The posting
Datacentre Lead – Datacentre Infrastructure | Symonston, ACT | NV2
Datacentre Lead
Location: Symonston (Onsite).
What to Submit
1. A tailored resume in docx format
2. Completed Compliance Statement
3. Response that addresses required deliverables, including skillset and experience requirements and evaluation criteria
4. Two referees for each candidate, preferably including at least one ADF/APS referee where applicable
5. Completed Quotation Form
RFQ Details
- Citizenship: Australian citizenship is required.
- RFQ ID: SG-305848120790 (Portal Reference: 17526)
- Agency: Dept of Defence
- Closing Date: 16:30 9 Nov 2026 (Australia/Sydney)
- Estimated Start Date: 30 November 2026
- Initial Contract Duration: 7 months
- Extension Term: 12 months
- Number of Extensions: 1
- Experience Level: Level 3 - Advanced Practitioner
- Security Clearance: Must have an active Negative Vetting Level 2 (or higher) security clearance
- Location of Work: ACT
- Working Arrangements: Onsite at Land Network Integration Centre, Symonston, ACT
- Maximum Hours: 40 hours per week (8 hours per day)
Job Details
The Land Network Integration Centre (LNIC) mission is to advise and direct Army on its digital network integration efforts to maximise interoperability across Land, Joint and Coalition interface boundaries and to meet critical information exchange requirements via approved interfaces and standards. The Commonwealth requires the services of a Datacentre Lead to supplement the contractor workforce within the Land Network Integration Centre (LNIC). This proposal seeks to engage an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Advanced Practitioner (level 3) to assist the LNIC with the design, development, build and support of LNIC deployable systems, LNIC Datacentre and integration of configurations and software into LNIC information domains. The position is primarily a leadership role managing and directing the small team maintaining LNIC’s Datacentre environments, and overseeing the technical direction of the Datacentre including Capacity Planning, Patch Management, Security Management and contributing on the future direction of the datacentre environment.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
- Datacentre environment management. Lead the installation, configuration, administration, maintenance and operation of datacentre infrastructure supporting Army Mission Command systems across Test and Development and Production environments.
- Server and application administration. Install, configure, integrate and administer Windows and Linux servers, military software applications and associated services.
- Virtualisation and storage management. Install, configure, administer and maintain virtualised infrastructure, shared storage and associated datacentre platforms.
- Network and security integration. Contribute to the design, implementation and management of datacentre and Local Area Network architectures, including physical and software-defined networking, network segmentation and security controls.
- Technical design and integration. Review, develop and provide advice on system and application integration solutions for Land Network and Land Combat System environments, including interfaces with tactical, operational and strategic networks.
- Technical documentation and configuration control. Develop and maintain system designs, implementation documentation, Standard Operating Procedures, training materials and configuration records for supported environments.
- Technical support. Provide Level 2 and Level 3 technical support for role-specific technologies and systems, including support to Army exercises and capability-development activities.
- Training and mentoring. Develop and deliver technical training, knowledge transfer and on-the-job mentoring to Army, Navy and Air Force technical personnel and other relevant staff.
- Technical assurance and advice. Provide technical advice regarding system readiness, integration risks, security requirements, capability options and proposed changes to relevant LNIC, CASG, Joint Capability Group and CIOG stakeholders.
- Innovation and emerging technology. Identify, propose and support activities that assess or demonstrate the integration of emerging technologies into current and future military command-and-control systems.
- Land integration support. Provide technical advice and guidance to capabilities integrating through the Land Integration Framework – Digital to support a digitally integrated Land Combat System within Joint and Coalition environments.
- Team leadership. Manage and direct the LNIC Environments team, including work prioritisation, task allocation, technical guidance, workforce coordination and progress reporting.
- Management support. Support relevant LNIC managers with workforce planning, task coordination, reporting and engagement with LNIC Business Management and executive stakeholders.
- Additional services. Provide other services reasonably related to the Datacentre Lead role, as directed by the LNIC Military Executive.
Technical Skills
- Microsoft Windows Server and Red Hat Enterprise Linux administration
- VMware virtualisation and enterprise storage administration
- Local Area Network architectures, physical and software-defined networking
- Security controls aligned with the Information Security Manual and Essential Eight mitigation strategies
- ITAR compliance and secured ICT environments
Selection Criteria
Essential criteria
1. Demonstrated experience leading the administration, integration and sustainment of complex enterprise datacentre environments, including responsibility for the coordination and technical direction of other ICT personnel.
2. Demonstrated experience installing, configuring, administering and troubleshooting Microsoft Windows Server and Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating environments.
3. Demonstrated experience installing, configuring and administering enterprise virtualisation infrastructure, including VMware vSphere or equivalent technologies.
4. Demonstrated experience installing, configuring and administering enterprise storage platforms, including shared storage and their integration with virtualised compute environments.
5. Strong understanding of physical and software-defined networking principles, including switching, routing, network segmentation, security zones and the integration of datacentre networks with external network boundaries.
6. Demonstrated experience integrating enterprise applications and infrastructure services within secured ICT environments, including environments that do not have direct internet connectivity.
7. Demonstrated ability to implement, assess and maintain security controls aligned with the Information Security Manual and Essential Eight mitigation strategies, including the application of compartmentalisation and network segmentation principles.
8. Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining system design documentation, implementation documentation, Standard Operating Procedures, configuration records and technical training material.
9. Demonstrated experience providing Level 2 and Level 3 technical support for complex datacentre technologies, including fault investigation, technical analysis and resolution of issues affecting integrated systems.
10. Proven ability to operate as a senior technical lead, provide authoritative technical advice and engage effectively with technical teams, project staff, security stakeholders, capability representatives and senior management without direct technical oversight.
11. Demonstrated experience managing and directing technical personnel, including work prioritisation, task allocation, technical guidance, workforce coordination and progress reporting.
Desirable criteria
1. More than 10 years’ experience in datacentre infrastructure, Standard Operating Environment administration, enterprise application integration or a closely related ICT field.
2. Advanced experience designing, implementing, administering and sustaining VMware Cloud Foundation and VMware vSphere environments.
3. Experience designing, implementing and administering software-defined networking solutions using VMware NSX or equivalent technologies.
4. Experience designing, implementing and administering enterprise storage infrastructure using Dell PowerStore or equivalent storage platforms.
5. Experience configuring and administering Cisco routing and switching technologies within complex enterprise or Defence network environments.
6. Experience designing, implementing or administering network security solutions using Palo Alto or equivalent security technologies.
7. Experience designing, implementing and administering virtual desktop infrastructure using Omnissa Horizon or equivalent technologies.
8. Experience with network and system integration at the tactical and operational levels, including the management of interfaces with strategic network boundaries.
9. Experience working with the JP 2221-1 AUS MPE Network, the Deployable Information Environment or a comparable deployable Defence ICT network.
10. Experience designing, integrating or sustaining Defence, government or other secured ICT environments containing classified, compartmented or segmented security domains.
11. Relevant industry or vendor qualifications in one or more of the following areas: VMware virtualisation or software-defined networking; Microsoft server technologies; Red Hat Enterprise Linux; Cisco networking technologies; Palo Alto security technologies; or Enterprise storage administration.
12. Experience developing and delivering technical training, knowledge transfer or on-the-job mentoring to Defence technical personnel or equivalent technical workforces.
13. Experience administering or integrating Splunk or equivalent log-management, monitoring or security information and event management platforms.
14. Experience with OpenShift, OpenStack, container orchestration or comparable cloud-native infrastructure technologies.
15. Knowledge of the software development lifecycle and its application to infrastructure engineering, application integration, testing and release management.
16. Experience supporting technical innovation, experimentation or demonstration activities involving emerging ICT technologies.
17. Experience integrating cross-domain solutions into secured or classified ICT environments.
18. Exposure to virtual or augmented reality platforms and their integration with enterprise or military command-and-control systems.
19. Experience integrating Android or other end-user-device platforms into managed enterprise environments.
20. Knowledge of deployable, Joint or Coalition ICT and mission systems, including the operational considerations affecting system integration, interoperability and sustainment.
21. Exposure to, or experience working within, Defence capability development, integration, test and evaluation, research or experimentation environments.
22. Experience producing technical assessments, readiness advice, capability options or recommendations for senior Defence, government or executive stakeholders.
23. Relevant tertiary qualifications in information technology, computer science, engineering, cybersecurity or a related discipline.
24. An understanding of Five Eyes networks, systems and processes.
Why choose Pinaka
We know the government ICT market and we keep things straightforward. We take time to understand your background, your goals and the type of role that suits you. We believe transparency is about more than rates and our margins are fair and always disclosed.
What you can expect from us...
1. Fair, disclosed margins
2. Clear communication at every stage
3. Honest advice on fit and competitiveness
4. Visibility on submissions and process status
5. A professional and respectful experience
How you are paid...
You choose what's best for you.
1. PAYG through Pinaka
2. Third-party payroll
3. Self-employed (own ABN)
With a single, transparent and fixed margin, we ensure compliance to all state and payroll laws. So that is one less thing for you to worry about.
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