• 21 year-old University of Adelaide graduate Nicholas Bonini will use his skills to help us maintain the Australian-developed Jindalee Over the Horizon Radar (JORN) – pivotal infrastructure that is being used for national security. Credit: BAE Systems Australia
    21 year-old University of Adelaide graduate Nicholas Bonini will use his skills to help us maintain the Australian-developed Jindalee Over the Horizon Radar (JORN) – pivotal infrastructure that is being used for national security. Credit: BAE Systems Australia
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Investing in the next generation

25 January 2017
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BAE Systems Australia is taking steps to inspire potential future employees as a new cohort of of graduates joins the company.

More than 20 new graduates have been employed across Australia and will join the company from this month. This takes the number of people in their early careers – graduates, apprentices, trainees and work experience – to well over 100 across the company.

In their roles, graduates will undertake a wide range of tasks – from enhancing Australian’s Sovereign capability on the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) and land vehicles in SA to advanced technology development of cyber and satellite technology in Sydney and Canberra. Six graduates will be focused on supporting national security through their work on JORN and the export of related high frequency sensor systems to the US.

 

“We have a responsibility to nurture and inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists.”

 

The prime has also invested heavily in advancing the next generation of employees with more than 20 high school and university students spending their ‘holidays’ on work experience in the defence industry. BAE Systems also employs 30 apprentices and a number of interns and trainees and regularly offers university scholarships in defence related fields of study.

In an effort to increase the opportunities in the defence industry for highly skilled employees, it is also growing its colaboration with academia. BAE Systems recently announced  that it had selected the Universities of Adelaide and South Australia as foundation partners for a nation-wide initiative that will drive research, development and innovation of technologies that are critical to supporting the Australian Defence Force to maintain superior capability.

It will contribute up to $10 million to establish the Joint Open Innovation Network (JOIN) to support new university engineering scholarships, internship and undergraduate industry placements. This project will also involve the creation of new defence-focused courses, and targeted research and development.

“Technology and innovation is critical if Australia’s defence industry is to maintain and grow a Sovereign capability,” BAE Systems CEO Glynn Phillips said. “As a company at the forefront of high tech engineering, we have a responsibility to nurture and inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists.”

BAE Systems also invests around $1 million a year supporting more than 40 activities across Australia designed to enthuse and excite students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), including FIRST Robotics, Lego League, multiple science based challenges and competitions.

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