This position is for a senior member of the Network Operations team which is responsible for the on-going availability and performance of the AARNet network. Broad duties include implementing new network designs and projects; operating, managing and maintaining existing network infrastructure; and documenting the network. The position frequently assists Customers, both external and internal, with network installations, faults, difficulties and performance issues.
About AARNet
Australia’s Academic and Research Network (AARNet) was established in 1989 and is widely regarded as the founder of the Internet in Australia and renowned as the architect, builder and operator of world-class network infrastructure for research and education.
As Australia’s National Research and Education Network (NREN). We connect over one million users — researchers, faculty, staff, students, hospitals, vocational training providers, schools and museums — across Australia.
We are an organisation of innovators, doers, and courageous thinkers. We don’t settle for the status quo; instead, we anticipate the future needs of our customers and build solutions today. If you share our imagination, foresight, and drive to shape the future, why not come and join us?
https://www.aarnet.edu.au/
The Role
This position is a senior member of the Network Operations team which is responsible for the on-going availability and performance of the AARNet network. Broad duties include implementing new network designs and projects; operating, managing and maintaining existing network infrastructure; and documenting the network. The position frequently assists Customers, both external and internal, with network installations, faults, difficulties and performance issues.
The individual in this role will also provide technical advice and mentoring to the wider Operations team.
The candidate will need to be on call, from time to time, to support AARNet’s network after hours and may be required to undertake regional and interstate travel at short notice.
Responsibilities
Implement new network infrastructure and provision new services:
· Determine and order new equipment, software and services as required
· Install, configure and test new equipment and related software
· Configure and test new physical and virtual connections, circuits and networks
· Document new and existing network installations, configurations, related information/data and test results
Operate, manage and maintain the network
· Monitor and measure the network to ensure optimum availability and performance and to achieve service level agreements
· Detect, investigate, diagnose (troubleshoot) and rectify complex network faults, difficulties and performance issues
· Maintain the network with hardware and software updates and upgrades
Provide support and assistance
· Support, assist and advise Customers; the Network Operations Centre and other AARNet staff with network related faults, problems, difficulties, network design and planning, implementation and other network related requirements
· Liaise and communicate with external suppliers, providers and partners
Leadership
· Support ongoing training and development other Network technicians and Engineers in the team
Expertise, experience & qualifications
· At least 7 years’ experience working as a network professional in a carrier-grade, data communication network environment
· Demonstrable, continuous experience working with Juniper and Cisco routing and switching equipment, related operating systems, BGP, OSPF and MPLS
· Extensive knowledge of Juniper and Cisco routing and switching equipment and related operating systems, including features, functionality and capability
· Strong, comprehensive knowledge and extensive use of BGP and OSPF routing protocols
· Knowledge of MPLS, VPLS, VLAN, Q-in-Q, Spanning Tree, IPv6, Multicast
· Highly skilled at configuring and using Juniper and Cisco operating systems
· Highly skilled at detecting, identifying, diagnosing, troubleshooting and fixing/restoring network faults, difficulties and performance issues
· Skilled at using e-mail, trouble-ticket and workflow systems
· Some knowledge and use of scripting languages
Important skills
· Good technical drawing/writing and other documentation skills
· Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written)
· Ability to work independently and in team and cross-team environments
· Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work under time pressure
PERFORMANCE GOALS:
At AARNet, all employees are responsible for:
· Actively promoting safe work practices in the workplace during all activities consistent with AARNet’s policies and comply with all WH&S legislation, policies and procedures.
· Actively contributing to a safe and supportive working environment that is inclusive of all staff through celebrating their nationality, cultural background, LGBTI status, abilities, gender and age.
· Compliance with all workplace directions and processes.
· Compliance with the applicable contract of employment; and
· Maintaining a standard of performance that is acceptable to AARNet.
Additionally, individual performance KPIs will be put in place upon the appointment of the employee to the role.
- Published on 12 Sep 2025, 2:30 AM