Principal Software Engineer/Architect

Acknowledgement of Country

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation

Role Highlights

• Great opportunity to lead innovative software development for national impact
• Drive technical excellence in high-performance computing and web development
• Collaborate with a dynamic team focused on advancing Australia’s infrastructure & supply chain resilience

About CSIRO

At CSIRO Australia's national science agency, we solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. We put the safety and wellbeing of our people above all else and earn trust everywhere because we only deal in facts. We collaborate widely and generously and deliver solutions with real impact. 

CSIRO is committed to values-based leadership to inspire performance and unlock the potential of our people.

Join us and start creating tomorrow today!

The opportunity

As a Principal Software Engineer/Architect, you will join the Resilient Supply Chains and Logistics team, contributing to the development and enhancement of products and applications for the Transport Network Strategic Investment Tool (TraNSIT). TraNSIT is a widely used tool across all three levels of government, with increasing demand to support Australia’s future infrastructure investments and supply chain resilience.
 

In this role, you will lead the design, development, deployment, and maintenance of the data, software, and infrastructure that power TraNSIT and TraNSIT Web. You will expand the capabilities of existing tools and develop next-generation versions that support scenario analysis for infrastructure planning, natural disaster response, and defence strategy. Your expertise will be crucial in enhancing the analytical capabilities of web interfaces, optimising database performance, integrating data with other platforms, and handling large-scale data analysis.
 

This is an exciting opportunity to influence long-term strategic plans for software and systems development, guide scientific and technological decision-making, and provide mentorship to development teams. Join us and be part of a dynamic team focused on advancing Australia's growing needs of infrastructure and supply chain planning!

Your high-level duties will include:

• Leading the transition of TraNSIT from research-grade to production-level software platform, by providing technical leadership in systems design and architecture, and developing high-performance computing & cloud-based solutions.
• Designing and developing web-based applications and API-driven services for TraNSIT outputs, ensuring compliance with government and external platform requirements.
• Designing and implementing scalable database solutions, optimising system performance for larger datasets, and future-proofing the software architecture.
• Contributing to software development in Python, C++, JavaScript and SQL, and applying specialist expertise to solve complex technical challenges.
• Influencing long-term strategic plans for software and systems development, as well as guiding scientific and technological decision-making, and providing expertise in cutting-edge software methodologies.
• Providing mentorship and technical guidance to development teams, promoting best practices and professional standards in software architecture.
• Acting as a trusted advisor for internal and external stakeholders, and collaborating with government agencies, industry partners and other research institutions.

Role Particulars

Location and office arrangements: Canberra (Black Mountain) ACT preferred; Brisbane (Dutton Park) QLD; Adelaide (Waite Campus) SA. (Other CSIRO sites may be considered, if required, based on needs of the role and individual circumstances. Flexible work options available).

Salary: AU$157K – AU$174K per annum plus up to 15.4% superannuation

Tenure & work schedule: Indefinite; Full-time (preferred)

Reference: 99526

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

• A relevant degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• Proven experience in software development and code optimisation within a team environment.
• Strong knowledge of professional software engineering practices and the full software development lifecycle (SDLC), including:
  • Coding standards and best practices.
  • Software architecture and design patterns.
  • Code reviews and source control management.
  • Build processes, testing, and deployment operations.
• Demonstrated experience in:
  • Front-end web development and back-end API development.
  • JavaScript and modern JavaScript web frameworks (e.g., Vue.js).
  • Node.js or alternative backend technologies.
  • Writing and optimising efficient SQL queries.
• Proven ability to build and maintain professional relationships, collaborate effectively, and manage complex stakeholder interactions.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present outputs to stakeholders, conferences, or seminars.
• Proficiency in additional programming languages such as Python (for web development), C++, SQL, and experience working with relational databases.
• Experience in leading a team of technical staff and mentoring team members.

For full details about this role please review the Position Description.

 

Not sure if you meet all the criteria?

While it is CSIRO policy that the successful candidate must meet all the essential criteria, there are many ways to demonstrate this. Don’t let the list discourage you. If you are unsure about applying, please reach out to the contact person in the Position Description.

Setting You Up for Success

We are committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible to everyone. We recognise that it may be helpful for us to adjust our process to make it equitable for your individual situation. Please contact the Talent Acquisition Partner via email (see details in the Position Description) and let us know how we can support you.

Eligibility

Applications for this position are only open to Australian Citizens, and the successful applicant will be required to obtain and maintain a security clearance at the Negative Vetting 1 level.

Appointment to this role is also subject to provision of a national police check (pre-employment) and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

Life at CSIRO and Flexible Work Arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. We can discuss flexible work arrangements with you during the recruitment process. CSIRO also offers a range of leave entitlements, benefits and career development opportunities. To find out more, visit Careers at CSIRO.

Inclusion and Belonging

Solving Australia's greatest challenges takes a diversity of minds and lived experiences. We know diverse teams are more effective and deliver more innovative outcomes. As an equal employment opportunity organisation, we are committed to creating diverse and inclusive teams where people feel they belong. We recognise true diversity encompasses all ages, abilities, cultures, faiths, levels of education, genders, sexualities, diversity of thought and much more. We focus on hiring people who share our values of People First, Further Together, Making it Real and Trusted.

CSIRO holds Gold Status for the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and a Science in Australia Gender Equity Bronze Award.

Child safety

CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy.

How to apply

Please apply online, and provide a CV and a detailed cover letter, responding to each of the selection criteria in detail, that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role. Please attach your selection criteria responses to your cover letter as one document.

Applications close

21 April 2025, 11:00pm AEST