Director, Design and Optimisation

Optus is an Australian telecommunications company, delivering more than 11 million services to our customers every day across mobile, broadband and digital solutions.

The Director, Design & Optimisation is a senior engineering leader responsible for the end-to-end performance, design, and optimisation of the IP Core network, acting as the formal authority on design decisions and IP modernisation outcomes. The role drives cross-functional collaboration and leads innovation, balancing new technologies with network stability and operational readiness. It also oversees IP transformation programs, ensuring strong architecture, disciplined delivery, and measurable improvements in network resilience, scalability, and operability.

Your day to day will consist of

• Own and execute the IP Core design, optimisation, and modernisation strategy, translating business goals into clear engineering direction and priorities.
• Act as the formal design authority, leading cross-domain decisions, resolving complex performance issues, and approving architectural trade-offs.
• Drive end-to-end network performance and optimisation, prioritising initiatives based on customer impact, scalability, and risk reduction.
• Lead the IP innovation roadmap, introducing new technologies and design improvements while maintaining network stability and operational readiness.
• Provide technical stewardship of IP transformation programs, ensuring strong architecture, disciplined delivery, and measurable improvements in resilience and operability.
• Lead engineering teams and vendor partnerships, while ensuring compliance, promoting efficient design practices, and aligning technology outcomes with business and customer needs.

What makes you perfect for the role

• Bachelor’s (and preferably Master’s) in Engineering, with professional certifications such as CCNP/CCIE or equivalent experience.
• 15+ years in IP network engineering, including 5+ years in leadership and proven delivery of large, complex, multi-stream projects.
• Strong skills in IP routing, MPLS, QoS, Carrier Ethernet, network virtualisation, with exposure to SRv6, automation (Netconf/YANG, Ansible), and cloud-native networking.
• Demonstrated success managing large engineering programs and leading teams in matrix environments.
• Effective at executive reporting, mentoring teams, influencing stakeholders, and building collaborative relationships under pressure.
• Commercial acumen, customer focus, strong analytical/problem-solving ability, and commitment to regulatory compliance and risk management.

What’s in it for you?

• 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.
• 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.

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. We're here to help.

For more information on Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at Optus, please visit https://www.optus.com.au/about/inclusion-diversity