Senior Consultant - OpenShift and Container Security

Kestrel Eight; Canberra; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Kestrel Eight in Canberra is seeking a Senior Consultant - OpenShift and Container Security to strengthen container platform security inside a government OpenShift environment. You will advise on security posture, policy, and incident triage across ISM and Essential Eight.

The role sits between infrastructure operations and security monitoring; you will connect teams through tooling and processes, with hands-on OpenShift security engineering and ACS/StackRox expertise, enabling robust runtime

Qualifications

• OpenShift security engineering experience.
• Working knowledge of Red Hat Advanced Cluster Security (ACS) or StackRox.
• Strong understanding of ISM and the Essential Eight.
• Experience with SIEM integration, log parsing and incident response.
• NV1 clearance or ability to obtain (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Governance and risk: advise on platform security posture and manage CVEs, align with ISM/Essential Eight.
• Threat detection: identify gaps, use ACS for Kubernetes to enforce runtime policies and drive vulnerability mgmt.
• SIEM integration: connect platform logs and ACS alerts into the SIEM and tighten processes.
• Collaboration: act as link between UNIX operations, monitoring operations, and external vendor security teams.
• Capability uplift: upskill the security ops team on container security architecture and RH ACS capabilities.

Skills

OpenShift security

Container security

NV1 clearance

SIEM integration

Incident response

RH OpenShift ACS

Tools

Red Hat ACS

StackRox

Job description

Location
Canberra

Work Site
Hybrid

Employment Type
6+ Months (Initial Contract)

Closing Date
11 Sep, 2026

Senior Consultant - OpenShift and Container Security

Strengthen container platform security inside a significant government OpenShift environment in Canberra.

The role

We are looking for an OpenShift security specialist to strengthen container platform security inside a government agency in Canberra.

You will be the key technical advisor to both security policy and security operations, making sure containerised environments hold up against the Essential Eight and the Information Security Manual. The role sits between infrastructure operations and security monitoring, and a large part of the value is connecting those two groups through better tooling and better processes.

What you will be doing

• Governance and Risk: Advise on platform security posture, manage CVEs, lead incident triage, and keep the environment aligned to ISM and Essential Eight requirements.
• Threat Detection: Find the visibility and detection gaps in current monitoring and use Red Hat Advanced Cluster Security for Kubernetes to enforce runtime policies and drive vulnerability management.
• SIEM Integration: Connect platform logging and ACS alerts into the Security Operations SIEM and tighten the operational processes around them.
• Collaboration: Act as the link between UNIX operations, monitoring operations, and external vendor security teams.
• Capability Uplift: Bring the wider security operations team up to speed on container security architecture and what RH ACS can actually do for them.

What you will bring

• Strong hands-on knowledge of Red Hat OpenShift, with container platform security engineering experience.
• Working knowledge of Red Hat Advanced Cluster Security or StackRox, covering compliance scanning, network segmentation and runtime policy.
• A deep understanding of the ISM and the Essential Eight, and how they apply in practice to a container platform.
• Experience with SIEM integration, log parsing and incident response.
• Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Advanced Cluster Security (EX430) is an advantage.

Requirements

• Based in Canberra, willing to relocate before the start date.
• We can also consider remote work in Australia (NSW, QLD, SA, VIC).
• Active NV1 clearance, or ability to obtain. Given the start timeframe, applicants who already hold NV1 will be prioritised.
• Australian citizenship required.

Why work with us

You will be embedded in a significant federal platform, with a genuine mandate to change how container security is run rather than just report on it. Kestrel Eight backs its consultants with senior technical support, direct Red Hat relationships, and honest conversations about scope and expectations. Contract rates are competitive and set against the work, not against a margin target.

Contract details

Detail Value
Rate Competitive (DOE) Term 6+ Months (Initial Contract) with strong likelihood of extension Location Canberra (remote considered from NSW, QLD, SA, VIC) Start ASAP Clearance NV1 required or ability to obtain (active NV1 prioritised)