Defence needs passionate people who are up for the challenge of cyber security to protect Australians everywhere
Information and data drives our society. Protecting it is critical and there’s a wide variety of STEM careers if you want to use your tech know-how and problem-solving skills to help keep Australia’s online systems and information safe. A data or cyber role with Defence is a winning combination – and an excellent place to start. Defence needs people to become specialists skilled in collecting, analysing and engineering data. The bonus is you’ll get to tackle tasks and problems that don’t appear in other jobs, in a challenging and rewarding career with purpose.
Why cyber security?
Cyber security presents a massive threat to our national security – hospital systems, transport, financial assets, personal info – everything that is online is at risk from people looking to disrupt or damage Australia’s infrastructure and people.
Cyber security is one of the fastest-growing sectors worldwide and Defence has plenty of cyber and data jobs classified as priority roles. Think communications and system operators, cyber analysts, intelligence analysts (signals) and cyber warfare analysts. All very cool careers.
Guess what?
Cyber security is one of the fastest-growing sectors worldwide and Defence has plenty of cyber and data jobs classified as priority roles.
Did we mention the perks?
A career with Defence is full of great benefits. In addition to excellent pay and on-the-job training, you’ll make friends for life, have awesome travel opportunities and enjoy other great perks like free medical and dental, great fitness facilities to keep you in tip-top shape and rental assistance. Defence is a champion of gender equality and multiculturalism, so you’ll get equal opportunities. In fact, DSTG’s STEM commitment has seen it win a prestigious Athena SWAN Bronze award for its work. More than anything, across the whole
of Defence, you’ll get to work on projects that really matter to all Australians.
ADF Cyber Gap Program – Scholarship
Keen to study a cyber-related qualification at uni? Or interested in turning your tech skills into a career supporting the ADF? Then check this out. You’ll get generous financial support – up to $15,000 towards your course fees plus more than $3000 towards textbooks and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) costs – while you take part in a 12-month online cyber-exposure experience program. It includes mentoring sessions and networking opportunities, and may just set you on the path of a promising cyber security career.
Defence-worthy cyber security careers!
ADF
Military roles in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data science exist across all of the Services. Navy cyber operators are crucial to the Navy’s cyberspace operations and protecting networks. Army electronic warfare operators use advanced military technology to search for enemy signals and analyse data. It’s a highly classified role that requires logical thinking and problem-solving. You can even learn a foreign language as part of your training!
Air Force intelligence analysts (signals) are trained to gather information from electronic emissions and radar signals, and interpret it using advanced analysis skills. Air Force cyberspace warfare officers are in charge of a team of technical experts, planning and leading missions to safeguard the skies. Now that’s making a real difference!
Australian Public Service (APS)
Keen to protect our national security and contribute to Defence tech, but don’t want to join the military? DSTG has career options in research and innovation, signals intelligence, electronic warfare, cyber research, software engineering, IT and more. With great salaries and a supportive work environment, it’s a fantastic and rewarding pathway.
You could work as a geospatial intelligence analyst, using geospatial and data analysis techniques to answer intelligence questions in simple and effective ways. Or join one of the most rapidly growing career areas as a data scientist. With AI + Data skills, you’ll be on a fast track to an exciting APS career. Or you could work with the Chief Information Officer Group to help secure Defence’s information environment. Find out more here.
Start your career here
Defence + Data and Cyber Study
- Bachelor of Computing & Cyber Security, University of NSW (ADFA)
- Bachelor of Computer Science (Cyber Security)
- Bachelor of Computer Science in Data Science
- Bachelor of Data Science and Decisions
- Bachelor of Science (Cyber Security)
- Bachelor of Software Engineering (Cyber Security)
- Certificate IV in Cyber Security
Defence + Data and Cyber Jobs
- Navy Cyber Operator: Trainee salary starts at $51,277, average salary $77,138
- Air Force Cyberspace Warfare Analyst: Trainee salary starts at $51,277, average salary $77,238
- APS Applied AI Researcher: APS Level 3 $59,237–$65,270
- APS Data Scientist: APS Level 3 $59,237–$65,270
Salaries are average incomes according to: defencejobs.gov.au and defencecareers.nga.net.au. Roles and remuneration averages vary depending on qualifications and being a trained, uniformed member of Defence or a civilian employee.
This article was originally published in the special edition of Careers with STEM: Defence.
