Azooa is preparing a response for LH-07371 – Principal Java / Bespoke Software Engineer Developer and is seeking suitably qualified contractors for this Australian Maritime Safety Authority chance.

This role will support and develop AMSA’s life-critical NEXUS application , which is used by the Rescue Coordination Centre Australia to coordinate assets during maritime and aviation search and rescue incidents, and to triage and respond to pollution events.

Overview The NEXUS system is a critical operational platform used by AMSA’s Rescue Coordination Centre Australia staff and intelligence operators.

NEXUS consists of multiple components built across a range of technologies, including Java, Java EE, AWS, Oracle PL/SQL, .NET and ArcGIS . This role is focused on supporting, maintaining and developing solutions for NEXUS cloud and back-end Java / AWS / Oracle components.

The successful contractor will work in a small, highly skilled team of Java and .NET developers and subject matter experts with strong business knowledge supporting AMSA’s in-house NEXUS capability.

Core Purpose The core purpose of the role is to provide principal-level software engineering support for NEXUS, with a focus on enterprise Java development, AWS cloud components, Oracle database integration, back-end data processing and external system integrations.

The role requires a senior developer capable of working across complex, life-critical application environments and providing technical advice to senior AMSA stakeholders, including the Applications Director and CIO.

Scope / Responsibilities The Principal Java / Bespoke Software Engineer will be expected to:

? Develop enterprise-grade software using Java and Oracle technologies

? Support and maintain NEXUS back-end Java and Java EE JMS components

? Develop and maintain AWS cloud components supporting external integrations

? Maintain data integration and message processing services

? Develop and maintain web-based UI components using ReactJS, CSS and HTML

? Design logical and physical data models

? Implement physical data models using Oracle Database

? Implement CRUD operations using Java Object-Relational Mapping frameworks

? Produce and maintain detailed design artefacts and technical specifications

? Create and work with RESTful OpenAPI specifications

? Work with SOAP WSDLs and XML Schemas

? Develop and maintain DevOps workflows using Jenkins, Git, Maven and Ant

? Perform and build NEXUS software releases using established release processes

? Provide technical advice and support to the Applications Director and CIO

? Participate in an on-call roster, noting calls are historically rare

? Support operational continuity for a life-critical search and rescue application

Key Deliverables

Expected deliverables may include

? Enterprise Java software components

? Java EE JMS integration and message processing enhancements

? AWS integration components using services such as EC2, Lambda, API Gateway, S3, SQS and CloudFormation

? REST API and SOAP web service components

? OpenAPI specifications, WSDLs, XML Schemas and JSON / XML integration artefacts

? Oracle database models, stored procedures and database integration components

? Java ORM implementation using JPA / Hibernate or similar frameworks





? ReactJS, CSS and HTML UI enhancements

? Detailed design artefacts and technical specifications

? Jenkins, Git, Maven and Ant DevOps workflow updates

? Unit testing and system integration testing outputs

? NEXUS software release packages

? Operational support and technical advice for NEXUS

Mandatory / Essential Criteria

Candidates should be able to demonstrate:

? Excellent verbal and written communication skills

? At least 8 years’ Java experience

? Enterprise design pattern experience

? Experience with JPA and Hibernate ORM

? Java EE experience, highly advantageous

? Reactive programming experience, advantageous

? Java web service development experience

? SOAP and REST API development experience

? Experience with OpenAPI specifications

? Experience with XSD Schemas

? XML and JSON experience

? Spring / Spring Boot experience

? Unix / Linux experience

? Bash scripting experience

? Maven lifecycle management experience

? Continuous Integration experience

? Unit testing and system integration testing experience

? Major database experience, including data modelling and stored procedures

? Oracle database experience, preferred

? Willingness to participate in a 24x7 on-call roster

? AWS development experience, including EC2, Lambda, API Gateway, S3, SQS and CloudFormation

? Ability to obtain Baseline security clearance

? Ability to work in a hybrid arrangement in the ACT

Desirable Criteria

Highly desirable experience may include:

? Experience supporting life-critical or mission-critical applications

? Experience with search and rescue, emergency response, maritime, aviation or pollution response systems

? Experience with Oracle PL/SQL

? Experience with Java EE JMS components

? Experience with data integration and message processing platforms

? Experience with ArcGIS-integrated systems

? Experience working in small, highly skilled technical teams

? Experience modernising or sustaining bespoke enterprise applications

? Experience providing technical advice to senior executives or CIO-level stakeholders

? Experience with secure government or Commonwealth technology environments

? Experience supporting hybrid cloud and on-premise systems

Engagement Details

? RFQ ID: LH-07371

? Role: Principal Java / Bespoke Software Engineer Developer

? Buyer: Australian Maritime Safety Authority

? Experience Level: Principal – EL2 equivalent

? Number of Roles: 2

? Estimated Start Date: 1 September 2026

? Initial Contract Duration: 12 months

? Extension Options: 2 x 12-month extensions

? Location: ACT

? Working Arrangement: Hybrid

? Office Attendance: Ability to attend office, with regular work from home available

? Maximum Hours: 40 hours per week

? Security Clearance: Must be able to obtain Baseline

? RFQ Closing Date: Monday, 10 August 2026 at 11:59pm Canberra time

? Maximum Candidates Per Seller: 2





Clearance Requirements

This role requires candidates to be able to obtain an Australian Government Baseline security clearance .

Please confirm whether you currently hold a clearance, have previously held a clearance, or are eligible and willing to obtain Baseline clearance.

RFQTS Relevance

Your profile will need to be positioned against the role’s principal-level requirements, including:

? Programming / software development – SFIA Level 6

? Ability to develop organisational policies, standards and guidelines for software construction and refactoring

? Ability to plan and lead software construction activities for strategic, large and complex development projects

? Ability to adapt or develop new methods and organisational capabilities

? Ability to drive adoption of, and adherence to, software engineering policies and standards

? Enterprise Java development expertise

? AWS development capability

? Oracle database and data modelling experience

? REST, SOAP, OpenAPI, XML and JSON integration experience

? DevOps and release management experience

? Experience supporting mission-critical or life-critical operational systems

Rate Guidance

Please provide your expected hourly rate including super.

Azooa’s Contracts Team has a genuine interest in helping contractors secure strong Defence and Federal Government opportunities. For this submission, we will work closely with you to position your profile, align your rate competitively and support a strong response for the LH-07371 – Principal Java / Bespoke Software Engineer Developer opportunity.

A competitive rate will be important because the RFQ allows a maximum of 2 candidates per seller , and value-for-money will likely be assessed alongside technical capability, availability, clearance eligibility and fit for the NEXUS environment.

Rate competitiveness generally works as follows:

? Lower end: stronger value-for-money position and higher chance of winning

? Mid-range: competitive where supported by strong Java, AWS, Oracle and NEXUS-relevant experience

? Higher end: less competitive unless principal-level Java engineering, life-critical systems, AWS integration, Oracle, JMS, DevOps or senior technical leadership experience strongly justifies the rate

Higher rates may still be considered where niche life-critical application support, enterprise Java, AWS, Oracle, NEXUS-style systems, rescue coordination, maritime / aviation operational systems or strong principal-level software engineering capability outweighs rate competitiveness.

How Azooa Can Support You

Azooa can support you by:

? Positioning your profile to maximise win probability

? Helping align your rate with current market expectations and value-for-money positioning

? Assisting with tailored CV and one-page pitch strategy

? Highlighting relevant Java, AWS, Oracle, DevOps and mission-critical systems experience

? Supporting response positioning against SFIA Programming / Software Development Level 6 requirements

? Helping frame technical leadership, software construction standards, release management and operational support experience

? Providing access to similar Defence, Federal Government and Commonwealth technology opportunities

📌 Java Software Engineer (Canberra)
🏢 Azooa
📍 Canberra