You'll still be writing clean, production-ready code. But you'll also be part of a team where understanding systems, communicating clearly, and thinking beyond just the task actually matters.
Let's talk AAF.
The Australian Access Federation sits right at the centre of Australia's research and education ecosystem.
They power secure access for 1.5+ million users across universities, research institutes and government.
Identity. Authentication. Access. At scale.
Quietly critical infrastructure - and genuinely interesting problems to solve.
Inside the team?
Modern stack. Strong DevSecOps practices. AI-assisted engineering that's actually embedded (not just talked about).
Smart people. Low ego. Thoughtful engineering.
The GiG
This is a mid-level Software Developer role with real ownership.
Rails is at the heart of the platform. So if you've worked with Ruby on Rails, you'll feel right at home.
That said, they're open to strong backend engineers coming from Golang or Java backgrounds, especially if you've built modern web applications and are keen to get into Rails.
You'll be working across the stack. From AWS and Kubernetes through to application code. Build, ship, monitor, improve.
What you'll actually be doing:
* Design and build secure, reliable software across AAF's platform
* Work primarily with Ruby on Rails, alongside cloud infrastructure in AWS
* Own features end-to-end across application and infrastructure layers
* Contribute to CI/CD, testing and AI-assisted development workflows
* Deploy and operate services using Kubernetes and Terraform
* Troubleshoot and improve system reliability
* Write clear, useful technical documentation
* Collaborate with product, security and support teams
What we're looking for:
* Around 3+ years building modern web applications or APIs
* Experience with Ruby on Rails, or strong backend experience in Go or Java with an appetite to learn Rails
* Solid backend fundamentals and clean coding practices
* Exposure to AWS or similar cloud platforms
* Comfortable working across application and infrastructure layers
* Experience with testing, CI/CD and secure development practices
* Strong written communication. Clear and structured
* Able to explain ideas to both technical and non-technical audiences
* Curious about AI-assisted development
Bonus points for exposure to identity, authentication or federation.
What you might work on (early days):
* Improving how identity is verified and trusted across systems
* Enhancing developer experience when integrating with AAF
* Supporting secure research collaborations with strict data controls
* Migrating identity systems into AWS Cognito
* Lifting security posture across cloud environments
Work is assigned based on interest + strengths - not just a backlog.
Perks (that actually matter):
* Work with real-world impact (national infrastructure)
* Genuine ownership from early on
* Flexible setup: Brisbane, Melbourne, or VIC regional
* Modern tooling, cloud-native stack and AI-assisted workflows
* Occasional travel to connect with the team
If you like solving real problems, owning your work, and thinking beyond just code... this one's worth a look.
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