Australia’s defence industry covers an incredible range of career paths and skilled workers are in high demand. People are needed to project manage, design, build, install and maintain our ships, submarines, aircraft, land vehicles, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, including cybersecurity, and provide services to support the men and women in the Australian Defence Force*.
Flinders University works closely with industry and Government, to ensure Australia has the expertise to supply and support the defence industry. Employment opportunities exist across diverse fields such as business, science, engineering and information technology, in roles ranging from engineering to business administration, research, network administration and more.
Get future-ready and explore the degrees available in Flinders Defence and National Security.
Five stars
in Engineering & Technology for student support.
(The Good Universities Guide 2022 (postgraduate))
No.1 in Australia
in Science & Mathematics for student support and teaching quality.
(The Good Universities Guide 2022 (postgraduate))
No.1 in Australia
in Computing & Information Systems for overall quality of educational experience (postgraduate).
(The Good Universities Guide 2020)
Join us online all year round
Open Days 365 offers a range of ways to find out everything you need to know about study at Flinders.
Hear from some inspiring South Australian defence industry employees and learn more about a what a career in the defence industry is like.
Rebecca | Combat and Automation Systems Engineer
Rebecca discussed working in the defence industry as a Combat and Automation Systems Engineer.
Matt | Mechanical Engineer
Matt tells us about working as a Mechanical Engineer in South Australia's defence industry.
Kyal | Digital Specialist
Kyal describes his experience as a digital specialist in South Australia's defence industry.
Kim | Systems Engineer
Kim tells us how she found her place as a Systems Engineer in South Australia's defence industry.
Andrew | Operations Manager
Andrew shares his pathway to becoming an Operations Manager in defence industry.
Zac | Transitioning from the ADF to the defence industry
Veteran Zac saw a role in the defence industry as an opportunity to build his skills while giving back to the defence personnel that serve our nation.
*Total weeks will depend on enrolled course.
Considered a career in the Defence Industry?
The Northrop Grumman Scholarship, established in 2018, recognises and supports students enrolled in the Bachelor of Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) or the Bachelor of Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) (Honours), awarded on the basis of academic merit and demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in Computer Science of Defence Industries. Closing Date: 11-03-2022.
Specialise in naval architecture, ocean engineering, or marine and offshore systems by studying martime engineering at Flinders University.
The Bachelor of Engineering (Maritime) (Honours) has been developed to serve the needs of the maritime engineering design, construction and related industries.
The course is recognised internationally by the Royal Institute of Naval Architects and the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology, preparing you to become a professional engineer in the maritime engineering industry.
Access state-of-the-art experimental facilities at Flinders University and the Australian Maritime College in Launceston and prepare for career opportunities available in Australia, Europe, USA, UK and Asia.
“Autonomous boats are better placed to carry out long, precise and often tedious marine searches and surveys than boats driven by humans,” Professor Karl Sammut.
Use your prior service in the Australian Defence Force as a pathway to a Flinders University degree. If you hold qualifications from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) you can apply for a wide range of undergraduate or postgraduate courses. View the range of admission pathways available to applicants holding recognised qualifications, or those applying based on work and life experience.
Forging powerful partnerships
Flinders research defending tomorrow. From autonomous marine vehicles to advanced additive manufacturing and cybersecurity, the technologies of tomorrow are emerging from the world class research we do today.
An example of how Flinders collaborates with industry by developing required training, to upskill their employees, the newly created Diploma of Digital Technology will educate shipbuilders-come-students on digital technologies required as part of the $35 billion Hunter Class Frigate Program, and will help retain important shipbuilding capability between shipbuilding programs.
Flinders University’s maritime and defence research centres are based at the Bedford Park and Tonsley campuses, in the heart of South Australia’s technology and manufacturing industries.
The new Flinders at Tonsley innovation hub co-locates Flinders students and researchers in areas such as engineering, medical devices and nanoscale technologies, alongside some of Adelaide’s biggest businesses, to create the new products and processes of the 21st century.
“
I was doing electronics and software and mechanical stuff at home and that led me straight into robotics at university. The field is expanding, especially with the new defence initiatives. I knew it would be a good career path and it was a career I wanted to pursue”.
Jesse Stewart, B Eng (Robotics) (Hons) / Master of Engineering (Electronics)
With around 15,000 skilled and professional jobs expected to be created as part of the National Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise, Flinders has partnered with the Naval Shipbuilding College and defence industry primes to ensure our graduates are ready to seize emerging defence careers.
Flinders is the first Australian University to be endorsed for delivering courses aligned with the future employment needs of the Naval Shipbuilding Industry, courses such as Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – Mechanical, Electrical and Electronic, Robotics, Software, Maritime or our Bachelor of Information Technology (Networks and Cybersecurity Systems).
By studying Engineering at Flinders, you’ll have access to purpose-built teaching and laboratory facilities, personalised teaching, and great staff-student working relationships.
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