Senior Network Architect

NETWORK ARCHITECT / STRATEGIC ADVISOR – NV1

Azooa is seeking an experienced Network Architect / Strategic Advisor for a proposed government engagement in Canberra. Provide independent advice on network communications strategy, architecture, modernisation and technology investment, helping stakeholders make informed decisions about complex and interconnected technology environments.

The formal role title is Network Communications Advisor, aligned to SFIA Consultancy (CNSL) Level 7. This opportunity suits experienced network architects and senior technology advisers with a record of strategic advice, architecture assurance and executive decision support across large-scale, regulated or security-sensitive environments.

ENGAGEMENT DETAILS

• Location: Canberra, ACT, at the client's premises.

• Workplace: on-site. Remote work requires prior written client approval; hybrid or remote work is not guaranteed.

• Engagement: proposed contract, subject to procurement outcome, client selection and onboarding.

• Security clearance: minimum current Negative Vetting 1 (NV1).

• Capability level: SFIA Consultancy (CNSL) Level 7.

• Indicative commencement: 23 November 2026.

• Initial term: to 30 June 2027.

• Indicative effort: 60 eight-hour days during the initial term, with the working pattern to be agreed.

• Extension options: two further periods of up to six months each, at the client's discretion.

• Applications close: 9 November 2026 at 11:59 pm Canberra/Sydney time.

The indicative 60-day effort does not specify full-time work for the term. Scheduling is to be agreed.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

The client requires specialist expertise to inform the future direction of network and communications capabilities. The work brings together strategy, architecture, assurance, industry insight and practical recommendations, with an emphasis on understanding how technology choices affect the wider environment.

You will provide an independent perspective on current and future capabilities, examine proposed approaches and help stakeholders assess risks, opportunities and dependencies. Your advice will support planning, investment, sourcing and capability decisions through clear analysis and recommendations that executives and technical stakeholders can use.

The environment includes legacy and contemporary technologies. Relevant experience may span enterprise networking, secure communications, gateways and access, cloud and hybrid environments, automation, orchestration, observability, cyber security and Zero Trust. Relevant capability across one or more domains is sought; make the depth and breadth of your own experience clear.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Network communications strategy and planning

• Advise on current and future network communications capabilities, taking account of relationships between technology domains.

• Contribute independent perspectives to network modernisation and transformation planning.

• Review strategic plans, capability development approaches and technology roadmaps.

• Help stakeholders understand future-state options, assumptions and dependencies.

• Bring contemporary industry insights into discussions about the evolution of complex network environments.

Architecture and technology advice

• Assess architecture, technology and service delivery approaches relevant to the requested services.

• Review network, cloud and hybrid environment considerations and their implications for broader technology decisions.

• Provide advice on secure communications, access and gateway capabilities within your areas of expertise.

• Consider automation, orchestration and observability as part of network capability and service delivery assessments.

• Address cyber security and Zero Trust considerations where relevant to the agreed scope.

• Explain connections between architecture choices, operational needs, security requirements and modernisation objectives.

Independent assurance and decision support

• Review proposed network communications strategies, plans and approaches, providing informed challenge supported by evidence.

• Identify strategic risks, opportunities, assumptions and dependencies that may affect proposed approaches.

• Develop options analysis and recommendations that make the basis for a decision clear.

• Provide advice on emerging technologies and contemporary industry practices, including their relevance to the client's environment.

• Benchmark approaches against comparable large-scale, mission-critical and highly regulated organisations.

• Advise on market capability, supplier delivery models, sourcing approaches and procurement considerations relevant to future initiatives.

Stakeholder engagement and communication

• Participate in workshops, architecture reviews and governance forums with business and technical stakeholders.

• Draw together different perspectives and present findings in language appropriate to the audience.

• Prepare discussion papers, briefing materials and recommendations that support informed consideration of the available options.

• Present advice and review findings, explaining the supporting evidence and any limitations or unresolved questions.

• Contribute to agreed governance and reporting activities associated with the services.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

• Strategic advice and recommendations on network communications capabilities and future direction.

• Options analysis papers comparing approaches and explaining relevant trade-offs.

• Technology assessments and industry insights.

• Benchmarking reports drawing on comparable environments.

• Architecture and design review reports.

• Assurance assessments and independent review findings.

• Risk and opportunity assessments.

• Executive briefings and decision-support papers.

• Workshop outputs and governance documentation.

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE

• Significant experience in network communications capabilities.

• Experience supporting technology modernisation and transformation initiatives, including environments containing both legacy and contemporary technologies.

• Experience operating in highly regulated or security-sensitive environments.

• An understanding of interdependencies across network communications and related technology domains.

Connect your experience to the work described above. Examples should make your personal contribution clear, including the environment, the decision or challenge, the advice you provided and the resulting outcome where this can be shared appropriately.

RELEVANT TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE

We are interested in experience across one or more of these areas, as relevant to the requested services:

• Enterprise networking and communications.

• Network architecture and design.

• Secure communications, gateway and access capabilities.

• Cloud and hybrid technology environments.

• Network automation, orchestration and observability.

• Cyber security and Zero Trust.

• Technology modernisation and transformation.

• Government, national security or other highly regulated environments.

Explain your strongest domains and provide practical examples of architecture assurance, strategic planning and advice to senior decision-makers.

WORKING AT THIS LEVEL

The role is aligned to SFIA Consultancy Level 7. Demonstrate the seniority of your advisory contribution, the complexity of issues you have addressed and your ability to communicate clear recommendations to stakeholders. Show how you have brought independent judgement to a technology decision while recognising organisational constraints, dependencies and delivery considerations.

LOCATION AND SECURITY

The work is based in Canberra at the client's premises. Remote delivery requires prior written client approval. State your ability to attend on-site and identify any scheduling constraints when applying.

A minimum current NV1 security clearance is required. State your current clearance level without providing security vetting documents, clearance identifiers or details of sensitive access. Any required verification and opportunity-specific authority to represent will be handled separately before submission.

HOW TO APPLY

https://contracts.azooa.com.au/roles/c582f8ce-c90f-463b-beb3-f3a8929c7d15

Provide an updated CV highlighting relevant network architecture, strategic advisory and assurance outcomes, together with your availability, Canberra attendance arrangements and expected rate including superannuation where applicable. State whether your rate is hourly or daily and identify the basis used.

Keep examples suitable for recruitment review. Do not include classified material, confidential client documents, internal network diagrams or other information you are not authorised to share.

Applications close on 9 November 2026 at 11:59 pm Canberra/Sydney time. Appointment is subject to procurement outcome, client selection and onboarding.