Lead ACER's cloud platforms, automation and engineering enablement capabilities
About ACER
The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) is an independent, international not-for-profit organisation focused on improving learning through world-class research, assessment and digital innovation. With approximately 420 staff across Australia and internationally, ACER delivers high-impact educational solutions at scale.
The Information Technology Division plays a critical role in supporting ACER's strategic objectives through the delivery of secure, scalable and innovative technology solutions. As part of an exciting technology transformation, we are investing in modern engineering practices, cloud platforms and developer enablement capabilities to support our products, services and people.
The Opportunity
We are seeking an experienced Platform Engineering Manager to lead ACER's platform engineering capability.
Reporting to the Chief Digital Technology Officer, this role will provide both technical and people leadership across cloud platforms, automation, CI/CD, developer enablement, observability and reliability engineering. You will lead a team of platform engineers while working closely with Product, Software Engineering, Cyber Security, Enterprise Architecture and Technology Operations teams to build secure, scalable and reliable platforms that support ACER's digital products and business applications.
This is an opportunity for a technically capable leader who enjoys balancing strategy, people leadership and hands-on engineering.
Key Responsibilities
Lead, coach and develop a high-performing Platform Engineering team
Establish and maintain a platform engineering strategy and roadmap aligned with organisational priorities
Design, build and continuously improve secure, resilient and scalable cloud platforms
Lead platform automation initiatives including CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code and environment provisioning
Develop and maintain developer enablement services and self-service capabilities
Establish platform engineering standards, patterns and best practices
Improve observability, monitoring, reliability and operational readiness across platforms
Partner with Product and Engineering leaders to improve delivery efficiency and developer experience
Work closely with Cyber Security and Enterprise Architecture teams to embed security and compliance controls
Manage platform-related budgets, cloud cost optimisation activities and technology partners
What You'll Bring
Qualifications in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience
Extensive experience designing, automating and operating cloud platforms, preferably within AWS environments
Experience leading Platform Engineering, DevOps, Cloud Engineering and/or Site Reliability Engineering teams
Strong knowledge of CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code, containers, automation, observability and platform operations
Experience building secure, scalable and resilient cloud-based solutions
Strong understanding of reliability engineering, incident management and operational best practices
Experience managing cloud costs and implementing practical FinOps approaches
Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills
Demonstrated people leadership, coaching and workforce planning experience
A strong commitment to engineering excellence, continuous improvement and collaboration
This Role is Well Suited to Someone Who:
Enjoys leading highly skilled technical teams while remaining hands-on with technology
Has a passion for cloud platforms, automation and developer enablement
Thrives on solving complex engineering and operational challenges
Enjoys influencing engineering practices, standards and ways of working
Can balance strategic thinking with delivery-focused execution
Values continuous improvement, innovation and collaboration
Why Work With Us
Lead a critical capability within ACER's technology transformation
Work with modern cloud, platform engineering and automation technologies
Opportunity to shape engineering practices across the organisation
Collaborative and supportive team environment
Strong focus on professional development and continuous learning
Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
Inclusive, values-driven organisational culture
Apply now
To apply or view the full position description, click Apply or visit:
https://www.acer.org/au/about-us/careers
As part of the selection process, shortlisted applicants may be required to complete a technical assessment and interview process.
Salary range is $192,995 - $213,308 plus superannuation. Please note that ACER is currently undertaking enterprise bargaining negotiations, and remuneration arrangements are subject to change.
Applications close Monday, 19 October 2026 at 11:59 PM (AEDT)
ACER is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to actively fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are dedicated to attracting, retaining and developing our people regardless of gender identity, cultural and faith background, sexual orientation, disability and/or age. ACER welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.
ACER encourages applications from the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.
ACER is committed to supporting candidates with disability through provision of adjustments during the recruitment and selection process and throughout employment. To request or discuss adjustment requirements, please contact: P&[email protected]