Associate Director - Public Safety Solutions

We’re seeking an experienced Associate Director – Public Safety Solutions to provide senior technical leadership, independent design authority and strategic oversight across complex network initiatives supporting public safety, government and enterprise customers within the Networks division.

This role is accountable for shaping end‑to‑end network architecture and solution design across mobile and fixed domains, strengthening technical governance, reducing delivery risk and ensuring solutions are secure, resilient, compliant and aligned to long‑term network and business strategy. The Associate Director plays a critical role in enabling large‑scale transformation initiatives, engaging with senior stakeholders, vendors and government bodies to deliver nationally significant outcomes.

What You’ll do

• Provide end‑to‑end architectural leadership and act as design authority for major   network, product and technology initiatives.
• Lead network design and strategy planning, contributing to long‑term technology roadmaps aligned to organisational goals.
• Develop, enforce and govern network architecture standards, policies and frameworks in line with industry best practice and regulatory requirements.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to principal architects, engineering leaders and domain teams across complex programs.
• Represent the organisation in government, regulatory and industry technical working groups, protecting organisational and community interests.
• Partner with senior stakeholders to translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable business recommendations.
• Collaborate with vendors and technology partners to evaluate, select and introduce new technologies and capabilities.
• Ensure architectural documentation, design principles and frameworks are accurate, current and compliant.

About you

You are a credible and highly experienced telecommunications leader who can operate at a senior strategic level while working hands‑on with complex technical environments. You are comfortable influencing across executive, vendor and government stakeholders and thrive in large, matrixed organisations.

• Extensive experience as a senior professional engineer in the telecommunications industry.
• Deep experience across mobile and fixed network architecture, including public safety and government solutions.
• Strong technical expertise in modern telecom technologies including 5G (NSA/SA), IMS, SDN, NFV, network slicing and cloud‑native architectures.
• Demonstrated experience working with regulatory bodies and understanding regulatory, security and compliance obligations.
• Proven ability to lead technical strategy, architecture and solution design for large‑scale, high‑visibility initiatives.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence without formal authority.

The good stuff….

• Competitive remuneration and employee discounts. Make life easier (and more affordable) with $80 monthly credit and 25% off Optus products and unique shopping discounts with our retail partners.
• Flexible working arrangements with opportunities to work three days in the office, two days remote or home.
• Vibrant and collaborative office campus that includes cafes, convenience store, chill out zones, GP, post office, gym and on‑site childcare centre.
• Competitive leave policies, including additional ‘Connected’ days to focus on culture, family, health, community, or whatever’s important to you.
• We support growing families with inclusive, carer‑neutral paid Parental Leave of up to 16 weeks.
• Direct your own development and build future‑ready skills with Optus U’s industry‑focused micro‑credentials, developed with La Trobe and Macquarie Universities.
• Build meaningful connections through employee‑led networks and diversity initiatives including Culture Connect, Elevate Women, Disability Network and Express Yourself (LGBTQIA+).
• Put your wellbeing first with free access to counselling and support services, 24/7 — in‑person, by phone, SMS, or video.
• Free Optus bus from Macquarie University Metro Station (every 6–8 minutes); morning and afternoon.

At Optus, we are strengthened by others and that means valuing diversity and saying ‘yes’ to embracing individual differences. We are committed to ensuring that our application process provides an equal employment opportunity to all job seekers, including individuals from diverse gender, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, individuals with a disability, individuals identifying as being part of the LGBTQIA+ community, individuals who may have served in the armed forces or who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. We also want to do our best to make our recruitment process inclusive. If you require any adjustments or accessibility support to participate fairly and equitably in the recruitment process, please email AccessibleRecruitment@optus.com.au or call 1800 309 170.
For more information on Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at Optus, please visit
https://www.optus.com.au/about/inclusion-diversity