Cloud Engineer

The Role

Incubator Branch, as part of Military Systems Division within DDG, provides a low risk and agile capability that tests and validates technologies in a Defence like environment before they progress to integration. The branch supports Defence digital transformation by enabling rapid technology evaluation, reducing project risk, and accelerating the adoption of global best practices and sovereign capabilities.

It creates structured pathways for small and medium enterprises and multinational companies to work with Defence, strengthening innovation and sovereign industry growth. Operating within the Military Systems Division, the branch ensures that all activities align with Defence interoperability requirements, platform strategies, and the target state architecture.

Through this approach, the Incubator Branch delivers key benefits that include rapid decision making, increased participation from Australian industry, the removal of shadow information technology and legacy constraints, and improved readiness for modern technologies such as artificial intelligence. The APS 6 Cloud Engineer is responsible for the maintenance, engineering, and continuous improvement of Incubator cloud platforms, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

The role delivers secure, scalable, and reliable cloud environments that support Defence projects, platform uplift activities, and vendor technology incubations while ensuring compliance with security, governance, and technical standards. Working closely with Defence stakeholders, architects, engineers and industry partners, the role provides technical advice on cloud architecture, platform capabilities, DevSecOps practices and solution implementation. The position manages platform enhancements, technical risks, and operational performance, while contributing to the delivery of cloud services that enable assessment of emerging technology. 

About our Team

Working in the Defence Digital Group (DDG), you will be contributing your expertise to some of the most technically demanding and complex ICT transformation projects being undertaken in Australia. DDG is transforming Defence’s ICT capabilities. We build and maintain critical infrastructure and systems, such as classified and secure military systems. We manage one of the largest ICT networks in Australia and provide a modern, secure, sustainable, and scalable information environment to enable current and future military and business operations.

Our vision is a DDG where everyone understands how we can use technology to enable war fighting as well as our day-to-day business. We apply new ways of thinking and working that allow us to take advantage of faster, better, and more efficient ways of delivering ICT Services. Supporting Defence in this technology dominated era requires a different, more responsive, and agile approach to everything, from our strategy, through to our processes, policies, and people.

We are diverse, agile and strive for a positive workforce culture where people feel valued and where we take pride in our work. We foster a work environment where individual differences are valued and utilised. We leverage the unique knowledge and experience of our people to enhance our capability. Everyone has something to contribute. 

Our Ideal Candidate

We are seeking to engage a values driven technologist who demonstrates integrity, strong judgement, strategic thinking, people centred leadership, and a commitment to fostering a positive, inclusive, and high performing team culture.

Demonstrated experience in cloud engineering and platform administration in:  

• Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and/or Google Cloud Platform (GCP); with a strong understanding of cloud security, networking, automation, and DevSecOps practices.  
• Seeking a proactive problem solver who can deliver platform enhancements, support technology incubations, and work effectively in a dynamic environment. 
• Communication skills are important, with the ability to collaborate with Defence personnel, architects, engineers, security specialists, and industry partners. 
• Relevant cloud certifications and experience working in large, complex or government environments will be highly regarded.

Duties include: 

• Design, installation, configuration, maintenance, and optimisation of the organisation’s cloud environments and supporting systems. 
• Work with industry partners to analyse and triage technical problems, to deliver effective solutions and enhancements. 
• Demonstrate detailed research and analysis skills in support of the solutions design activities and the development of options to achieve the required business outcomes. 
• Understand and apply knowledge of Defence's systems and their functionality to deliver detailed solutions designs and architectures. 
• Work collaboratively with team members and actively participate in teamwork and group activities. 
• Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders to align and advance strategic priorities, and to ensure positive outcomes for the organisation. 
• Resolve problems using knowledge and expertise, taking the initiative to identify alternative courses of action. 
• Design and recommend solutions to address issues impacting on the achievement of desired outcomes. 
• Interpret and comply with whole of government legislative, policy and regulatory frameworks during the development of solutions to meet business needs.

Security Clearance:

Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at “Negative Vetting Level 1”.

The Department of Defence employs around 18,000 Australian Public Service (APS) employees. Defence APS employees work in a wide variety of critical roles, Australia wide, enabling our three services Navy, Army and Air Force, to do their job. Defence has a range of Australian Public Service (APS) career opportunities that offer interesting, challenging, and unique work. Our workforce includes administrative support, accountants, intelligence analysts, engineers, policy advisors, graphic designers, lawyers, social workers, IT specialists and contract managers to name a few. We offer a rewarding career that includes professional development, work-life balance, recognition, a flexible and supportive work environment and a diverse workforce. To find out more about a career with Defence please visit https://www.defence.gov.au/jobs-careers