Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Find the answers below to help you find your place in the defence and space industries.

If I work in the defence industry does this mean I am part of the Australian Defence Force?2022-12-14T15:51:07+10:30

If I work in the defence industry does this mean I am part of the Australian Defence Force?

No. A career in the defence industry will see you working on projects that support the Australian Defence Force.

Do I need to study at the Australian Defence Force Academy to work in the defence industry?2020-10-29T09:13:33+10:30

Do I need to study at the Australian Defence Force Academy to work in the defence industry?

No. There are many career pathways into the defence industry, including TAFE and university.

Do I need to have a security clearance to work in the defence and space industries?2022-12-14T16:19:06+10:30

Do I need to have a security clearance to work in the defence and space industries?

Generally speaking, some level of security clearance is required (or the ability to obtain one). Most projects associated with Defence and Space are classified.

This is something your potential employer would discuss with you.

Find out more information about security clearances from the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency.

What types of companies make up the Australian defence and space industries?2023-03-17T20:51:50+10:30

What types of companies make up the Australian defence and space industries?

The defence and space industries consist of:

large, global organisations
Australian owned and operated small to medium sized companies
South Australian start-up companies
smaller companies from adjacent industries that often provide specialised parts and equipment to larger companies for specific projects

Do I need to have a university degree to work in the defence and space industries?2022-12-14T16:26:41+10:30

Do I need to have a university degree to work in the defence and space industries?

No. There are a range of education pathways available to start your career in the defence industry.

Find out more about the career opportunities and pathways into defence and space in South Australia.

Do I need to be an Australian Citizen to work in the defence industry in South Australia?2022-12-14T16:36:16+10:30

Do I need to be an Australian Citizen to work in the defence industry in South Australia?

Yes. The majority of defence industry jobs require a minimum BASELINE security clearance. You must be an Australian citizen to apply for and obtain a security clearance.

If you are not an Australian citizen, you may still be able to gain employment. This is something you will need to discuss with your potential employer at the time of application.

Does working in the defence or space industry mean I have to be an engineer?2023-03-17T20:44:24+10:30

Does working in the defence or space industry mean I have to be an engineer?

No. Both the defence and space industry offer an exciting range of careers across many disciplines, including:

project management
contracts management
tradespeople
data analysts
ICT and software development
supply chain
workplace health and safety
scientists
researchers
marketing and communications
logistics.

Learn about the wide variety careers on offer.

Who is Defence SA?2023-03-17T20:47:44+10:30

Who is Defence SA?

Defence SA is the South Australian Government’s lead agency for all defence matters.

The South Australian Space Industry Centre (SASIC) is a department within Defence SA and is the state government’s lead agency for all space matters.

Defence SA wants to ensure South Australia takes full advantage of the major project opportunities in the defence and space industries and have developed the Find Your Place campaign to educate and inspire the future workforce about the life-long careers available in the state.

The jobs available are not recruited by Defence SA or SASIC, they are managed by industry. Find out more about jobs in the South Australian defence and space industry.

If you are interested in working for Defence SA, any job opportunities are posted on our careers page.

How can I find my place in the defence and space industries?2022-12-14T16:06:12+10:30

How can I find my place in the defence and space industries?

There is a lot of information available for those looking for a career in Defence and Space and this can be overwhelming!

We have aimed to simplify this for you by collating available information sources on this website.

Explore a range of short and long term pathways into the defence and space industries.

I get excited about working in the space industry because putting something into space is so difficult. I love the idea of the challenge, that it requires a huge amount of work from so many talented people in a variety of fields all working together to make a project come to fruition.

James, Mechanical & Thermal Engineer, Neumann Space

I love that I’m able to work with others to solve problems that have an impact and make a difference every day while still being able to learn new things.

Georgia, Systems Engineer, BAE Systems Australia

It was exciting moving back to South Australia not only because it’s where I’m from, but because of the emerging space industry. I wanted to help build the space industry in Australia from the ground up, rather than work overseas in an industry that’s already established.

Farisha, Avionics Engineer, Southern Launch

There’s such a variety of opportunities in the defence industry and I’m really excited about the prospect of working on innovative and cutting-edge projects. I have some of the greatest minds around me and these people support me in my growth and development as an engineer.

Jessica, Hardware Engineer, Lockheed Martin Australia

Whilst a larger number of roles in the space industry are in engineering, there are lots of other ways to be involved. Space companies, like ours, still need accountants, lawyers and people in communications and marketing.

Ben, Chief Operating Officer, Inovor Technologies

The best thing about leading a company in South Australia’s defence industry is shining a light on the local skills, talent, and innovation that exists right here, in our own backyard.

Simon, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Silentium Defence

I’m excited for the opportunity to work on massive projects that have a real impact on the future of our Defence Force and the nation’s protection and security.

Jeff, Systems Engineer, Nova Systems

There are a number of projects within South Australia which you can spend your entire career working on and still enjoy what you do.

Dhiren, Commercial Manager, PMB Defence

There’s a misconception that the defence industry is very serious, but the experience I’ve had is that we are a very creative and collaborative group of individuals working towards a common goal.

Jamila, Project Manager, ASC Shipbuilding

This sector is growing fast, which means there are always new and exciting projects on the horizon.

Andrew, General Manager, Precise Manufacturing

If there is something that you want to do, and you want to give back to defence, there is definitely a job out there for you.

Zac, Support Technician, Silentium Defence

What I love most about my job is being able to solve the problems that really matter, knowing that my work contributes to Australia’s national security and economic growth.

Trent, Senior Systems Engineer, Nova Systems

You don’t need to be in the armed forces or necessarily have experience in the defence industry in order to be successful and have a rewarding career. The industry is growing, well-funded and rampant with opportunity…I can’t see myself moving on anytime soon.

Rozanne, Senior Financial Accountant, PMB Defence

A lot of people study engineering and do very little engineering in their day to day role. I wanted to be doing calculations and getting my hands dirty in a work shop. I also wanted to be working at the forefront of technology development. This made defence the obvious choice.

Seth, Mechanical Engineer, PMB Defence

I love the culture of our company and the tech we get to work with. The defence industry as a whole has so much to offer in terms of ground breaking technology. We get to develop really cool products and go out in the field testing them. It’s a really interesting industry with so many different aspects that can be worked on.

Christian, Graduate Software Engineer, Silentium Defence

People should definitely consider a career in the defence industry, it takes all types to do the work that we do and there’s lots of opportunities for growth. Adelaide is not only a really nice place to live it’s a really fantastic place to work especially if you are in the defence industry.

Kyal, Digital Specialist, BAE Systems ASC Shipbuilding