Location Canberra Work Site Hybrid Employment Type Full-Time (Permanent) Closing Date 28 Aug, 2026 Principal Consultant &

• Practice Lead (Cloud &

• Automation) Apply Now Overview Kestrel Eight is a Melbourne-born, specialist IT consultancy founded by seasoned professionals. Our purpose is to “simplify complexity,” delivering clean, targeted solutions that just work. We deliver comprehensive technology solutions designed for the rigorous demands of government and enterprise organisations, providing end-to-end support that transforms your technology landscape while maintaining the highest standards of quality, security, and measurable business outcomes. We’re hiring a Principal Consultant &

• Practice Lead to be the technical cornerstone of our Cloud &

• Automation practice. This is a hands-on leadership role: you’ll be embedded on client engagements designing, building, and delivering solutions across the Red Hat ecosystem while leading and developing a team of consultants around you. You’ll be the person the client trusts to get the hard technical work done, and the person your team looks to for direction and mentorship. We’re looking for someone who brings deep technical credibility, consistent delivery excellence, and a strong professional network. You should be well connected in the market, with the judgment to spot emerging opportunities and the relationships to turn those opportunities into warm introductions that help grow the business. When clients see the quality of your work and trust your advice, that trust becomes the foundation for long-term growth — and you’ll share directly in that success through our profit-share model.

Required Qualifications Security Clearance: Current Australian Government NV1 or NV2 security clearance (non-negotiable).

Red Hat Ecosystem Expertise: Demonstrated, hands-on experience designing and delivering solutions across the Red Hat stack: OpenShift (including OpenShift Virtualization), Ansible Automation Platform, and RHEL in enterprise or government environments.

Federal Government Delivery: Proven track record delivering technology outcomes within the Australian federal government landscape, with a strong understanding of regulatory, compliance, and security requirements.

Technical Leadership: Experience leading technical teams on complex engagements — setting direction, reviewing work, unblocking issues, and maintaining quality across delivery.

Consulting Experience: Experience operating as a senior consultant in complex, high-impact environments, able to communicate technical concepts clearly to non-technical senior stakeholders and translate client needs into robust solutions.

Stakeholder Management: Demonstrated ability to build trusted, long-term relationships with client technical and executive stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications Red Hat certifications such as RHCA, RHCE, Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Administration, or equivalent.

Working knowledge of major cloud providers (AWS, Azure) and experience with hybrid or multi-cloud architectures.

Experience leading workload migration programs (legacy hypervisor to OpenShift Virtualization, on-premises to cloud, VM to container).

Familiarity with Australian Government security frameworks such as the ISM, PSPF, or Essential Eight.

A strong professional network across the federal government and cleared technology community that we can leverage for future hiring and engagement opportunities.

Key Responsibilities Technical Delivery (Primary) Be the hands-on technical lead on client engagements — designing, implementing, and assuring solutions across the Red Hat ecosystem (OpenShift, Ansible, RHEL) in secure government environments.

Partner with clients to transform virtualisation infrastructure from current-state VM and cost analysis, through dependency and risk mapping, to wave-based migration planning and execution.

Deliver containerisation and orchestration solutions, enabling clients to package applications and their dependencies for flexible deployment across any environment — public cloud, private cloud, or on-premises.

Architect secure, scalable solutions tailored to the strict regulatory and compliance requirements of government environments.

Produce high-quality technical deliverables: solution designs, architecture documentation, runbooks, and operational handover materials.

Provide technical governance and quality assurance across all practice engagements. Team Leadership & Mentorship Lead and develop a team of consultants on delivery engagements — setting technical direction, reviewing work, coaching on best practices, and maintaining high standards.

Mentor team members in technical excellence, security best practices, and consultative delivery skills.

Contribute to building team capability by identifying skills gaps and recommending development activities. Relationship-Led Growth Build and maintain trusted relationships with client stakeholders, becoming the advisor they turn to for cloud and automation guidance.

Identify and surface new opportunities that arise naturally through client delivery and relationships, working collaboratively with Kestrel Eight’s business development team to progress them.

Contribute your professional network to support hiring efforts led by our talent acquisition team.

Represent Kestrel Eight’s technical credibility in client discussions, partner forums, and industry events as appropriate.

Practice Contribution

Contribute to the development of repeatable service offerings, delivery playbooks, and reference architectures for the Cloud & Automation practice.

Share field learnings and client insights with the broader Kestrel Eight team to improve delivery quality and inform service development.

Provide input on practice direction, capability priorities, and go-to-market positioning — collaborating with leadership rather than owning the strategy in isolation.



90-Day & 6-Month Success Measures First 90 Days Complete onboarding and establish working relationships with Kestrel Eight leadership, delivery teams, and key partner contacts (Red Hat, existing clients).

Be embedded and delivering on at least one client engagement as the technical lead.

Develop a clear understanding of the current client landscape, in-flight work, and near-term pipeline.

Identify at least 2–3 potential opportunities through your existing client relationships and professional network, and hand these to the business development team for progression.

Begin building working relationships with your team — establish delivery standards, review cadences, and mentoring rhythms. First 6 Months Have led delivery on at least 2 client engagements, with demonstrable client satisfaction and quality outcomes.

Be recognised by at least 2 client stakeholders as a trusted technical advisor for cloud and automation.

Have contributed at least 2 qualified leads or expansion opportunities through client relationships to the business development pipeline.

Have contributed materially to team development — through mentoring, technical coaching, or capability uplift.

Have contributed at least one repeatable delivery asset (reference architecture, playbook, or service offering template) to the practice.

Have shared at least 3 contacts from your skilled network with the talent acquisition team to support future hiring. Work Site & Employment Details Detail Value Role Type Principal Consultant / Practice Lead Profession Cloud Infrastructure & Automation Employment Type Full-Time (Permanent) Work Site Hybrid — Canberra-based, on-site as required by client and security requirements What We Offer Base salary: Competitive + superannuation (commensurate with experience).

Profit-share arrangement: A transparent, performance-based structure linked to practice growth and successful delivery across your engagements. This is a genuine share in the value you help create.

Professional development: Budget for certifications, training, and conferences — we invest in keeping our people at the leading edge.

Flexible working: We adapt to your project timelines and operational needs with a flexible engagement model. You’ll be Canberra-based and on-site when client or security requirements demand it, with flexibility at other times.

Autonomy with support: You’ll have the freedom to lead technical delivery your way, backed by a team that handles sales strategy, business development, and recruitment so you can focus on what you do best.

Enduring partnerships: We focus on building long-term relationships that deliver continuous value beyond individual projects, fostering a collaborative and positive experience — for our people as much as our clients.

About Kestrel Eight Kestrel

Eight brings together seasoned IT professionals with extensive enterprise experience, combining deep technical expertise with the agility of a focused team. Born in Melbourne from a shared vision to deliver better professional services, we’ve worked on the front lines of major government and enterprise programs, giving us the practical insight to solve complex technology challenges — from application modernisation and containerisation to process management and automation. As specialist partners with Red Hat, Microsoft, AWS, TechnologyOne, and Tungsten Automation, we give our clients the power to innovate.

We don’t just fix technical problems; we deliver strategic solutions built on trust, innovation, and long-term partnership that fit seamlessly into your business context.

How to Apply Submit Your CV And a Brief Cover Letter Outlining: Your hands-on experience delivering solutions across the Red Hat ecosystem in government or enterprise environments.

An example of a complex technical engagement you led and the outcomes you delivered.

Why Kestrel Eight appeals to you. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We’ll be in touch within 5 business days to confirm next steps.

Apply Now Location Canberra Work Site

Hybrid Employment Type Full-Time (Permanent) Closing Date 28 Aug, 2026 Principal Consultant & Practice Lead (Cloud & Automation) Apply Now Required Qualifications Security Clearance: Current Australian Government NV1 or NV2 security clearance (non-negotiable).

Red Hat Ecosystem Expertise: Demonstrated, hands-on experience designing and delivering solutions across the Red Hat stack: OpenShift (including OpenShift Virtualization), Ansible Automation Platform, and RHEL in enterprise or government environments.

Federal Government Delivery: Proven track record delivering technology outcomes within the Australian federal government landscape, with a strong understanding of regulatory, compliance, and security requirements.

Technical Leadership: Experience leading technical teams on complex engagements — setting direction, reviewing work, unblocking issues, and maintaining quality across delivery.

Consulting Experience: Experience operating as a senior consultant in complex, high-impact environments, able to communicate technical concepts clearly to non-technical senior stakeholders and translate client needs into robust solutions.

Stakeholder Management: Demonstrated ability to build trusted, long-term relationships with client technical and executive stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications Red Hat certifications such as RHCA, RHCE, Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Administration, or equivalent.

Working knowledge of major cloud providers (AWS, Azure) and experience with hybrid or multi-cloud architectures.





Experience leading workload migration programs (legacy hypervisor to OpenShift Virtualization, on-premises to cloud, VM to container).

Familiarity with Australian Government security frameworks such as the ISM, PSPF, or Essential Eight.

A strong skilled network across the federal government and cleared technology community that we can leverage for future hiring and engagement opportunities.

Key Responsibilities Technical Delivery (Primary) Be the hands-on technical lead on client engagements — designing, implementing, and assuring solutions across the Red Hat ecosystem (OpenShift, Ansible, RHEL) in secure government environments.

Partner with clients to transform virtualisation infrastructure from current-state VM and cost analysis, through dependency and risk mapping, to wave-based migration planning and execution.

Deliver containerisation and orchestration solutions, enabling clients to package applications and their dependencies for flexible deployment across any environment — public cloud, private cloud, or on-premises.

Architect secure, scalable solutions tailored to the strict regulatory and compliance requirements of government environments.

Produce high-quality technical deliverables: solution designs, architecture documentation, runbooks, and operational handover materials.

Provide technical governance and quality assurance across all practice engagements. Team Leadership & Mentorship Lead and develop a team of consultants on delivery engagements — setting technical direction, reviewing work, coaching on best practices, and maintaining high standards.

Mentor team members in technical excellence, security best practices, and consultative delivery skills.

Contribute to building team capability by identifying skills gaps and recommending development activities. Relationship-Led Growth Build and maintain trusted relationships with client stakeholders, becoming the advisor they turn to for cloud and automation guidance.

Identify and surface new opportunities that arise naturally through client delivery and relationships, working collaboratively with Kestrel Eight’s business development team to progress them.

Contribute your professional network to support hiring efforts led by our talent acquisition team.

Represent Kestrel Eight’s technical credibility in client discussions, partner forums, and industry events as appropriate.

Practice Contribution

Contribute to the development of repeatable service offerings, delivery playbooks, and reference architectures for the Cloud & Automation practice.

Share field learnings and client insights with the broader Kestrel Eight team to improve delivery quality and inform service development.

Provide input on practice direction, capability priorities, and go-to-market positioning — collaborating with leadership rather than owning the strategy in isolation. 90-Day & 6-Month Success Measures First 90 Days Complete onboarding and establish working relationships with Kestrel Eight leadership, delivery teams, and key partner contacts (Red Hat, existing clients).

Be embedded and delivering on at least one client engagement as the technical lead.

Develop a clear understanding of the current client landscape, in-flight work, and near-term pipeline.

Identify at least 2–3 potential opportunities through your existing client relationships and qualified network, and hand these to the business development team for progression.

Begin building working relationships with your team — establish delivery standards, review cadences, and mentoring rhythms. First 6 Months Have led delivery on at least 2 client engagements, with demonstrable client satisfaction and quality outcomes.

Be recognised by at least 2 client stakeholders as a trusted technical advisor for cloud and automation.

Have contributed at least 2 qualified leads or expansion opportunities through client relationships to the business development pipeline.

Have contributed materially to team development — through mentoring, technical coaching, or capability uplift.

Have contributed at least one repeatable delivery asset (reference architecture, playbook, or service offering template) to the practice.

Have shared at least 3 contacts from your skilled network with the talent acquisition team to support future hiring. Work Site & Employment Details Detail Value Role Type Principal Consultant / Practice Lead Profession Cloud Infrastructure & Automation Employment Type Full-Time (Permanent) Work Site Hybrid — Canberra-based, on-site as required by client and security requirements What We Offer Base salary: Competitive + superannuation (commensurate with experience).

Profit-share arrangement: A transparent, performance-based structure linked to practice growth and successful delivery across your engagements. This is a genuine share in the value you help create.

Professional development: Budget for certifications, training, and conferences — we invest in keeping our people at the leading edge.

Flexible working: We adapt to your project timelines and operational needs with a flexible engagement model. You’ll be Canberra-based and on-site when client or security requirements demand it, with flexibility at other times.

Autonomy with support: You’ll have the freedom to lead technical delivery your way, backed by a team that handles sales strategy, business development, and recruitment so you can focus on what you do best.

Enduring partnerships: We focus on building long-term relationships that deliver continuous value beyond individual projects, fostering a collaborative and positive experience — for our people as much as our clients.

Submit Your CV And a Brief Cover Letter Outlining: Your hands-on experience delivering solutions across the Red Hat ecosystem in government or enterprise environments.

An example of a complex technical engagement you led and the outcomes you delivered.

Why Kestrel Eight appeals to you. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We’ll be in touch within 5 business days to confirm next steps.

Apply

Now

📌 Principal Consultant & Practice Lead (Cloud & Automation) (Canberra)
🏢 Kestrel Eight
📍 Canberra