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About the Role

Lead the architecture and technical assurance of the backbone connectivity platform for the Firmus AI Factory ecosystem and Firmus AI Cloud. Act as the primary technical authority for backbone architecture, translating strategy into a scalable, resilient, and vendor-neutral design. Ensure the backbone network positions Firmus as a leader in AI-ready connectivity.

Responsibilities

• Own the technical architecture of Firmus's backbone network.
• Act as the principal technical adviser to the Head of Connectivity.
• Operate as a senior technical lead within the Network Engineering team.
• Convert the Firmus Connectivity Strategy into an integrated, executable backbone architecture spanning subsea and terrestrial fibre, optical transport (DWDM/OTN), IP/MPLS and segment routing, data-centre interconnection and partner connectivity.
• Define the reference architecture, standards and reusable design patterns that guide engineers and partners.
• Ensure AI Factory and Firmus AI Cloud services attach through resilient, diverse and scalable backbone nodes free of unmanaged common-mode failure.
• Set minimum resilience profiles, validate physical-route and shared-risk-link-group diversity.
• Provide independent technical assurance that designs can be delivered, operated and scaled safely across their full lifecycle.
• Act as technical design authority in vendor and technology selection for backbone and subsea services.
• Lead complex backbone changes and cutovers.
• Mentor the engineering team.
• Benchmark Firmus's designs against leading global operators and hyperscalers.
• Drive value engineering and sustainability outcomes without compromising resilience or performance.

Requirements

• Accomplished network architect for large-scale, mission-critical connectivity infrastructure.
• Deep expertise in national and international backbone design across terrestrial long-haul fibre and subsea systems, including landing-station connectivity, cable-landing diversity, and terrestrial route and duct engineering.
• Fluent in optical transport (DWDM/OTN, coherent and client-side optics, ROADM and amplification/regeneration planning).
• Fluent in IP backbone design, including IP/MPLS, segment routing, EVPN, traffic engineering, peering, transit and internet exchange, and high-capacity data-centre and customer interconnection.
• Understand how to design resilient, diverse networks free of unmanaged common-mode failure, using SRLG analysis, engineered failure-state capacity and physical-route evidence.
• Experience leading architecture and design reviews, carrier and technology-vendor governance, technical evaluation of backbone and subsea services, change control, cutover planning, and operational-readiness and handover to network operations.
• Authored or materially shaped reference architectures, design standards, reusable patterns and architecture decision records at a hyperscale operator, carrier, or equivalent.
• Know how to keep an architecture modular and vendor-neutral.
• Comfortable engaging carriers, subsea consortia, internet exchanges and major equipment vendors.
• Strong systems thinking.
• Calm judgement under delivery and incident pressure.
• Confidence to challenge design and vendor assumptions constructively.
• Communication skill to carry a room of network engineers, a customer technical review, and an executive readout with equal clarity.
• Commercial awareness.
• Comfort operating across cultures and time zones.
• Genuine passion for building AI-ready network connectivity that performs reliably from day one and positions Firmus as a leader in the field.
• Strong technical foundation in network and connectivity engineering.
• More than 12 years of progressive experience designing and operating large-scale backbone networks across carrier, hyperscale, cloud or specialist AI infrastructure environments.
• Deep, hands-on expertise as a principal-level network architect or distinguished engineer on national and international backbone programmes.
• Proven track record owning reference architectures, design standards and technical assurance across a portfolio of concurrent connectivity initiatives.
• Experience with end-to-end design and delivery across terrestrial long-haul fibre and subsea cable systems — including landing-station connectivity, route and duct diversity, and SRLG-based resilience modelling.
• Deep expertise in optical transport (DWDM/OTN, coherent optics, 100G/400G/800G).
• Deep expertise in IP backbone design (IP/MPLS, segment routing, EVPN, traffic engineering, peering, transit and internet exchange).
• Led technical evaluations of carriers, subsea operators and equipment vendors.
• Defined the technical sections of RFPs and evaluation criteria.
• Worked effectively across the design-to-operate interface with Network Engineering, Data Centre and Operations teams.
• Experience authoring or contributing materially to global backbone reference architecture, minimum standards or interconnection strategy at a hyperscale, carrier or AI infrastructure operator is a strong differentiator.
• Experience delivering into APAC markets — particularly Indonesia, Australia and Singapore — under diverse regulatory, licensing and provider conditions.
• Combine hands-on architectural depth with the influence and communication skills to lead as a senior technical authority.

Skills

• Network Architecture
• Backbone Connectivity
• AI Infrastructure
• Terrestrial Long-Haul Fibre
• Subsea Systems
• Landing Station Connectivity
• Cable-Landing Diversity
• Terrestrial Route Engineering
• Duct Engineering
• Optical Transport
• DWDM
• OTN
• Coherent Optics
• ROADM
• Amplification Planning
• Regeneration Planning
• IP Backbone Design
• IP/MPLS
• Segment Routing
• EVPN
• Traffic Engineering
• Peering
• Transit
• Internet Exchange
• Data Centre Interconnection
• Customer Interconnection
• Resilience Design
• Diversity Design
• SRLG Analysis
• Failure-State Capacity Engineering
• Physical-Route Evidence
• Architecture and Design Reviews
• Carrier Governance
• Technology-Vendor Governance
• Technical Evaluation
• Change Control
• Cutover Planning
• Operational Readiness
• Network Operations Handover
• Reference Architectures
• Design Standards
• Reusable Design Patterns
• Architecture Decision Records
• Modular Architecture
• Vendor-Neutral Architecture
• Managed Services
• Wavelengths
• Dark Fibre
• Subsea Assets
• Systems Thinking
• Communication Skills
• Commercial Awareness
• Cross-Cultural Communication
• Cross-Time Zone Collaboration
• Network Engineering
• Telecommunications
• Computer Science
• 100G Optics
• 400G Optics
• 800G Optics
• RFP Definition
• Evaluation Criteria Definition
• Design-to-Operate Interface Management
• Data Centre Operations
• Global Backbone Reference Architecture
• Interconnection Strategy
• APAC Market Delivery
• Regulatory Compliance
• Licensing Compliance
• Provider Negotiation

Location

• Sydney, Australia

Work Type

• Full-time

Experience Level

• Principal
• Senior Technical Lead
• Distinguished Engineer
• More than 12 years

Education Level

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Telecommunications, Computer Science or a related discipline
• Master's degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Telecommunications, Computer Science or a related discipline

About the Company

• Firmus Technologies is a global leader pioneering the development and operation of efficient AI infrastructure across Asia Pacific.
• Founded in Australia in 2019, our mission is to create the most efficient AI infrastructure by combining cutting-edge technology with a steadfast commitment to sustainability.
• We design, build, and operate a new class of digital infrastructure – the AI Factory.
• Our model-to-grid technology approach has pushed the boundaries of multi-generational liquid cooling systems, energy management, AI software orchestration, and construction.
• Firmus AI Cloud is a large-scale GPU cloud platform purpose-built to deliver energy-efficient AI compute at scale.
• It empowers developers, enterprises, educational institutions, and government users to train and deploy AI models with unmatched efficiency and cost savings.
• We are committed to delivering a cloud experience that is market-leading, proprietary, and built to scale.

Equal Opportunity

• At Firmus, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace.
• We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds who are passionate about creating a more sustainable future through innovative engineering solutions.
• Join us in our mission to revolutionize the AI industry through sustainable practices and cutting-edge engineering.
• Apply now to be part of shaping the future of sustainable AI infrastructure.