Principal Site Reliability Engineer at Commonwealth Bank

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal Site Reliability Engineer
Company: Commonwealth Bank
Location: Perth, WA - 300 Murray Street - Bankwest Place
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: DevOps Engineer
Date Posted: June 20, 2025
Experience Level: Mid-Senior level (5-10 years)
Remote Status: Hybrid (2 days in office per month)

🚀 Role Summary

Lead a team of engineers driving outcomes using observability tools and data-driven reliability practices aligned to SRE principles.
Design, develop, test, and support applications and systems, with a focus on improving reliability throughout the SDLC.
Manage and scale distributed systems in a public, private, or hybrid cloud environment.
Create and develop tools required to support the operational management of software applications and systems.
Identify technology limitations and develop scalable and sustainable improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong technical leader with a proven track record in SRE, who can influence senior stakeholders and drive a culture of data-driven reliability.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Technical Leadership: Lead a team of engineers and influence senior stakeholders to improve reliability throughout the SDLC.
System Design & Development: Design, develop, test, and support applications and systems, with a focus on reliability and scalability.
Cloud Management: Manage and scale distributed systems in a public, private, or hybrid cloud environment.
Tool Development: Create and develop tools required to support the operational management of software applications and systems.
Problem Identification & Resolution: Identify technology limitations and develop scalable and sustainable improvements.
Stakeholder Communication: Collaborate with senior stakeholders to align SRE principles with business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a broad range of technical skills and the ability to lead a team in driving reliability outcomes using modern software development practices and observability tools.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. Relevant industry experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Experience: 5-10 years of experience in software engineering, with a focus on SRE, systems engineering, or a related field.

Required Skills:

Expertise in at least one programming language (e.g., Golang, Python)
Strong experience with modern software development practices using tools such as git for source control, and CI/CD tools
Strong public cloud experience in AWS, GCP, or Azure
Extensive and in-depth knowledge of Linux internals, networking, containers, and troubleshooting
Experience leading teams of engineers driving outcomes using observability tools
Excellent communication and problem-solving skills

Preferred Skills:

Experience in applying SRE practices in large organizations
Familiarity with modern software development methodologies and best practices
Knowledge of infrastructure as code (IaC) tools such as Terraform or CloudFormation
Experience with container orchestration tools such as Kubernetes or Docker Swarm

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong technical background in software engineering, with a focus on SRE and systems engineering. Candidates should have experience leading teams and driving reliability outcomes using modern software development practices and observability tools.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Demonstrate experience in designing, developing, testing, and supporting applications and systems.
Showcase projects that highlight your ability to improve reliability and scalability.
Include examples of tools you've created to support the operational management of software applications and systems.
Highlight your experience in managing and scaling distributed systems in a public, private, or hybrid cloud environment.

Technical Documentation:

Provide detailed documentation of your approach to system design, development, testing, and support.
Include examples of how you've identified and resolved technology limitations in existing systems.
Demonstrate your ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong technical portfolio that demonstrates your experience in designing, developing, testing, and supporting applications and systems. Your portfolio should highlight your ability to improve reliability and scalability, and include examples of tools you've created to support the operational management of software applications and systems.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: AU$150,000 - AU$180,000 per annum (based on experience and skills)

Benefits:

Flexible working arrangements, including changing start and finish times, part-time arrangements, and job share
Competitive salary and benefits package
Opportunities for professional development and career progression
A supportive and inclusive work environment with a focus on work-life balance

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with at least half your time each month connecting in office

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range for this role is based on market research for SRE roles in Australia, with adjustments for experience and skills. The benefits package is competitive and includes flexible working arrangements, professional development opportunities, and a supportive work environment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services

Company Size: Large (over 50,000 employees)

Founded: 1911

Team Structure:

The SRE team is part of the Technology division, which is responsible for driving the bank's digital transformation.
The team consists of software engineers, SREs, and DevOps engineers, who work together to ensure the highest standards of service outcomes for customers.
The team is organized into squads, each responsible for a specific set of services or applications.

Development Methodology:

The team follows Agile development methodologies, with a focus on continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD).
They use modern software development practices, such as version control with git, and CI/CD tools such as TeamCity, Jenkins, or Octopus Deploy.
The team employs a culture of data-driven reliability, using observability tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, AWS CloudWatch, Splunk, or AppDynamics to monitor and improve system performance.

Company Website: https://www.commbank.com.au/

📝 Enhancement Note: The Commonwealth Bank is one of Australia's largest financial institutions, with a strong focus on digital transformation and innovation. The SRE team is a critical part of this transformation, responsible for ensuring the highest standards of service outcomes for customers.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: Principal/Senior Level - Technical Lead

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Head of SRE, with matrixed reporting to relevant business stakeholders.

Technical Impact: This role has a significant impact on the bank's digital transformation, ensuring the reliability and scalability of its applications and systems. The principal SRE will influence senior stakeholders and drive a culture of data-driven reliability throughout the organization.

Growth Opportunities:

Technical Leadership: This role offers the opportunity to lead a team of engineers and influence senior stakeholders, driving a culture of data-driven reliability.
Technical Skill Development: The role provides exposure to modern software development practices, observability tools, and cloud technologies, allowing for continuous learning and skill development.
Architecture Decision-Making: As a technical lead, the principal SRE will be involved in making architecture decisions that impact the bank's digital transformation.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth opportunities for technical leaders looking to drive a culture of data-driven reliability and make a real impact on a large organization's digital transformation.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Modern, collaborative office space with flexible workstations and meeting rooms

Office Location(s): Perth, WA - 300 Murray Street - Bankwest Place, Melbourne, VIC - 357 Collins Street, Eveleigh, NSW - 1 Locomotive Street

Workspace Context:

The office space is designed to foster collaboration and innovation, with open-plan workspaces and dedicated team areas.
The team has access to modern development tools, multiple monitors, and testing devices.
The work environment encourages knowledge sharing, technical mentoring, and continuous learning.

Work Schedule: Flexible working arrangements, including changing start and finish times, part-time arrangements, and job share. At least half your time each month is spent connecting in office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Commonwealth Bank offers a modern, collaborative work environment with flexible working arrangements that support work-life balance. The SRE team is part of the bank's digital transformation, working together to ensure the highest standards of service outcomes for customers.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Phone Screen: A brief call to discuss your experience and fit for the role.
Technical Deep Dive: A detailed discussion of your technical skills and experience, focusing on your ability to design, develop, test, and support applications and systems. You may be asked to provide examples of your work and explain your approach to system design and development.
Stakeholder Engagement: A conversation with senior stakeholders to assess your ability to influence and engage with the organization.
Final Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager and other team members to assess your cultural fit and alignment with the team's goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Highlight your experience in designing, developing, testing, and supporting applications and systems.
Include examples of tools you've created to support the operational management of software applications and systems.
Demonstrate your ability to manage and scale distributed systems in a public, private, or hybrid cloud environment.
Showcase your experience in leading teams of engineers and driving outcomes using observability tools.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Brush up on your knowledge of modern software development practices, observability tools, and cloud technologies.
Prepare for questions about your approach to system design, development, testing, and support.
Practice explaining complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

ATS Keywords: Site Reliability Engineering, Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Programming, Cloud Computing, Observability, Linux Internals, Networking, Containers, Troubleshooting, Data-Driven Reliability, Automation, CI/CD, Security, Problem-Solving, Communication

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role is designed to assess your technical skills and experience, as well as your ability to lead a team and engage with senior stakeholders. The portfolio review and technical challenge preparation tips are tailored to help you demonstrate your expertise in SRE and systems engineering.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Programming Languages: Golang, Python

Cloud Platforms: AWS, GCP, Azure

Observability Tools: Prometheus, Grafana, AWS CloudWatch, Splunk, AppDynamics

CI/CD Tools: TeamCity, Jenkins, Octopus Deploy

Containerization: Docker, Kubernetes

Monitoring & Logging: ELK Stack, Prometheus, Grafana, AWS CloudWatch

Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Terraform, CloudFormation

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack for this role includes a range of programming languages, cloud platforms, observability tools, and infrastructure as code tools. Candidates should have experience with at least some of these technologies and be willing to learn and adapt to new tools as needed.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Web Development Values:

Customer Focus: A relentless focus on delivering the best possible customer experience.
Integrity: Acting with honesty and integrity in all our interactions.
Accountability: Taking responsibility for our actions and delivering on our commitments.
Collaboration: Working together to achieve our goals and drive our success.
Innovation: Embracing change and continuously improving our products and services.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-Functional Integration: The SRE team works closely with other teams, including software development, design, and product management, to ensure the highest standards of service outcomes for customers.
Code Review Culture: The team follows a culture of code review, with a focus on knowledge sharing and continuous learning.
Peer Programming: The team encourages peer programming and pair work to improve the quality of our code and the skills of our engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Commonwealth Bank's SRE team values a customer-focused, collaborative, and innovative approach to software engineering. The team works closely with other teams to ensure the highest standards of service outcomes for customers.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Scalability: Designing and implementing large-scale solutions that can handle the bank's growing customer base and transaction volume.
Reliability: Ensuring the highest standards of service outcomes for customers, with a focus on minimizing downtime and maximizing system availability.
Complexity: Managing and scaling distributed systems in a public, private, or hybrid cloud environment, with a focus on simplifying and automating operational tasks.
Security: Ensuring the security and integrity of the bank's applications and systems, with a focus on protecting customer data and preventing unauthorized access.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Technical Skill Development: The role provides exposure to modern software development practices, observability tools, and cloud technologies, allowing for continuous learning and skill development.
Conference Attendance: The bank supports employee attendance at industry conferences and events, providing opportunities for professional development and networking.
Mentorship: The team offers mentorship opportunities, with experienced SREs and software engineers available to provide guidance and support.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant technical challenges and learning opportunities for SREs looking to drive a culture of data-driven reliability and make a real impact on a large organization's digital transformation.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

System Design: Describe your approach to designing, developing, testing, and supporting applications and systems. Provide examples of your work and explain your decision-making process.
Cloud Architecture: Explain your experience with managing and scaling distributed systems in a public, private, or hybrid cloud environment. Describe your approach to designing and implementing cloud architectures.
Observability Tools: Discuss your experience with observability tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, AWS CloudWatch, Splunk, or AppDynamics. Explain how you've used these tools to monitor and improve system performance.
Troubleshooting: Describe your approach to troubleshooting complex technical issues. Provide examples of your experience in identifying and resolving technology limitations in existing systems.

Company & Culture Questions:

Stakeholder Engagement: Explain your experience in partnering with senior stakeholders and leading a culture of data-driven reliability. Describe how you've influenced and engaged with the organization to drive reliability outcomes.
Team Dynamics: Describe your experience working in a collaborative, cross-functional team. Explain how you've contributed to a culture of knowledge sharing and continuous learning.
Customer Focus: Explain your understanding of the bank's customer base and how you've ensured the highest standards of service outcomes for customers in your previous roles.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Live Demonstration: Prepare a live demonstration of your portfolio, showcasing your experience in designing, developing, testing, and supporting applications and systems.
Code Walkthrough: Prepare a detailed walkthrough of your code, explaining your approach to system design and development.
Architecture Decision-Making: Prepare a presentation on your approach to architecture decision-making, highlighting your experience in driving reliability outcomes using modern software development practices and observability tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technical and company & culture questions for this role are designed to assess your technical skills and experience, as well as your ability to lead a team and engage with senior stakeholders. The portfolio presentation strategy tips are tailored to help you demonstrate your expertise in SRE and systems engineering.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Principal Site Reliability Engineer position:

Submit Your Application: Click the "Apply Now" button on the job listing to submit your application through the Commonwealth Bank's careers portal.
Prepare Your Portfolio: Highlight your experience in designing, developing, testing, and supporting applications and systems. Include examples of tools you've created to support the operational management of software applications and systems. Demonstrate your ability to manage and scale distributed systems in a public, private, or hybrid cloud environment.
Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to the role, highlighting your relevant experience and skills. Include specific examples of your experience in SRE, systems engineering, and software development.
Prepare for Technical Interviews: Brush up on your knowledge of modern software development practices, observability tools, and cloud technologies. Prepare for questions about your approach to system design, development, testing, and support. Practice explaining complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
Research the Company: Familiarize yourself with the Commonwealth Bank's digital transformation and the role of the SRE team in driving reliability outcomes. Understand the bank's customer base and how the SRE team ensures the highest standards of service outcomes for customers.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and web development industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Principal Site Reliability Engineer