2025 Defence Technical Pathway – Graduate Program

Make your mark in the Technical pathway working on some of the largest national acquisition and sustainment projects at Defence, like: 

• fighter aircraft
• Navy ships
• soldier systems
• the nation’s nuclear-powered submarines.

The Technical pathway gives graduates the experience of working in one of Australia’s largest program management, logistics, procurement and engineering organisations.

The Technical pathway includes support to undertake industry-recognised learning and development opportunities.

The Technical pathway is not just for technical degrees. Defence is looking for applicants with a degree and an interest in:

• business and commerce
• cyber security
• engineering
• information and communication technology
• law
• logistics and supply chain
• procurement
• project management.

Salary

All successful candidates start the Graduate Program on a salary of $73,343 plus 15.4% superannuation (increasing to $76,277 upon the Fair Work Commission approval of the Defence Enterprise Collective Agreement – 2024).

Graduates advance to a higher salary after successfully completing the Program. The amount depends on which training pathway completed.

Defence's is committed to enabling an enjoyable work-life balance through:

• generous remuneration package
• conditions of service
• flexible work arrangements and
• leave benefits.

Location 

Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Cairns, Darwin, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney and Williamtown.

Duration 

18 months – 3 x 6-month rotations. 

Roles 

Applicants to the Technical pathway need to nominate one of these role types in the application form:

Commercial

• Work on complex and challenging commercial activities.
• Assist in managing commercial risk across the capability and procurement life cycle to deliver optimal outcomes. Read more at Defence Commercial Division on our website.

Cyber

• Support the implementation of the Defence Cyber Security Strategy.

Engineer

• Work on complex and nationally significant acquisition and sustainment projects.
• Manage and perform systems engineering focused activities.
• Plan, facilitate and assure confidence in the delivery of engineering outcomes for Defence.

Information Communication Technology (ICT)

• Be part of one of the largest ICT networks in Australia. 
• Support Defence operations around the world.
• Access a wide range of opportunities across Defence.

Logistics

• Provide logistics support across the life-cycle of a project or capability. This means being involved in strategy and concepts, to acquisition, transition into service, sustainment, upgrades and disposal.

Project management

• Work in diverse project teams that deliver nationally significant projects.
• Experience projects unparalleled in size, cost, timescale, risk profile and level of technological complexity.

Defence is one of the Australian Financial Review’s Top 100 Graduate Employers in 2024.

Join us and kick-start a future with purpose.