L2 System Engineer, Federal Gov Contract, ACT

PERSOL brings together the legacy and experience of four organisations that shaped the staffing landscape over the past century: Kelly Services, who pioneered the modern temporary help industry in 1946; SKILLED, who crafted the staffing industry in Australia in 1964; Programmed, the leading provider of operations and maintenance services across Australia and New Zealand; and PERSOL, the largest workforce solutions provider in APAC.

System Engineer

• 12 month initial contract with 2 x 12 month extension options
• ACT-Based, NV1 clearance required

The Systems Engineer role (EL2 equivalent) involves developing a deep understanding of the technical solution, business processes, and user base to deliver efficient and effective outcomes for GovPlace. This role is responsible for designing, deploying, managing, and supporting virtual desktop environments for GovPlace users, leveraging Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) to ensure secure, PROTECTED-level access to critical government applications including GovTEAMS PROTECTED (Microsoft 365), PDMS, CabNet, and additional protected applications/services that will grow over time.

This role is pivotal in designing, supporting and ensuring a seamless and secure user experience, balancing performance, compliance, and usability across government users.

• GovPlace will also use Zscaler to provide a secure browser-based container for PROTECTED applications and data. Knowledge and experience with Zscaler will be highly valued.
• The Virtual Desktops and Zscaler services will be mainly used by customers working at Agencies on lower than PROTECTED networks. Therefore, designing for this context and ensuring PROTECTED security is paramount. Some GovPlace users will work on PROTECTED networks and there may be a potential requirement to support BYOD (Bring your own device) to access GovPlace.

Key Duties and Responsibilities of the Systems Engineer include (but is not limited to):

Design & Deployment

• Architect and implement scalable and reliable Azure Virtual Desktop environments tailored for the Federal Government users that need to work at the PROTECTED level from Agencies on lower than PROTECTED devices/networks.
• Architect and implement Zscaler to provide PROTECTED access to PROTECTED applications and data.
• Ensure compatibility and secure access to Microsoft 365, PDMS, CabNet, and other protected applications.

Operations & Support

• Monitor and maintain virtual desktop performance, availability, and security.
• Provide Tier 2/3 support for VDI-related issues, escalating as needed.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity teams to ensure compliance with ISM and PSPF requirements.
• Create and update SOPs and user guides for using the AVD and Zscaler parts of GovPlace.

Security & Compliance

• Implement and maintain security controls aligned with PROTECTED classification standards.
• Conduct regular audits and vulnerability assessments of the VDI environment.
• Ensure Zscaler policies are correctly applied and updated to reflect evolving threat landscapes.

User Experience

• Optimize virtual desktop configurations for performance and usability.
• Gather user feedback and continuously improve the VDI experience.
• Develop and maintain user guides and support documentation.

Collaboration & Reporting

• Work closely with internal and external teams, vendors, and stakeholders to deliver secure and reliable services.
• Provide regular reporting on system health, usage metrics, and incident trends.

Candidates will be assessed on the following highly desirable and desirable criteria:

Highly Desirable Criteria:

• Demonstrated experience with Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) in enterprise or government environments.
• Strong understanding of Zscaler architecture and policy management – or a willingness to learn.
• Familiarity with Australian Government security frameworks (ISM, PSPF).
• Experience supporting Microsoft 365 in secure environments.
• Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.

Desirable Criteria:

• Certifications such as AZ-140 (Configuring and Operating Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop), Zscaler Certified Professional, or equivalent.
• Experience with Intune, Endpoint Manager, and Group Policy in virtual environments.
• Knowledge of protected network architectures and secure enclave design.
• Knowledge/experience with PDMS, CabNet, Foreign Investment Portal, VANguard, GovLINK and other whole of government applications.

If you meet these requirements, please apply now. For a confidential discussion, please call Athena Yung on or reach out

PERSOL strives for diversity, inclusion, and equality of our people. We seek a workforce that is representative of the communities we work in. We encourage people of all cultures, gender, age, sexual orientation, or abilities to apply.