Technology Specialist Lead (AI)

• Employment Type: 24 months, fixed term role as a Technology Specialist ( AI ), UNSW IT
• Starting salary: $153,933 plus 17% super and leave loading
• Location: Kensington campus in NSW (Hybrid Flexible Working) 2-3 days in the office

About UNSW:

UNSW isn’t like other places you’ve worked. Yes, we’re a large organisation with a diverse and talented community—but more importantly, it’s a community doing extraordinary things. Together, we are driven to be thoughtful, practical, and purposeful in all we do. It’s this approach that makes our work matter—and why we’re recognised as one of the world’s top 20 universities and ranked Australia’s #1 university, as well as a proud member of the prestigious Group of Eight. If you’re looking for a role where you can shape change, thrive in complexity, and see the real impact of your work every day, you’re in the right place.

The Technology Specialist Lead (AI) leads the designs, development, and maintenance of AI-enabled applications and integration components that support UNSW’s digital transformation and major technology initiatives. Working within the Innovation & Enablement team, this role applies advanced specialist engineering expertise and provides technical leadership build and operate retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), LLM-based APIs, and AI data pipelines on AWS and Azure. The position ensures all engineering work aligns to the UNSW AI Services & Governance Framework, UNSW Cyber and privacy standards, and agile delivery principles, whilst contributing to the development and improvement of AI engineering standards and practices. This position reports to the Technology Manager (AI) and has no direct reports.

You will lead the design, develop and maintenance of AI-enabled solutions, including RAG pipelines, vector database integrations, and LLM-based APIs on AWS and Azure across multiple projects or programs University-wide. Collaborate with Developers and peers to ensure secure, efficient and responsible AI engineering practices in line with UNSW standards, providing specialist guidance and technical leadership. Lead and implement assigned AI engineering tasks within agile sprints, contributing to backlog refinement and technical reviews, including providing expert input into solution design and prioritisation. Prepare unit and functional tests for AI components, including automated prompt evaluations and safety tests (toxicity, hallucination, latency), ensuring compliance with quality and risk requirements. Execute testing and evaluation of AI pipelines against defined KPIs (accuracy, relevance, safety) and support continuous improvement across the university. Lead, deliver and maintain AI and integration solutions, ensuring observability, traceability, and compliance with Responsible AI controls and organisational governance requirements. Develop runbooks, documentation and end-user guidance for AI-integrated features; promote awareness of safe and ethical AI use across stakeholder groups.

Who you are:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Computer Science, Engineering, or IT, or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing solutions using AWS and Azure services, including AI/ML APIs, data pipelines, and microservices in complex enterprise environments.
• Experience integrating with LLM APIs, RAG pipelines, vector databases, and related frameworks.
• Strong programming ability in Python, TypeScript or C#, with experience in CI/CD pipelines and containerisation (Docker, GitHub Actions, or Azure DevOps).
• Understanding of GenAIOps and LLMOps workflows, including prompt management, model evaluation, and telemetry at scale.
• Proven ability to apply privacy and security best practices, including data minimisation, redaction, and encryption in alignment with organisational governance requirements.
• Demonstrated agile delivery experience (Scrum/Kanban) and proficiency in using Jira and Confluence.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving ability with strong debugging and optimisation skills to resolve complex technical issues.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; able to explain AI systems to non technical stakeholders and provide high-level technical advice.
• Knowledge of the UNSW AI Services & Governance Framework and commitment to Responsible AI practices.
• An understanding of and commitment to UNSW’s aims, objectives and values in action, together with relevant policies and guidelines.
• Knowledge of health & safety (psychosocial and physical) responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety training.

Benefits and Culture

• Flexible Working Options (work from home, flexible hours etc) 
• Career development opportunities
• 17% Superannuation contributions and additional leave loading payments 
• Additional 3 days of leave over Christmas period
• Discounts and entitlements (retail, education, fitness)

For further details on the benefits, please visit https://www.jobs.unsw.edu.au/lifestyle-benefits

To apply:  Please submit your CV, Cover Letter and responses addressing the required Who you are criteria.

Please note: Sponsorship is not available for this role; valid Australian working rights are required on application.

Pre-Employment Checks
As part of our recruitment process candidates may be required to undergo pre-employment screening, which may include reference checks, qualification verification, right-to-work verification, and criminal history screening where relevant to the role.

Contact: Jen MacLachlan - Talent Acquisition Partner- e: j.maclachlan@unsw.edu.au

Please apply through the application portal as we do not accept direct applications to the email above.

Applications close: Sunday 1st of November 2026 at 11.30pm

UNSW is committed to equity diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff.

The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.