Department of Defence

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

• fighter aircraft
• Navy ships
• soldier systems, and
• 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
• logistics and supply chain, and
• project management.

Salary

All successful candidates will commence the Graduate Program on a salary of $79,176 plus 15.4% superannuation (increasing to $81,868 in March 2026). 
 
Graduates advance to a higher salary after successfully completing the Program. The salary increase depends on which training pathway is completed. 

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

• a 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

12-18 months.

Roles

Applicants to the Technical pathway need to nominate one of these areas of interest in the application form: 

Cyber 

• Support the implementation of the Defence Cyber Security Strategy.

Engineering

• 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 and 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.