Defence recruitment for Australian land, sea & air
Recruitment and workforce solutions that strengthen Australia’s defence capability
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Struggling to secure the technical skills Australia's defence projects demand?
Brunel is a specialist provider of defence recruitment and workforce solutions with a deep affinity for highly-technical skillsets such as engineering, digital technology, project controls and scientific disciplines. With over 50 years of experience supporting major projects, we understand the complexities of large-scale defence manufacturing and commissioning and can quickly connect you with the highly-technical professionals your program depends on.
From engineering and digital technology to project controls and scientific disciplines, we source niche, highly-skilled specialists across every discipline critical to sovereign capability. Many defence roles require expertise that extends beyond traditional defence experience, so we also tap into adjacent industries with transferable skillsets to broaden your access to the right talent.
Brunel has built strong capabilities and effective collaborations with many of the key engineering and technical companies delivering Australia's defence projects. At every stage, we ensure your team has the people, skills and support needed to meet critical milestones reliably, safely and compliantly.
Defence recruitment for engineering and technical roles across air, land and sea
Air
Land
Sea
Cyber security
Sea
Hiring for naval and maritime defence programs requires deep technical expertise across shipbuilding, sustainment and complex systems integration. Sea projects demand professionals who can navigate stringent quality standards, long asset lifecycles and the intricacies of manufacturing and commissioning platforms built to perform in the most demanding operational environments.
Whether you need naval architects, marine engineers, combat systems specialists or commissioning managers, Brunel can source the talent capable of delivering quality outcomes safely and to specification. With deep roots in engineering and heavy industry, we also draw on transferable skillsets from adjacent sectors such as oil and gas, shipbuilding and large-scale manufacturing to broaden your access to the right people.
Supporting a range of maritime and naval disciplines including:
Systems Engineering & Integration
From combat systems and sensor integration to life-support and propulsion technologies, systems engineering and integration projects demand professionals with specialised expertise in complex, safety-critical naval platforms. Brunel recruits across a broad range of roles in this space, including:
Combat Systems Engineers: integrating sensors, weapons and combat management systems aboard naval platforms
Electrical Engineers (Submarine Systems): designing and maintaining electrical systems supporting submarine escape, rescue and life-support operations
Mechanical/Marine Systems Engineers: developing propulsion, hydraulic and auxiliary systems for surface and sub-surface vessels
Command, Control & Communications Systems
From integrated command architecture to advanced sensor and navigation suites, command, control and communications systems projects demand professionals with specialised expertise in complex, mission-critical naval technologies. Brunel recruits across a broad range of roles in this space, including:
C4ISR Engineers: developing command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance architecture for naval platforms
Navigation & Sensor Systems Specialists: integrating radar, sonar and navigation systems into vessel combat suites
Integrated Logistics Support & Sustainment
From through-life maintenance strategies to fleet-wide spares and supply chain coordination, integrated logistics support and sustainment projects demand professionals with specialised expertise in keeping complex naval assets mission-ready. Brunel recruits across a broad range of roles in this space, including:
Sustainment Engineers: managing through-life maintenance, spares and technical support for naval fleets
Supply Chain & Maintenance Planners: coordinating parts availability and maintenance scheduling for vessel sustainment programs
Program Management & Commercial
From complex shipbuilding schedules to supplier agreements and tender delivery, program management and commercial projects demand professionals with specialised expertise in coordinating large-scale defence and maritime programs. Brunel recruits across a broad range of roles in this space, including:
Project/Program Managers: coordinating timelines, budgets and stakeholders across naval shipbuilding and sustainment programs
Senior Planners: building and managing tender and delivery programmes across defence and maritime infrastructure projects
Contracts & Commercial Managers: administering supplier and prime contractor agreements for naval procurement
Naval Architecture & Maritime Engineering
From naval vessel design and submarine construction to complex maritime infrastructure programs, naval architecture and maritime engineering projects demand professionals with specialised technical expertise in structural integrity, hydrodynamics and shipbuilding. Brunel recruits across a broad range of roles in this space, including:
Naval Architects: designing and assessing the structural integrity, stability and hydrodynamics of naval vessels and submarines
Marine/Structural Engineers: delivering structural analysis and design for ship hulls, submarine pressure vessels and maritime infrastructure
Shipbuilding Trades (Welders, Fabricators): constructing and assembling vessel hulls and structures on naval shipbuilding programs
Land
Hiring for land defence programs requires a strategic mix of technical, engineering and project delivery expertise to design, manufacture and sustain vehicles, systems and infrastructure. Land projects demand professionals who understand complex integration, rigorous compliance requirements and the operational realities of equipment built for reliability in the field.
Whether you need mechanical and electrical engineers, systems integrators, logistics specialists or project controls professionals, Brunel can source the talent capable of delivering quality outcomes on time and within budget. Our established networks extend into adjacent industries including automotive, mining and heavy manufacturing, giving you access to transferable skillsets that are often in short supply within traditional defence talent pools.
Supporting a range of land defence disciplines including:
Command, Control & Communications Systems
From tactical communications networks to base-wide electrical and telecommunications infrastructure, command, control and communications systems projects demand professionals with specialised expertise in land force connectivity and defence base infrastructure. Brunel recruits across a broad range of roles in this space, including:
Battlefield Communications Engineers: designing tactical communications networks supporting land force operations
Electrical Project Engineers (Infrastructure): delivering electrical and telecommunications systems for defence base infrastructure
Integrated Logistics Support & Sustainment
From through-life vehicle maintenance to sovereign manufacturing supply chains, integrated logistics support and sustainment projects demand professionals with specialised expertise in keeping land force fleets and capability programs mission-ready. Brunel recruits across a broad range of roles in this space, including:
Fleet Sustainment Engineers: managing maintenance and through-life support for land vehicle fleets
Supply Chain Managers: overseeing manufacturing and sovereign capability supply chains for land systems
Program Management & Commercial
From land infrastructure delivery to vehicle sustainment programs, program management and commercial roles demand professionals with specialised expertise coordinating complex land defence programs and driving business growth. Brunel recruits across a broad range of roles in this space, including:
Senior Project Engineers: coordinating delivery of land infrastructure and vehicle sustainment programs
Principal Consultants (Defence): leading recruitment delivery and business growth across land, maritime and aerospace defence programs
Systems Engineering & Integration
From armour and mobility integration to drivetrain and armament systems, systems engineering and integration projects demand professionals with specialised expertise in complex land combat vehicle platforms. Brunel recruits across a broad range of roles in this space, including:
Land Systems Engineers: designing and integrating armour, weapons and mobility systems on land combat vehicles
Mechanical/Electrical Engineers (Vehicles): developing drivetrain, electrical and armament systems for military vehicles
Air
Hiring for air defence and aerospace programs requires specialist knowledge across aircraft manufacturing, avionics, sustainment and highly-regulated systems integration. Air projects demand professionals who can operate to exacting airworthiness standards, manage sophisticated technical requirements and support platforms through every phase of the asset lifecycle.
Whether you need aerospace engineers, avionics specialists, maintenance and sustainment professionals or programme managers, Brunel can source the talent capable of delivering quality outcomes safely and to specification. We also connect you with transferable expertise from adjacent sectors such as commercial aviation, advanced manufacturing and engineering, helping you fill niche roles that extend beyond conventional defence experience.
Supporting a range of aerospace and air defence disciplines including:
Command, Control & Communications Systems
From secure data-links to electronic warfare and signals countermeasures, command, control and communications systems projects demand professionals with specialised expertise in mission-critical airborne networks. Brunel recruits across a broad range of roles in this space, including:
Mission Systems Engineers: developing communications and data-link systems connecting airborne platforms to command networks
Electronic Warfare Specialists: designing systems to detect, jam or counter adversary electronic and radar signals
Integrated Logistics Support & Sustainment
From scheduled maintenance to spares provisioning and technical documentation, integrated logistics support and sustainment projects demand professionals with specialised expertise in keeping military aircraft and support equipment mission-ready. Brunel recruits across a broad range of roles in this space, including:
Aircraft Maintenance Engineers: performing scheduled and unscheduled maintenance on military aircraft and support equipment
ILS Analysts: developing maintenance plans, spares provisioning and technical documentation for airborne platforms
Program Management & Commercial
From engineering delivery on airbase infrastructure to securing new client programs, program management and commercial roles demand professionals with specialised expertise across aerospace and airbase infrastructure projects. Brunel recruits across a broad range of roles in this space, including:
Project Engineers: coordinating engineering delivery on airbase infrastructure and platform upgrade programs
Business Development Managers – Defence: identifying and securing new client programs across aerospace and airbase infrastructure
Systems Engineering & Integration
From flight control architecture to mission systems and platform-wide verification, systems engineering and integration projects demand professionals with specialised expertise in complex airborne technologies. Brunel recruits across a broad range of roles in this space, including:
Avionics Engineers: designing and integrating flight control, navigation and mission systems on military aircraft
Aerospace Systems Engineers: managing requirements, interfaces and verification across airborne platform development
Cyber security
Hiring for defence cyber security requires niche, highly technical expertise to safeguard critical systems, networks and information against an evolving threat landscape. Cyber projects demand professionals who can navigate strict security clearances, complex compliance frameworks and the responsibility of protecting assets essential to national capability.
Whether you need security architects, penetration testers, threat intelligence analysts or governance and compliance specialists, Brunel can source the talent capable of delivering secure, reliable outcomes. Drawing on our wider information technology and digital networks, we also access transferable skillsets from adjacent industries such as finance, critical infrastructure and enterprise technology, connecting you with in-demand professionals across a competitive talent market.
Supporting a range of defence cyber security disciplines including:
Cyber Security & Defence Software Engineering
From securing classified networks to mission-critical software development, cyber security and defence software engineering projects demand professionals with specialised expertise in stringent security, configuration control and threat protection standards. Brunel recruits across a broad range of roles in this space, including:
Cyber Security Specialists: securing classified networks, systems and data against threats across defence programs
Defence Software Engineers: developing and testing mission-critical software under stringent security and configuration control standards
SCADA/OT Security Engineers: transitioning operational technology security expertise from energy and industrial sectors into defence network protection roles
Integrated Logistics Support & Sustainment
From ongoing security compliance to lifecycle assurance, integrated logistics support and sustainment roles in cyber demand professionals with specialised expertise maintaining security posture across ICT systems through their operational life. Brunel recruits across a broad range of roles in this space, including:
Cyber Assurance Analysts: maintaining ongoing security compliance and assurance across the sustainment lifecycle of ICT systems
Program Management & Commercial
From classified ICT uplift programs to sourcing cleared specialist talent, program management and commercial roles in cyber demand professionals with specialised expertise coordinating delivery and building capability across defence ICT programs. Brunel recruits across a broad range of roles in this space, including:
ICT Project Managers: coordinating delivery of classified ICT and cyber uplift programs across defence primes
Recruiter/Sourcing Consultants (Engineering & IT): sourcing cleared, specialist technical talent to support defence ICT and cyber programs
Systems Engineering & Integration
From integrated cyber architecture to secure classified IT/OT infrastructure, systems engineering and integration projects demand professionals with specialised expertise in defence-grade network security and system design. Brunel recruits across a broad range of roles in this space, including:
Systems Engineers (C4ISR Security): integrating cyber security architecture into command, control and communications systems
Network & Infrastructure Engineers: designing and maintaining secure IT/OT infrastructure for classified defence environments
Defence recruitment from adjacent industries
As the defence industry rapidly scales up to meet the demands of major upcoming projects, the need for skilled talent is greater than ever. With many roles requiring expertise that extends beyond traditional defence experience, there’s growing value in tapping into adjacent industries with transferable skillsets.
Brunel's has extensive experience in transitioning talent from oil & gas, mining, construction and heavy industry into defence - sectors with close operational parallels to defence. With deep networks and a strong grasp of major project execution, we help defence employers identify, attract and transition the most relevant professionals from these aligned fields.
Flexible solutions tailored to suit every site and circumstance
Brunel can connect your operation with the people, skills and outcomes it requires via a range of traditional defence recruitment and specialised workforce delivery models.
Why partner with Brunel for your defence recruitment?
For over 25 years, Brunel has partnered with innovators and leaders across a diverse range of Australian business and projects to deliver niche, highly-skilled and specialised people and workforce solutions. Operating from major hubs in Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and other strategic locations, Brunel supports defence recruitment across Australia’s key maritime, land, aerospace and cybersecurity projects. With an extensive pool of experienced, reliable personnel, including proven Australian defence contractors and a suite of tailored workforce services, Brunel can provide solutions ranging from individual roles to mobilising large teams.
- Strong history of supporting major projects across Australia
- Extensive pool of local talent and skills
- Technical and highly-skilled role specialists
- Comprehensive range of flexible engagement options tailored to your unique requirements
- End-to-end support across project lifecycle
- Quick access to supporting services including mobility/relocation and Indigenous recruitment
- Uncompromising approach to health and safety
Build your team with Brunel. Get in touch to discuss how we can help.
Are you looking for something else?
How is Brunel different from other defence contracting companies?
Brunel is a workforce partner to defence contracting companies rather than a prime or systems integrator. We do not bid for capability contracts. We deliver the people who execute them, which means we sit alongside you instead of competing with you.
What separates us from other workforce providers is depth outside defence. Decades of delivering specialists into conventional energy, mining, construction and infrastructure, and power and grid give us access to major project talent that defence-only recruiters cannot reach. Add flexible engagement options spanning individual roles through to full site manning, end-to-end support across the project lifecycle, quick access to mobility, relocation and Indigenous recruitment, and an uncompromising approach to health and safety. Our specialists operate as a seamless extension of your business to consistently deliver the people, skills and outcomes you need.
What is defence recruitment?
Defence recruitment is the sourcing, vetting and mobilisation of the specialist people who design, build, sustain and commission Australia's air, land and sea capability. It covers engineering, digital technology, project controls, scientific disciplines, supply chain, operations and maintenance, and large-scale manufacturing. What sets it apart from general hiring is the operating context: security clearance requirements, sovereign capability obligations and programme lifecycles that run for years rather than months. Brunel is a specialist provider of defence recruitment and workforce solutions with a deep affinity for exactly these highly-technical skillsets.
How does a defence recruitment agency work with Australian defence contractors?
We start with your capability requirement, not a job ad. Our specialists map the disciplines your program needs at each phase, source from both defence and adjacent industries, screen for technical fit alongside citizenship and clearance eligibility, then manage contracting, onboarding and mobilisation through to demobilisation. Brunel's people solutions come in all shapes and sizes: permanent and contract recruitment, executive search, Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO), managed workforce solutions and mobilisation. You select which parts to outsource and which you would prefer to retain in-house, and we scale from a single specialist role to mobilising an entire project team.
Do defence workers need a security clearance in Australia?
Many do, though not all. Clearances are issued by the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA), typically at Baseline, Negative Vetting 1 or Negative Vetting 2 level depending on the classification of material the role accesses. Clearances are sponsored by an eligible organisation rather than applied for by the individual, so the sponsoring employer or contracting entity has to initiate the process. Because vetting timeframes directly affect your mobilisation date, confirm the clearance level for each position early in your workforce planning. Our specialists build that requirement into the brief from the outset.
Can Brunel source cleared candidates, and how long does clearance take?
Yes. Our talent communities include personnel holding current clearances, which removes vetting from your critical path and shortens time to productivity. Where the strongest technical candidate is uncleared, AGSVA processing times vary by clearance level and case complexity, so we flag that lead time upfront rather than letting it surface late. Brunel presents clearance status alongside technical fit on every shortlist, so you can weigh an available cleared candidate against a stronger uncleared one with full visibility of the schedule impact.
What defence project management and engineering roles does Brunel recruit for?
We recruit across the disciplines that carry the highest schedule and cost risk on defence programs. Engineering spans mechanical, electrical, systems, civil and chemical, alongside digital technology and scientific roles. Project management and controls covers client-side project managers, planners and schedulers, cost controllers and project services specialists. We also deliver quality systems, supply chain management, operations and maintenance, manufacturing and commissioning talent. These roles support air, land and sea programs across onshore and offshore delivery, from individual appointments through to full site manning.
How does Brunel source specialised defence project management talent?
Through established talent communities rather than open advertising. Project Managers and Project Controls specialists are among the most crucial roles you will appoint, so our specialists map the discipline against your program phase first: planning and scheduling, cost control, risk, contract administration or client-side project management. We then draw on two pools. The first is defence-experienced professionals already known to us, including personnel holding current clearances. The second is the adjacent industries where the same major project execution skills are built: conventional energy, mining, construction and infrastructure, and power and grid. Many defence roles require expertise that extends beyond traditional defence experience, and that transferable capability is where the depth sits. Every candidate is screened for technical fit, citizenship and clearance eligibility before you see a shortlist, so your program stays on time, within budget and executed to specification.
What industries and defence programmes does Brunel recruit for in Australia?
Within defence, we recruit across air, land and sea: engineering, digital technology, project controls, scientific disciplines, quality systems, supply chain, operations and maintenance, and the large-scale manufacturing and commissioning of key assets. Our reach extends well beyond the sector itself. Brunel has partnered with innovators and leaders across Conventional Energy, Mining, Construction & Infrastructure, Power & Grid, Renewable Energy, Agribusiness and Life Sciences, which matters more than it sounds. Those industries run the same major project disciplines that defence programs depend on, and they are where a growing share of defence-ready talent is built. When your requirement calls for expertise that extends beyond traditional defence experience, we can source it from adjacent sectors with genuinely transferable skillsets and transition those professionals onto your program.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Brunel acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people of the many traditional lands and language groups of Australia. We acknowledge the wisdom of Elders both past and present, and pay respect to the communities of today. We recognise their continuing connection to the land, waters and community.