Project Manager

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Project Manager - Defence AI Proof of Concept (PoC)

Primary Location:
HQJOC - Bungendore, ACT (with travel to Fyshwick, Russell, Brindabella, and more)

Full-time | Contract to 30 June 2026 + 2 x 12-month extensions

Minimum NV2 Clearance | PV Eligibility Required

Work with leading-edge AI, LLMs, and DevSecOps for national impact

At Azooa , we don't just build solutions-we co-create them with the Australian Government to solve the most pressing digital transformation challenges of our time. As a trusted digital innovation partner, we specialise in emerging technologies, particularly in AI/ML, LLMs , DevSecOps , data platforms , and federal-grade secure solutions .

We're a fast-growing company based in the ACT, proudly delivering cutting-edge capability to Defence and Federal agencies. If you want to work at the intersection of AI innovation , national security , and public impact , Azooa is your place.

The Project:
Artificial Intelligence Proof of Concept (AI PoC)

This strategic initiative is part of a groundbreaking AI capability uplift for the Australian Department of Defence , hosted at HQJOC (General John Baker Complex, Bungendore). The goal? To design, prototype, and transition to production a secure, web-based AI system that can:

• Ingest and process vast volumes of structured and unstructured Defence reporting
• Use Large Language Models (LLMs) to detect anomalies, extract insights, and support qualitative analysis
• Operate within a secure DevSecOps environment , targeting Continuous Authority to Operate (CATO)
• Enable rapid decision-making for Defence stakeholders through AI-powered summarisation and retrieval

Your Mission as Project Manager

As Project Manager , you will be the strategic and operational driver behind the delivery of this complex, high-impact AI capability. You'll coordinate between Azooa engineers, Defence stakeholders, other service providers, and internal executives to ensure delivery excellence, governance, and innovation.

This is a client-facing, delivery-focused role within a blended team environment that includes both public and private sector talent.

1. Program & Delivery Leadership

• Oversee day-to-day management of the AI PoC initiative across all stages-requirements capture, prototype development, evaluation, and production transition
• Own and maintain the project schedule, delivery roadmap, and resource coordination
• Lead sprint planning, stand-ups, retros, and showcase reviews in collaboration with engineering leads
• Maintain accountability for achieving milestones, KPIs, and value delivery
• Serve as the main point of contact for Defence program leads and other Federal stakeholders
• Build and maintain productive relationships across Defence groups, industry partners, and internal teams
• Facilitate workshops, user feedback sessions, and executive briefings to guide requirements definition and alignment
• Communicate project progress, risks, and dependencies through clear, executive-grade reporting

3. Governance, Reporting & Compliance

• Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation across the project lifecycle, including technical architecture, risk logs, reporting artifacts, and transition planning
• Oversee the implementation of Defence-mandated security accreditation processes (e. g. accreditation plans, system security documentation)
• Ensure readiness for security assessments leading to a Continuous Authority to Operate (CATO) state
• Work closely with solution architects, ML engineers, and DevSecOps practitioners to unblock delivery
• Translate business needs into product backlogs and engineering priorities
• Contribute to decisions on infrastructure (IaC, Kubernetes, Docker), tooling, and secure software development practices
• Coordinate testing, validation, and user acceptance activities
• Identify opportunities to refine internal processes and delivery methods
• Adaptively manage change in a fast-paced, evolving program landscape
• Foster a culture of experimentation, learning, and resilience within the delivery team

You are a seasoned delivery leader with proven experience in managing complex, high-stakes government technology projects . You understand the nuances of Defence environments, emerging technology adoption, and how to translate vision into actionable, measurable outcomes.

• Demonstrated experience delivering complex ICT or AI-based initiatives in a Defence or Federal Government setting
• Exceptional project coordination skills with a strong grasp of agile , hybrid , and waterfall methodologies
• Familiarity with DevSecOps , CI/CD pipelines, and modern infrastructure practices (IaC, containerisation, orchestration)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including report writing, stakeholder engagement, and documentation
• Ability to work in blended teams with external providers, Defence personnel, and internal contributors
• Minimum NV2 security clearance , with eligibility and willingness to obtain Positive Vetting (PV)

Highly Desirable

• Understanding of Large Language Models (LLMs) , generative AI, or related NLP/ML technologies
• Experience delivering software projects within secure, air-gapped, or accredited environments
• Exposure to HQJOC operations or similar Defence capability domains
• Previous involvement in transition-to-production activities and AI prototyping environments
• Experience managing service-oriented contracts and fixed-price delivery

The Tech & Engineering Landscape

The AI PoC project will operate within a robust and secure environment with cutting-edge tools and frameworks, including:

• Defence-grade cloud infrastructure & CATO frameworks
• LLMs for thematic analysis, summarisation, and anomaly detection

You'll be embedded with a multidisciplinary team of software engineers, ML experts, cloud architects, and Defence technologists-helping bridge strategy and delivery.

What You'll Be Delivering

Your direct contribution will lead to the successful:

Delivery of a fully functional AI prototype that meets critical Defence requirements

Evaluation and refinement of emerging use cases for qualitative and operational analysis

Transition to a production-ready platform supporting live Defence users

Coordination of all required documentation and security accreditation for ATO

Empowerment of Defence stakeholders through ongoing training and knowledge transfer

At Azooa, we're more than a digital consultancy-we're a mission-driven team redefining what's possible with technology in the A.