Lead Platform Engineer

is seeking an experienced Lead Platform Engineer to join a client's project team delivering a new critical-infrastructure platform. This is a hands-on technical leadership role without direct reports. Approximately two-thirds of the role will involve personally installing, configuring, integrating, testing, troubleshooting and documenting platform components. The remaining time will focus on technical ownership, delivery coordination, dependency management and assurance. You will report to Client Service Delivery Manager for day-to-day employment and delivery matters and will be technically embedded within the client's project team. Why this opportunity This Role Offers hands-on ownership of a broad and technically challenging platform stack;the opportunity to help shape a greenfield platform supporting critical infrastructure;significant influence over how the platform is built, secured, documented and transitioned into operation;salary from $180,000 plus superannuation, with the final package reflecting relevant experience and capability;employer-funded approved travel costs and a separate travel allowance; andmeaningful technical autonomy within a small specialist consultancy and an experienced multidisciplinary project team. Platform scope The platform scope includes secure software-supply-chain services, middleware, secrets management, containerised deployment, CI/CD infrastructure, monitoring, logging and operational handover across development, test, production and disaster-recovery environments. Relevant Technologies Include Docker and containerised deployment;RabbitMQ;HashiCorp Vault;JFrog Artifactory and Xray;on-premises Azure DevOps Server;Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Windows Server;managed file transfer platforms;load-balancer integration;monitoring, centralised logging and SIEM integration; andAWS as a secondary component of the wider environment. Deep production experience across every named technology is not required. Strong candidates will bring substantial experience across several core platform areas and demonstrate the ability to learn and implement unfamiliar products quickly. Key Responsibilities You will: install, configure, integrate and operationalise core platform, middleware and DevOps components across multiple project environments;establish stable, secure and consistent foundations for application development, integration, build, test and deployment;implement secure software-supply-chain controls, including managed artifact ingress, vulnerability and licence scanning, controlled promotion between trust levels, isolated build environments and prevention of uncontrolled public-repository access;configure and support on-premises CI/CD, build and deployment infrastructure;implement and maintain container deployment and service-orchestration configurations, including load-balancer integration, service placement and failover;support least-privilege access, secure configuration and appropriate secrets-management practices;improve platform repeatability, consistency and operational efficiency through practical automation;configure monitoring, health checks, centralised logging and integration with observability and SIEM services where required;support high-availability, resilience and disaster-recovery implementation and validation;diagnose and resolve complex platform, integration and environment issues;manage technical dependencies, identify delivery risks early and escalate material issues;coordinate with software engineers, infrastructure specialists, analysts, security teams, vendors and other project contributors;produce and maintain installation runbooks, configuration baselines, hardening notes, operational procedures and handover material; andsupport platform transition, operational readiness and ongoing maintainability. What Success Looks Like Within the first 6-12 months, you will have: established a stable, secure and repeatable platform capability across the required environments;implemented the core middleware, DevOps and supporting platform components needed by the project team;enabled a controlled software supply chain with managed artifact ingress, security scanning and predictable promotion between environments;reduced environment drift through consistent configuration, practical automation and clear build records;supported development, integration and testing without avoidable platform-related delays;implemented practical monitoring, logging, secrets-management and resilience controls;produced clear installation, configuration, hardening, operational and handover documentation; andbuilt effective working relationships across Aptissio, the client project team and external delivery parties. Essential Skills And Experience Applicants must demonstrate: at least five years' experience in platform engineering and operations, with eight or more years strongly preferred;substantial hands-on responsibility for production platforms, rather than architecture, advisory or pipeline-consumer experience alone;strong production experience across several secure on-premises DevOps, middleware or platform technologies;demonstrated experience implementing and operating production platforms on either Linux or Windows Server;hands-on experience implementing secure software-supply-chain controls, including managed artifact ingress, scanning, controlled promotion and isolated build environments;demonstrated automation outcomes that improved consistency, repeatability or operational efficiency, regardless of the specific scripting language or tool used;strong troubleshooting and problem-solving capability across integrated platform environments;demonstrated ability to produce clear and maintainable technical documentation, including runbooks, configuration baselines, hardening notes and operational procedures;the ability to work with moderate direction while independently planning and delivering an assigned platform scope;effective written and verbal communication;a pragmatic, delivery-focused approach and the ability to progress work where requirements or dependencies are evolving;a structured and methodical working style; andthe ability to collaborate constructively across technical disciplines without relying on formal authority. Highly Desirable Experience The following will be highly regarded: energy, utilities, operational technology or another critical-infrastructure sector;both Linux and Windows Server production environments;JFrog Artifactory and Xray;HashiCorp Vault or comparable centralised secrets-management platforms;RabbitMQ or comparable enterprise messaging middleware;on-premises Azure DevOps Server administration and CI/CD infrastructure;high-availability and disaster-recovery implementation or validation;monitoring, centralised logging and SIEM integration;Docker, container deployment and multi-host service orchestration;load-balancer integration and service failover;managed file transfer platforms;coordination across multiple vendors, internal teams and specialist disciplines;working effectively with software-development teams; andrelevant AWS exposure as part of a wider hybrid or multi-environment platform. A relevant tertiary qualification is desirable. Substantial equivalent industry experience will be considered in place of formal qualifications. Current and relevant Red Hat, HashiCorp Vault, JFrog or Microsoft DevOps certifications will be viewed favourably but are not mandatory. Demonstrated production capability will carry greater weight than certification alone. Employment and working arrangements Full-time, 12-month fixed-term employment contract.Potential extension up to two years total.Standard 40-hour working week.Expected commencement in September 2026, subject to recruitment, screening and project onboarding.Preferred work locations are Townsville or Darwin.A negotiated remote or hybrid arrangement may be considered for an exceptional candidate based elsewhere in Australia, subject to location and project requirements.Domestic travel to Australian capital cities and major regional centres is required for at least one week every two months.will cover approved direct travel costs and provide a separate travel allowance.After-hours work is not a routine requirement. Eligibility Applicants Must be currently based in Australia;already hold unrestricted rights to work in Australia;be willing and able to undertake the required domestic travel; andbe eligible to complete the required employment and client screening processes. Visa sponsorship and relocation assistance are not available. Appointment Is Conditional Upon Satisfactory Right to Work in Australia verification;National Police Check; andCritical Infrastructure AusCheck eligibility assessment. How To Apply To be considered, submit: a current CV; anda concise written response addressing all three criteria below, using approximately 150-250 words per criterion. Written criteria Comparable platform implementation Describe a complex platform implementation you personally delivered. Explain the scope, your direct responsibilities, the major technical challenges and the operational outcome.Secure software supply chain Describe your hands-on experience implementing secure software-supply-chain controls. Include the approaches or technologies used for artifact ingress, vulnerability or licence scanning, build isolation, controlled promotion and repository access.Delivery through ambiguity and dependencies Provide an example of delivering a technical outcome where requirements, dependencies or stakeholder inputs were still evolving. Explain how you maintained progress, managed risks and coordinated with other teams or vendors. CV-only applications will not be considered. Generic, substantially irrelevant or incomplete written responses will not progress. Shortlisted candidates will complete a brief technical survey assessing depth across relevant platform technologies. A very limited number of candidates will then be invited to a Zoom interview. Applications will be reviewed as received and may close early once a suitable shortlist has been established. Applications close no later than 5 August 2026. Employer questions Your Application Will Include The Following Questions Which of the following statements best describes your right to work in Australia?How many years' experience do you have as a Platform Engineer?Do you have a current Police Check (National Police Certificate) for employment?Are you willing to relocate for this role?Are you available to travel for this role when required?