A major Defence initiative is seeking experienced data professionals to support the design, governance, and operationalisation of a comprehensive data and analytics environment. This high-impact program is critical to advancing Defence’s decision-making capabilities and analytical maturity through robust data architecture, governance, and operational frameworks.
We are hiring for two pivotal positions under this initiative:

• Lead Data Architect – Focused on solution design, data architecture, and technical governance.
• Lead Data Manager (Data Operations Manager) – Focused on operational workflows, data quality, and governance execution.

These roles contribute to a unified data ecosystem, collaborating closely across technical and business teams to deliver data-driven insights and analytical products aligned with strategic outcomes. While the work is primarily remote, onsite attendance at key meetings, classified environments, and workshops is required.

Lead Data Architect
The Lead Data Architect is responsible for designing and maintaining scalable and secure data architecture. The role includes defining technical standards, managing integration and interoperability across systems, and ensuring compliance with Defence data protection standards. Key focus areas include logical/physical data modelling, ETL/ELT processes, and collaboration with stakeholders to translate business needs into architectural designs.

Key duties and responsibilities:

• Data Architecture Design: Develop and maintain the integrated data architecture, including data models, data flow diagrams, and integration patterns.
• Data Strategy: Assist in defining and designing data strategy in a federated environment including standards, and technical governance practices to ensure high data quality and consistency.
• Database Management: Design and optimise physical and logical database structures to support performance, scalability, and security.
• Integration and Interoperability: Oversee data integration from multiple sources and ensure seamless data flow across systems.
• Collaboration: Work with cross-functional teams to understand data requirements and align data architecture with business and project needs.
• Compliance and Security: Assist with defining data solutions that comply with data protection regulations and Defence security standards.
• Documentation: Maintain comprehensive documentation of data systems, architecture designs, and data governance policies.

Technical Skills:
Mandatory:

• Advanced data warehouse modelling skills including 3NF, Kinball, SQL
• Ability to interpret business requirements and translate into data design solutions
• Understanding of ETL & ELT processes from a traditional data warehouse and lakehouse context respectively
• Experience with Defence corporate systems including HR
• Conversant with ERWIN

Desirable:

• Understanding of Defence transformation initiatives
• Exposure to military operations ICT concepts

Lead Data Manager (Data Operations Manager)
The Lead Data Manager oversees the governance and operational workflows across the analytics environment. This includes data acquisition, quality assurance, compliance enforcement, and support for cross-functional teams. The role drives process improvement, codification of data practices, and resolution of operational challenges, with a strong emphasis on Defence data privacy and security requirements.

Key duties and responsibilities:

• Data Workflow Management: Oversee and optimise data acquisition processes, ensuring timely and accurate availability of data.
• Data Quality Assurance: Implement and manage processes to monitor, measure, and improve data quality across systems.
• Data Governance Support: Enforce data governance policies, including data privacy, security, and compliance in accordance with Commonwealth Government and Defence policies and regulations. Assist in development in operational policies in procedures as a result of higher level policies and regulations.
• Collaboration / Project Support: Act as a liaison between data engineering, management and data analytical product development teams to align data operations with required outputs and outcomes.
• Issue Resolution: Troubleshoot data issues and coordinate root cause analysis with relevant teams to prevent recurrence.
• Process Improvement: Identify inefficiencies in data operations and lead initiatives to improve automation, scalability, and reliability.
• Documentation: Ensure comprehensive documentation of data processes, workflows, and codification into knowledge repositories..

Technical Skills:
Mandatory:

• Contemporary knowledge of data analytics technologies including 3NF, Kinball, SQL, NoSQL, AI
• Min 2 years experience with data operations across traditional and/or emerging data analytic technologies (data warehouse / lakehouse)
• Hands on experience with development of analytical products in any combination of AI models, dashboards, SQL, data marts
• Working understanding to privacy regulations and security framework

Desirable:

• Exposure to Defence transformation initiatives