Defence firms in desperate search for talent

Desperate times called for desperate measures, and Australia’s defence companies are in the midst of a desperate search for workers.

Defence companies are desperately searching for highly skilled people to fill thousands of jobs in myriad roles across Australia – with some offering borderless opportunities and a “work from anywhere” policy.

Engineers are in extremely high demand, prompting British defence giant Babcock to launch a major recruitment drive within Australia and New Zealand for workers with varying experience levels.

The defence company must immediately fill 100 engineering roles across the region, working on warship sustainment, submarine weaponry, explosives and several other projects vital to Australia’s defence.

Babcock recently scored a slew of new defence contracts with a combined value of $1.1bn – creating a huge influx of work requiring technical skills that are also in high demand in other industries, like mining.

The job opportunities span the entire engineering spectrum, which includes systems, software, mechanical, electrical, naval architecture and more.

Glenn Logan, Babcock’s head of Technology and Engineering Capability, said the company offered “global opportunities expanding throughout Australasia”.

“To help fuel that growth, we are recruiting engineers to work on some of the most innovative and challenging projects which contribute to the safety and security of the region,” Mr Logan said.

“We’re after graduates right through to experienced engineers, and Babcock’s agile working practices enable many of these recruits to work anywhere in the region.”

Many other large defence companies, including BAE Systems, are on the hunt for new recruits to work on the Hunter-class frigate program at Osborne, SA, aircraft maintenance in NSW and many other projects, including the development of hypersonic weapons.

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Over the next five years, BAE will need to fill 6500 jobs across Australia. Similar to Babcock, BAE must immediately fill a variety of engineering roles – in addition to open positions for welders, boilermakers, electricians, project managers, cyber security personnel and many more.

In the future, BAE expects to hire scores of data analysts and programmers to develop artificial intelligence, machine learning and autonomous tech. Babcock’s new defence projects include a major upgrade to Australia’s High Frequency Communications System and warship sustainment at Henderson, WA.

BAE Systems simulation lead Yegor Butenko, the creator of a world first digital simulation took for the Hunter-class frigate program at Osborne. Picture: James Elsby/BAE

Graeme Hunter, the head of KHA Defence Solutions, said the industry offered a full range of careers “beyond what people may immediately consider”.

“The companies involved range from large global defence businesses to small family operations that form part of the supply chain,” he said.

“The roles are interesting and varied, the pay is very competitive, and often the projects run over decades and therefore offer security of employment and good options for career progression.”

Defence SA chief executive Richard Price said the industry was set to explode in SA – a state at the epicentre of major projects and the Australian Space Agency.

“We’ve just had so many incredible things to get our teeth stuck into over the last three or four years,” Mr Price said.