Did you know?

The mission of the Australian Federal Police is to provide dynamic and effective law enforcement to the people of Australia. It provides policing throughout Australia in relation to the prevention and detection of crimes against the Commonwealth, its laws and integrity, and community police services to the Community of the ACT.

Working for the AFP provides you with a diverse and rewarding career. Whether you immerse yourself in a position on the frontline, or provide critical operational or professional support, the work you do makes a big impact on the people of Australia.

We recognise your contribution to our workforce and offer generous remuneration and conditions including:

• Six weeks (30 days) of paid annual leave per year + additional paid Christmas stand down
• 4 extra days of mandatory rest leave per year
• 18 days of paid personal leave per year
• Generous superannuation of 15.4%
• 18 weeks paid Parental Leave for Primary Caregiver (and 11 weeks for Secondary Caregiver) + additional unpaid leave entitlements for up until 24 months from the child’s date of birth or placement
• Generous salaries and incremental salary progression governed by the AFP Enterprise Agreement
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangement that provides work/life balance
• Health & wellbeing services – with a focus on early intervention, education and prevention
• Access to ongoing training and professional development opportunities

What is the role?

An exciting opportunity is available for an experienced and dynamic individual to join the AFP in a key strategic role responsible for the development of a key capability in the AFP. Applications are sought from applicants wishing to be considered for the role of Senior Software Developer to further strengthen the Data Operations team.

The Senior Software Developer plays a crucial role in designing, developing, and maintaining secure, reliable and scalable software capability to support law enforcement operations. This position involves leading the development of innovative technologies to enhance public safety, improve operational efficiency and ensure data integrity.

As a Technical Specialist in the AFP you will ensure the achievement of outcomes are in accordance with the regulatory framework, the AFP Code of Conduct and the AFP Governance Instruments. Technical Specialists provide expert consultancy within their area of specialism. They develop and promote technical solutions which support the business requirements of the AFP, within their area of expertise.

A Technical Specialist role does not hold any leadership or financial delegations.

We're interested in hearing from people who:

• Have the ability to ask the right questions and find the right solutions, to act with integrity and place the customer at the centre of everything you do.
• Can bring your passion for service excellence and, whilst being comfortable working independently, you will also be able to refer our customers to other specialist team members in order to better serve their needs.

What will you do?

Technical Leadership:

• Lead and mentor a team of developers, providing technical guidance and fostering a collaborative environment.

Take primary responsibility in developing the technical capability of the team. This involves enhancing the capability to build new solutions by;

• driving the use of continuous integration, regression testing and code reviews within the team.
• enhancing the capability of software developers within the team by demonstrating software design patterns, leading the refactoring of existing code and implementing coding standards.
• mentor the developers within the team through pair programming, demonstrating collective code ownership, proper use of version control and embracing the reporting and fixing of bugs.
• communicate with the wider team around the status and progress of software development tasks.
• propose and be an advocate for technical improvements within the team.

Senior Software Development:

• Develop and maintain Software/coding standards.
• Develop and maintain development methodology.
• Provide overarching guidance to the Data Engineers.
• Collaborate with the Enterprise Architects on proposed designs and required capability.
• Work closely with Change and Release manager to ensure timely delivery of capability.

Stakeholder Collaboration:

• Collaborate with law enforcement officers, analysts, and other stakeholders to gather requirements and deliver tailored solutions.
• Communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical team members and decision makers.

System Integration:

• Develop solutions that integrate with existing law enforcement systems such as case management, data analytics, and communication platforms.
• Ensure seamless interoperability and scalability of systems.

Innovation and Problem Solving:

• Identify opportunities to implement emerging technologies like AI, machine learning and predictive analytics in law enforcement applications.
• Address technical challenges and propose solutions to improve system performance and reliability.

Compliance and Security:

• Ensure all software systems align with relevant legal, ethical, and regulatory requirements on law enforcement contexts.
• Implement robust security measures to protect sensitive data and prevent unauthorised access.

Essential Requirements:

• You must be an Australian Citizen at the time of application.
• Negative Vetting 1 (Secret) security clearance, or the ability to obtain one.
• Has contemporary knowledge and experience relevant to the role.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in a like or related field, with at least 2 years in a senior role.
• Tertiary qualification in related field, such as information technology, data analysis, computer science, software engineering or similar.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Java, Python or C#.
• High Proficiency and demonstrated experience with Big Data Platforms.
• High Proficiency and demonstrated experience with SQL and NoSQL Database (Postgres, MS SQL, Neo4J).
• High Proficiency and demonstrated experience with Linux.
• Experience with system integration and API development.
• Strong understanding of cyber security principles and encryption techniques.
• Problem solving and analytical skills with attention to detail.
• Effective communication and leadership abilities.

Desirable Requirements:

The following skills and/or experience would be highly regarded:

• Previous experience in the public sector or law enforcement

Additional Information:

• Domestic travel will be required for this role, depending on AFP business needs.
• This role is located in Canberra, however remote working options may be negotiated.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:

At the AFP we value the different perspectives, approaches and lived experiences of our people, and recognise that our collective intelligence and diversity is what makes us stronger. As such, we encourage applications from people from all walks of life, including people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, First Nations people, women, the LGBTQI community and people with disability.

Contacts and Closing Information:

Contact Officer: Virginia Savle,

Contact Officer Phone: 02 5126 4372,​

Contact Officer Email: [email protected]