Head of Defence Solution Architecture, ANZ Worldwide Public Sector

Head of Defence Solution Architecture, ANZ Worldwide Public Sector

Job ID: | Amazon Web Services Australia Pty Ltd

Job Overview

Do you have deep experience working with Australian Defence customers, and the cloud expertise to match? AWS is looking for a leader to head our Defence Solutions Architecture team in Australia — someone who understands how Defence operates, the environment it works within, and how cloud technology can genuinely advance mission outcomes.

We're looking for someone with broad familiarity across the Australian Defence Organisation and the Defence Industrial Base, and a genuine interest in the Defence mission — whether that experience was gained inside Defence or working adjacent to it (for example, in consulting, systems integration, defence industry, or a technology provider serving Defence customers). In this role, you will lead a team of senior AWS solutions architects who partner with customers across the Defence sector to design and implement cloud-based systems that meet some of the most demanding security and compliance requirements in the industry. This is a player-coach position — you will guide your team's engagements while also working directly with customers when your expertise can drive the greatest impact.

Applicants must be Australian citizens and must hold or be able to attain an Australian Government Security Vetting Agency clearance (see

Above all, this is a people‑leadership role. You will build, grow, and develop a high‑performing team of solutions architects — hiring and retaining strong talent, coaching your people through complex engagements, and creating an environment where they can do their best work. Australia's strategic circumstances have fundamentally shifted, and Defence is modernising at pace. Success in this role depends on genuine credibility across the Defence community — the ability to earn trust with senior Defence leaders, understand their mission and operational challenges, and translate those challenges into secure, compliant, cloud‑enabled solutions. You will set the strategic direction for your organisation, prioritise where AWS invests its time for maximum customer outcomes, and build a team culture grounded in technical excellence and deep customer understanding.

A working knowledge of Australian Government security policy, including the Essential Eight and the Information Security Registered Assessors Program (IRAP), is essential. If you are ready to lead where cloud technology meets Defence, we want to hear from you.

Key job responsibilities

• Build, grow, and develop a high-performing team of senior solutions architects — hiring and retaining strong talent, actively coaching and mentoring your people, and investing in their career growth.
• Set the strategic direction for your solutions architecture team, defining priorities and team structures that align AWS investment with the areas of greatest customer impact across Defence.
• Lead as a player-coach — guiding your team on complex engagements while also delivering directly to customers when the situation calls for it.
• Build enduring, trust-based relationships with senior Defence stakeholders, operating as a credible partner who understands their mission, operating environment, and capability priorities.
• Partner with Defence customers to translate their mission requirements into cloud architecture designs that address security, compliance, and cost considerations, including alignment with the Essential Eight and IRAP frameworks.
• Collaborate with