?

Shape our technology roadmap by leading the transition to open, disaggregated networking.

Own a national network across two distinct environments, from Scape’s resident‑facing connectivity supporting 20,000 residents to Aveo’s retirement living communities.

Make your mark as a hands‑on technology leader, influencing technical direction across our properties and villages.

Be part of a purpose‑led organisation shaping how Australians live.

Enjoy a range of health and wellbeing benefits, including paid leave days, health insurance, retail and leisure discounts, annual vaccinations, skin checks, employee referral programs and employee assistance programs.

At The Living Company, we honour and welcome the rich heritage and contributions of First Nations and Indigenous peoples. Our workplace embraces diversity and strives to create an inclusive environment that respects and values your culture, traditions, and perspectives. Join us in building a harmonious and empowered community where everyone’s voice is heard and celebrated.