Software Engineer (Azure) at Australian Bureau of Statistics

Job Description

Software Engineer (Azure) at Australian Bureau of Statistics

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is seeking to recruit a Software Engineer (Azure) for our Data Integration Team. This is an ongoing, permanent role (either full-time or part-time) at the APS 6 classification level. We are looking to establish a merit pool to fill this role, as well as expected future vacancies in similar roles.

About the role and business area

Hosted in Microsoft Azure, the ABS DataLab is a secure research and analytics platform which is capable of hosting protected level data. Approved industry and academic users access the platform via remote desktop to Windows virtual machines that have modern data science tools installed (Python, R, SAS, STATA etc). ABS affiliated analysts conduct research projects aimed at informing the development of crucial social, economic, and environmental policy. The DataLab solution is also consumed “as-a-service” by partner Commonwealth agencies under the brand SEAD (Secure Environment for Analysing Data).

The ABS DataLab technical team are responsible for managing: 

• the “DataLab Portal” line of business web application; involves developing Azure Functions, Azure Automation runbooks, REST APIs, and frontend React programming (JS, JSX, CSS etc)

• the Windows standard operating environment which is managed via Citrix Cloud DaaS and deployed on Azure Virtual Machines integrated with Azure Active Directory Domain Services. Responsibilities include patching, configuring user policy, application management, image provisioning

• the entire Azure IaaS stack including private networking, storage, and integration between application components. Involves developing Azure Resource Manager templates and pipelines in Azure DevOps.

The Software Engineer role requires technical diversity where you will have the opportunity to work on backend, frontend, cloud and OS technologies.

What we are looking for (selection criteria)

To be suitable you should have most or all of the following skills, qualities and experience:  

• high proficiency in one or more contemporary programming languages/frameworks (for example NodeJS or .NET) including extensive use of testing frameworks

• experience in delivering IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS solutions to Azure or AWS cloud platforms, including both applications and infrastructure components with private network integration

• experience with one or more modern CI/CD tools (e.g. Azure DevOps/GitLab) and infrastructure as code templating (ARM, CloudFormation, Terraform etc)

• technical leadership with ability to provide guidance to junior software engineers and provide sensible technology advice / solutions to business stakeholders

• an ability to actively engage as part of a multidisciplinary agile team of technology peers, business areas and expert partners to foster positive working relationship

• an ability to clearly communicate complex concepts to a broad range of stakeholders, both written and oral.

Additionally, the following will be highly regarded: 

• experience administering a Windows virtual desktop environment / Active Directory, Azure Virtual Desktop or Citrix Cloud DaaS

• web application and API endpoint security, cloud security (Microsoft Defender for Cloud)

• experience with automated testing tools (Cucumber, Selenium etc.)

• PowerShell and/or Bash scripting knowledge.

How to apply

You will need to upload your current resume, provide referee details and respond to the following: 

In no more than 750 words, provide one or two examples which best demonstrate your relevant experience as a cloud-focused software engineer. Clearly articulate what your role and contribution was and what outcome was achieved.