Lead Cyber Security Architect

Application closing date: Friday, 9 November 2026 • 11:59pm, Canberra time

Estimated start date: Friday, 01 January 2027

Location of work: VIC

Working arrangements: Full-time onsite for the first 2 weeks. A hybrid WFH arrangement, usually a minimum of 2 days per week onsite, will be considered from the location of their capital city.

Length of contract: 12 months

Contract extensions: Up to a maximum of 24 months

Security clearance: Must have an active Baseline clearance

Rates: $140 - $160 per hour (inc. super)

Services Australia is at the frontline of government service delivery, supporting millions of Australians, and is front and centre of a vision to be a world leader in government service delivery. It’s using cutting-edge technology to build world class platforms and capabilities to help Australians get on with their lives.

The Lead Data Architect will be required to design, create, deploy and manage the way data will be structured, stored, used, integrated and managed in IT systems.

They will also be required to translate business and technical requirements into secure, integrated ICT solutions. They will lead solution architecture design, ensuring alignment with enterprise and domain architectures, standards and strategic direction. They will work with substantial autonomy, they assess technical options, risks and architectural exceptions, provide specialist advice and support governance decisions. They will collaborate with stakeholders, guide solution delivery and build internal capability through knowledge transfer and reusable architecture artefacts.

Key duties and responsibilities:

- Lead the design of conceptual, logical and end-to-end data, integration and ICT architectures that align with business objectives, enterprise standards, strategic priorities and service delivery outcomes.
- Analyse business and technical requirements, identify capability gaps, assess emerging technologies and develop architecture options and recommendations that inform technology strategy and investment decisions.
- Lead architecture analysis, design, integration and migration activities across complex programs and initiatives, ensuring alignment across business processes, systems and delivery outcomes.
- Develop architecture artefacts, options, recommendations and technical advice to support executive decision-making, governance processes and program delivery.
- Identify, communicate and manage complex technical risks, issues, dependencies and interrelationships, applying sound judgement in ambiguous and evolving environments.
- Build and maintain productive relationships with business areas, ICT delivery teams, vendors, government agencies and external partners to influence outcomes and achieve organisational objectives.
- Present architecture recommendations, risks and implications to executives, governance forums and stakeholders, facilitating informed decisions and consensus across diverse groups.
- Represent the organisation in internal and external forums, providing authoritative architecture expertise and influencing strategic outcomes.
- Promote innovation, continuous improvement and knowledge sharing while building architecture capability through leadership, mentoring and technical guidance.
- Think strategically and develop long-term architecture plans that balance business needs, technology opportunities, organisational priorities and risk considerations.

Qualifications and Experience required:

- Tertiary qualifications in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
- Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-scale data, integration, solution or enterprise architecture activities within large and complex organisations.
- Demonstrated experience providing strategic technical advice and influencing architecture decisions at senior executive and governance levels.

Other desirable requirements:

- Relevant industry certifications such as TOGAF, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Azure Solutions Architect, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, SAFe, or equivalent architecture and technology certifications.
- Experience working within Australian Government or other highly regulated environments.
- Knowledge of contemporary data architecture, analytics, artificial intelligence and cloud-native technology practices.

Technical skills required:

- Enterprise, solution, data and integration architecture.
- Architecture modelling, documentation and governance frameworks.
- ICT solution design, integration, migration and interoperability.
- Architecture assurance, technical governance and design review.
- Technology assessment, capability gap analysis and solution evaluation.
- Technical risk management and complex problem resolution.
- Architecture tools, repositories and artefact management.

Essential criteria

- Demonstrated experience in enterprise, solution, data and integration architecture, including the design and governance of complex end-to-end ICT solutions.

Desirable criteria

- Relevant architecture, cloud or industry certifications (such as TOGAF, Azure, AWS or equivalent) are highly desirable.
- Understanding of Australian Government and ICT governance requirements, including security, privacy, risk and information management obligations.
- Proven ability to analyse business and technical requirements, identify capability gaps and develop architecture options that support strategic and operational objectives.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience clearly presenting architectural advice and recommendations to senior stakeholders, governance bodies and executive forums.
- Demonstrated knowledge of architecture frameworks, standards, governance practices and contemporary technology trends.
- Demonstrated experience developing, reviewing and governing architecture artefacts, patterns, standards and technical documentation.
- Proven ability to resolve complex, sensitive and high-risk technical issues through sound judgement, risk management and evidence-based decision making.
- Relevant tertiary qualifications in Information Technology, Information Systems, Computer Science, Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent demonstrated experience.

HOW TO APPLY

Please provide an updated CV (a maximum of 3-5 pages) to reflect your suitability to the role based on the job description. You will also need to complete responses to the essential and desirable criteria which is no more than 5000 characters for each response. Your application will be reviewed based on ability to demonstrate, or potential to develop, the capabilities required.