Director IP Automation and Tooling

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

As the Director – IP Automation & Tooling, you will have the outstanding chance to build and implement the automation strategy for our IP Core, Edge, Aggregation, and Transport networks. This role is key in leading multi-disciplinary engineering teams to improve network performance, simplify operations, and increase service reliability.

What You’ll Do:

• Define and implement the automation and OSS strategy for Optus’ IP and Transport domains, aligned to enterprise-wide automation frameworks.
• Identify, prioritize, and drive automation use cases that uplift operational efficiency, network reliability, performance, and service agility.
• Coordinate implementation and lifecycle management of OSS and automation platforms supporting IP networks (e.g., SDN controllers, telemetry pipelines, topology systems, configuration automation frameworks).
• Lead teams delivering automation applications using robust Software Development Life Cycle practices across backend, API, and UI development.
• Manage a portfolio of cross-domain automation programs, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with strategic priorities.
• Lead a hybrid workforce of ~10 FTEs and contractor squads by establishing clear governance, aligned delivery standards, and shared accountability frameworks.

What You Bring:

• Degree or equivalent experience in Telecommunications, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
• Certifications in software development processes, OSS platforms, or network automation tools.
• Extensive understanding of IP and Transport technologies, including routing (OSPF, IS-IS, BGP), MPLS, Segment Routing, RSVP-TE, BNG, DWDM, and optical transport platforms.
• Strong hands-on experience with Golang and Python for automation tooling.
• Experience with REST APIs, event streaming (Kafka), telemetry, Git, CI/CD, containers, Linux, and modern databases.
• Proven experience leading technical teams in large-scale telecom environments.
• Strong program management, budgeting, and vendor engagement capability.
• Excellent communication and collaborator management skills.
• Familiarity with SDN controllers, topology systems, orchestration frameworks, and configuration automation tools (e.g., Ansible, Salt, gNMI, NETCONF/YANG).

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive remuneration and colleague discounts. Make life easier (and more affordable) with $80 monthly credit and 25% off Optus products and outstanding shopping discounts with our retail partners.
• Flexible working arrangements with opportunities to work three days in the office, two days remote or from 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 colleague-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

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