Senior Technical Specialist, Mechanical

Optus is an Australian telecommunications company, delivering more than 11 million services to our customers every day across mobile, broadband and digital solutions.

As the Technical Specialist (Mech and Fire), you'll help shape and deliver critical infrastructure projects across Optus Technical Facilities, including telephone exchanges, data centres and related network facilities. You'll lead the planning, design, procurement, construction delivery, commissioning and governance of mechanical, electrical, fire, hydraulic and Building Management System infrastructure, ensuring projects are safe, compliant, resilient, cost-effective and delivered with minimal impact to live telecommunications operations.

What You'll Do

• Identify infrastructure constraints, risks, capacity limitations and asset lifecycle requirements across Optus Technical Facilities, contributing to investment strategies and Annual Operating Plan development.
• Oversee and govern engineering solutions, technical scopes, specifications, standards and design requirements across mechanical, electrical, fire protection, hydraulic, structural and BMS disciplines
• Review consultant, contractor and vendor designs to ensure compliance with Optus Engineering Standards, Australian Standards, statutory requirements and industry best practice.
• Develop project scopes, cost estimates, risk assessments, business cases and delivery strategies that balance operational risk, cost, schedule and service continuity.
• Lead procurement activities, including tender documentation, scope packages, vendor engagement, technical bid evaluations, contractor recommendations and commercial efficiencies.
• Manage capital expenditure programmes typically ranging from $2 million to $10 million, including budgets, forecasting, expenditure and financial reporting.
• Lead critical infrastructure projects from award through construction, commissioning and handover across live operational telecommunications environments.
• Manage contractors, consultants and vendors to ensure safe, compliant and high-quality delivery against programmes, budgets, milestones and operational requirements.
• Oversee construction planning, staging, site inspections, audits, toolbox meetings, permit systems and resolution of technical issues, defects, non-conformances and delivery risks.
• Protect continuity of critical services throughout construction and ensure compliance with WHS obligations, construction regulations and operational readiness requirements.
• Manage commissioning, integrated systems testing and operational handover, including FAT and SAT documentation, asset registration, training, as-built drawings, O&M manuals and defect rectification plans.
• Maintain effective contractor and supplier relationships, support audit and regulatory compliance activities, and elevate critical project, operational, financial and safety risks with mitigation strategies.

What You Bring

• A degree in Engineering, Construction Management or a related discipline.
• 10-15 years' experience delivering critical facility infrastructure projects, ideally across data centres, telecommunications facilities, mission-critical environments or major infrastructure projects.
• Proven experience in construction delivery, project management and contractor governance across complex, live operational environments.
• Strong technical understanding of mechanical systems, electrical systems, fire protection systems, BMS and controls, and critical facility infrastructure.
• Strong commercial acumen, with experience managing CAPEX programmes, procurement activities, project budgets, cost estimates and cashflow forecasts.
• Detailed knowledge of Australian Standards, the Building Code of Australia and WHS legislation, with a strong focus on compliance, safety and operational resilience.
• Proven ability to develop business cases, secure funding approvals, prepare technical specifications and scopes of work, and produce tender documentation.
• Experience with telecommunications infrastructure, data centre design and operations, critical power systems, DC infrastructure, national capital works programmes or asset lifecycle planning is desirable.
• Project Management certification such as PMP, PRINCE2 or equivalent is desirable.
• Customer-focused, organised and self-disciplined, with clear written and oral communication skills and the ability to build effective working relationships.
• Demonstrated leadership, ownership and teamwork, with the ability to influence Engineering, Operations, Procurement, contractors, suppliers and other delivery partners.

The good stuff ...

• Competitive remuneration and employee discounts. Make life easier (and more affordable) with $80 monthly credit and 25% off Optus products and unique shopping disco