Lead Software Developer

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

The Lead Software Developer is accountable for the delivery, integration, and lifecycle management of automation software products that support the Networks Division. The role provides technical leadership by guiding a team of developers, writing and reviewing code, and driving best‑practice software architecture. It also oversees the technical governance of vendor-delivered software. This position ensures software product reliability, security compliance, and operational readiness, while enabling engineering teams through reusable tooling and automation frameworks.

Your day to day will consist of

• Deliver and maintain high‑quality software products as part of the Networks Automation and AI Development team.
• Lead and approve code reviews to ensure quality, maintainability, and alignment with our internal engineering standards.
• Review and validate low level designs to ensure architectural alignment, correctness, and scalability.
• Ensure all technical documentation meets required standards, is complete, and supports ongoing operational and engineering needs.
• Provide SME support for complex technical requests, guide best practice engineering approaches, and help the broader team make sound technical decisions.
• Provide Tier 3 support and manage software product incidents, upgrades, and lifecycle events.
• Monitor product KPIs and ensure compliance with Optus Cyber Security policies (e.g., vulnerability scans, access reviews).
• Collaborate with engineering teams to enable adoption of product capabilities and best practices.
• Maintain platform documentation, configuration standards, and operational runbooks.
• Support backup and recovery planning, capacity management, and configuration control.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and product roadmap execution.

What makes you perfect for the role

• 7+ years in Software Development, DevOps, or Automation roles.
• Hands-on experience with CI/CD tools (e.g., GitLab CI, Jenkins, Azure DevOps).
• Strong understanding of software security and compliance practices.
• Proficiency with databases (PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis Cache).
• Proficiency with programming languages (Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, Ansible).
• Familiarity with tools such as GitLab, Ansible Automation Platform, MinIO, Apache Airflow, Mapbox.
• Familiarity with observability tooling (e.g., ELK, Prometheus, Grafana).
• Familiarity with technologies & platforms including React, Node.js, FastAPI, Red Hat OpenShift, GIS..
• Experience with telecommunications networks and network automation is highly desirable.
• Experience with technical delivery leadership is highly desirable.
• AI Agent experience development is highly desirable.

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