Lead Microservices and AI Technical Architect
EL2 Lead Architect, government CIO Division. Cloud-native microservices + AI-enabled modernisation. 12mo+2x12mo, ACT Hybrid, Baseline clearance.
- EL2-equivalent Lead Architect role — cloud-native microservices + AI-enabled enterprise modernisation
- 12-month initial term + 2x12-month extension options, start 1 Oct 2026
- ACT, Hybrid, max 40 hrs/week — Baseline clearance eligibility required
- DMP2 ICT Labour Hire panel — written pitch process, no interview
A federal government department is seeking a Lead Microservices and AI Technical Architect to join its CIO Division, providing technical leadership and architectural authority across cloud-native, microservices-based and AI-enabled platforms.
This is a senior, hands-on architecture leadership role for someone who can set technical direction, influence architecture across a complex enterprise environment, and lead modern engineering and AI delivery practices — while directly uplifting the capability of the teams around them.
The Role
- Provide architectural authority for cloud native, microservices-based and event-driven platforms
- Lead AI-enabled solution delivery — enterprise AI, semantic search, ML, and responsible AI practices
- Champion modern engineering practices: AI-enabled SDLC, DevSecOps, CI/CD, automated testing, observability
- Drive technology modernisation initiatives — microservices, containerisation, integration, reusable patterns
- Build organisational capability through knowledge transfer, coaching and engineering leadership
- Engage confidently across multidisciplinary teams, delivery partners and senior executives
Essential Criteria
- Extensive experience designing, implementing and governing cloud native, microservices and event-driven architectures in complex enterprise environments
- Demonstrated AI engineering and AI-enabled solution delivery expertise, including enterprise AI, semantic search, ML and responsible AI
- Strong software and platform engineering background — modern frameworks, DevSecOps, CI/CD, automated testing, observability, security by design
- Proven leadership of enterprise technology modernisation/transformation — setting technical direction and delivering measurable reliability, security and scalability gains
- Exceptional stakeholder engagement, communication and leadership across multidisciplinary teams, delivery partners and senior executives
Desirable Criteria
- Container platform experience (Kubernetes, OpenShift, AKS, EKS, GKE) — automation, governance, workload management
- Cloud platform modernisation, SRE, platform engineering and enterprise observability/automation
- Agile delivery leadership — coaching dispersed teams and driving capability uplift
Engagement Details
- Level: Lead — EL2 equivalent
- Location: ACT, Hybrid, max 40 hours/week
- Start date: 1 October 2026
- Term: Initial 12 months, plus 2 x 12-month extension options
- Clearance: Must be able to obtain Baseline
- Panel: DMP2 – ICT Labour Hire (Simple contract)
How to Apply
Submissions must include: proposed start date, hourly rate, service management fee, citizenship status, current security clearance, a one-page written pitch addressing the essential and desirable criteria (max 5000 characters), and a current resumé. Note: this engagement is assessed on written submission — no interview stage.
Closing: Monday 14 September 2026, 11:59pm Canberra time.