Think it’s only for engineers and ex-military? Think again. From HR to high-tech, South Australia’s defence industry is full of unexpected career paths – and real opportunities to make a difference.
The Defence industry is booming in South Australia – and so are the career opportunities. Over the next two decades, more than 11,000 jobs will be created across land, sea, air, cyber and space.
Some roles are hands-on. Some are strategic. Some are deeply technical. Others are far more mainstream.
From electricians to HR leads, engineers to project managers, the defence industry needs people with all kinds of skills and backgrounds. The roles may look different day to day, but they’re all connected by a shared purpose – contributing to work that matters.
Whether it’s building Australia’s sovereign capability, modernising critical infrastructure, or supporting the people who protect the nation, a career in the defence industry is a chance to do work that matters.
We spoke to three young South Australians who found their place in the defence industry – and who reckon you might, too.
Caroline Chai – building capability, creating change
Caroline Chai always knew she was wired for STEM. At Unley High, her love for maths and science was so clear that her teachers let her skip some of her English classes to work on robotics instead. Her dad, a mechanical engineer, showed her that solving challenging problems could be a fascinating career.
But even with degrees in aerospace engineering and law, Caroline says it was saying yes to unexpected opportunities that shaped her most – including stints working overseas.
“One thing that has always guided me is a quote I heard when I was young – 20 years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than the ones you did,” she says. “That mindset encouraged me to create opportunities that took me across the world and outside my comfort zone.”
Now a Program Manager at Saab Australia, Caroline leads complex projects that support Australia’s sovereign defence capability. Saab develops and integrates high-tech systems for the Navy, Army and Air Force – everything from naval combat systems and cyber defence to surveillance and air traffic control.
As Caroline puts it: “it’s a basic human right to feel safe, we go to work to protect that right every day and provide innovative solutions to keep Australia’s critical infrastructure safe.”
She’s worked across almost every part of the defence lifecycle – concept, R&D, delivery, sustainment, even disposal – on systems spanning land, sea, air, and space.
Caroline says that STEM is about creativity as much as technology. “At Saab you’ll often see concept sketches or ideas spread around the place as people work through problems visually,” she says. “STEM isn’t just about science and technology. It’s curiosity, imagination, problem-based learning, and being at the forefront of technology setting global standards – that’s what makes it so exciting.”
She’s also passionate about sovereign capability – building a stronger, more resilient Australia.
“Also important are our global collaborations, promoting cultural understanding, and embracing new technologies,” she says.
Caroline has picked up a cabinet full of awards like Young Engineer of the Year and Women in Innovation, but says the real pride comes from building something important.
“I’m proud to have been part of teams boosting local manufacturing and supply chain capabilities and finding innovative ways to solve complex problems that are the first of their kind. That’s the best part of the job.”
Matt Strudwick – from sparkie to strategic leader
Matt Strudwick didn’t have the option of university – and didn’t see it as a path anyway.
“I wanted to be an electrician, but I also wanted to earn money to leave home and stand on my own two feet,” he says. “I couldn’t do that as a civilian apprentice, so I knew I had to carve my own path. That meant joining the military at 17.”
He spent 17 years in the Australian Army, both full time and as a reservist, instructing recruits, and deploying to Afghanistan. His trade was Electrical Technician, but it was the leadership, team culture and sense of purpose that stuck with him.
“When you leave the military, you don’t just lose a job – you lose your sense of purpose,” he says. “That was the hardest part of transitioning.”
After trying out a few roles and even running his own business, Matt found his footing at SAGE Automation – headquartered in Adelaide, operating Australia-wide, the company delivers critical infrastructure projects for Defence and beyond. Today, he’s the Regional Engineering Manager for South Australia, leading more than 60 engineers.
“We do automation for sectors like water, power, airfields, transport – the critical infrastructures a city needs to function,” he says. “You flush your toilet and never think about the intricate system ensuring safe and sustainable water management. But we’re the ones making sure it works.”
That includes defence-specific projects, like base power generation and fuel systems, plus airfield lighting and backup systems.
“The work my team does might not be visible, but it matters. It supports national security and makes sure our Defence Force has what it needs.”
Matt says many people still think the defence industry is only for those in uniform, or for highly specialised engineers – but the reality is broader.
“The defence industry needs all the roles you’d find in any major industry – project managers, marketers, IT, logistics, finance,” he says. “If you’re ambitious and motivated, there’s a place for you.”
His advice? “If there’s an opportunity, reach out and grab it. You won’t succeed every time – but eventually, you will.”
Callum Tully – purpose without the uniform
At 18, Callum Tully was all set to pursue a career in music. He’d grown up in a musical household in Launceston, played drums, guitar and piano, and had already been accepted into the Conservatorium.
But then he got a strong ATAR – and felt like he had to use it. “I was more focused on not ‘wasting’ my score than on choosing something that genuinely motivated me,” he says.
He enrolled in law and international relations, but the path didn’t stick. A few months later, he left uni and began what would become a winding journey through retail, menswear, car sales, and eventually state-level management.
By his mid-20s, he had progressed into leadership roles within the automotive sales industry and other service delivery and sales based operations – but he knew something was off. “I needed to work in an industry where the purpose and culture aligned with my values,” he says.
He retrained in HR and started looking for work in sectors he respected: such as defence and renewables. Eventually, DEWC Services – a South Australian company specialising in solving complex technology challenges for Defence, from advanced software and data work to mission-critical systems – took a chance on him.
“I moved interstate for the role and started in recruitment,” he says. “They were hiring talented people from specialised disciplines such as software engineering, artificial intelligence, electro-optics, physics, and radio-frequency engineering – all within an environment and context that I didn’t understand yet. It was totally new to me – but I cared about the mission, and I worked hard to understand it.”
He’s now a Proposal Manager, helping DEWC secure defence contracts through smart, strategic bids.
“I write responses to Commonwealth tenders,” he explains. “A large part of my role involves collaborating with engineers and subject matter experts and turning their insights into cohesive, compelling proposals. I’m learning a huge amount.”
Callum says his biggest barrier wasn’t lack of skills – it was self-doubt. “I thought: I’m not an engineer, I haven’t served, what am I doing here? But Defence needs all kinds of people , not just those from technical disciplines – even HR, marketing, finance and administration. My own mindset was the only thing holding me back.”
He’s since graduated from the Defence Industry Leadership Program, been promoted, and made Adelaide home.
“For the first time in my career, I’m proud when someone asks what I do for a living. I say I work in the defence industry – and that actually means something to me.”
Why SA, why now?
South Australia is home to more than 400 defence companies – including seven of the world’s top 10 – and the workforce is only growing.
We’re the nation’s Defence State, where some of the most complex and high-impact projects in Australia are happening right now – and even bigger things are on the way.
We’re talking:
- Hunter class frigates
- Collins class submarine upgrades
- Hobart class destroyers
- Cyber and information warfare
- And the biggest industrial project in our nation’s history: the nuclear-powered submarine program.
Alongside these major maritime builds, SA companies are also delivering cutting-edge defence capabilities across cyber, electronic warfare, surveillance, AI and space – supported by innovation precincts like Lot Fourteen, Osborne Naval Shipyard, Edinburgh Defence Precinct, Tonsley Innovation District and Technology Park.
And the momentum is already visible. In late 2025, BAE Systems Australia celebrated the graduation of its first apprentice cohort on the Hunter Class Frigate Program – including school-based welders, fabricators and a future welding inspector.
It’s part of the company’s plan to create 1,000 early-career roles, and build the long-term capability and confidence of the Australian defence workforce.
“I feel like a completely different person,” says Izzy, a school-based apprentice turned quality inspector. “I was so timid at the start but I’m not afraid to make conversation anymore.”
To meet growing demand, the South Australian Government is also investing in:
- Five new Technical Colleges across the state, where high school students can get hands-on industry training and graduate into a career, guaranteed.
- The Skills and Training Academy at Osborne, opening in 2028 to support submarine and shipbuilding capability
- Degree apprenticeships, combining paid placements with uni study
- New entry pathways for tradies, career-changers, school leavers and uni grads.
Inspired to explore a career in defence? Add the Defence and Space Industries Career Showcase to your calendar for this May, or discover more online now at findyourplacesa.com.
