Job Title:

Senior Unified Communications Engineer (Senior Infrastructure Engineer – EL1 Equivalent)

This role is a full-time contract opportunity supporting the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT) through an ICT Labour Hire arrangement. The successful candidate will join DFAT’s Telecommunications and Data Centre Support Section (TCS) within the Infrastructure and Operational Support Branch, contributing to the design, implementation, and operation of DFAT’s Unified Communications (UC) environment.

The role supports both project delivery and ongoing operational requirements, providing senior technical leadership across voice, video, collaboration, and messaging platforms used across DFAT domestically and internationally.

About the first project:

The initial engagement will focus on supporting DFAT’s Unified Communications capability, which currently includes a mix of Microsoft Teams, Cisco Video Conferencing, and Alcatel PABX solutions. The Senior Unified Communications Engineer will act as a subject matter expert, supporting solution design, implementation, system upgrades, and operational optimisation while ensuring alignment with security, architecture, and whole-of-government ICT standards.

Responsibilities:

• Identify and document business, functional, and technical requirements for UC hardware, software, systems, and workflows

• Provide subject matter expertise and act as the primary technical lead for Unified Communications solution design and implementation

• Develop and maintain UC roadmaps in collaboration with architecture, design, and cybersecurity teams

• Design, deploy, and support communication and collaboration platforms, including telephony, PBX, voice, video, and messaging systems

• Maintain and support UC services such as desktop and softphones, mobile devices, and conferencing environments

• Create and maintain technical documentation, policies, procedures, and training materials

• Research emerging UC technologies, products, standards, and protocols to inform procurement and technical direction

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure architectural consistency and alignment

• Engage stakeholders to resolve complex technical, design, and security challenges

• Contribute to operational strategies, best practices, and continuous improvement initiatives
  

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Communications, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience

• Extensive hands-on experience with enterprise Unified Communications technologies.

Essential Criteria: 

• Minimum 10 years’ experience designing, deploying, and managing Unified Communications systems and solutions

• Strong stakeholder management and client service skills

• Ability to clearly articulate technical concepts through detailed design and implementation documentation

• Highly developed diagnostic and problem-solving skills

• Proven ability to work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary technical team

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Residency and Clearance

• Must hold an active NV1 security clearance (mandatory – no sponsorship available)

• Australian Citizen

• This role is open to ACT-based candidates only

• Candidates must be available to work full-time on-site at 51 Allara Street, Canberra, with ad-hoc work-from-home arrangements at DFAT’s discretion

Who are Local Peoples?

Local Peoples is a strategic research and design studio based in Melbourne and Canberra.

Our mission is to design healthy, resilient and resourceful communities. We are proud to be a certified B-Corporation with a strong focus on our social, environmental and economic impact.

We work across brand and digital design, place and experience design,, content and community engagement. Our key partners include state and local government, social enterprises, universities and large commercial organisations. All are experiencing complex challenges right now and we believe that design research, thinking and delivery can help to solve these challenges and make positive change for people and the planet.

We produce www.mattersjournal.com, a publication and community of 100K+, which focuses on design-led social innovation and impact.

Why join Local Peoples?

• Representative and inclusive - we are dedicated to building an inclusive and accessible workplace for people from diverse backgrounds

• Impact driven - work towards achieving real impact for people and the environment

• Fantastic culture - driven by a welcoming, supportive and collaborative team environment

• Professional support for design excellence- benefit from being a part of one of Australia’s fastest growing design and delivery communities

• Flexible working arrangements - including the ability to work remotely

• Market rate salaries - attractive remuneration packages in line with the market rate

• Flexible employment types - including the preference for permanent, but will consider contracting

Local Peoples proudly supports the LGBTQ+ community, neurodiverse individuals, and First Nations people. We are committed to creating inclusive spaces where everyone, regardless of their identity, feels valued and respected. Together, we strive for equality and a positive future for all.

Local Peoples works, creates, and plays on the lands of the Wurundjeri, Bunurong, and Wathaurong peoples of the Kulin Nation, land which has never been ceded. We thank them for caring for this land for over 40,000 years and recognize and pay our deepest respect to Elders past, present, and emerging. This always was and always will be Aboriginal land