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Marine Engineer Officer

An outstanding opportunity to work for a leading Australian organisation on a variety of high techengineering systems.

Job Details

As a Marine Engineering Officer you are the technical expert on board ships and are responsible for theship's structures, propulsion systems, electrical generation and distribution, and domestic andassociated mechanical services. Responsibilities also include the main and auxiliary machinery, engines,automatic and remote control systems, hydraulics, air conditioning and refrigeration, ventilation systemsand electrical power generation and conversion equipment.

In shore based positions you will perform duties in support of the fleet including system specification,acquisition and through-life support, system certification, machinery trials and the training andmanagement of sailors and officers.

During the service life of ships Marine Engineers monitor failure, develop and evaluate proposedmodifications and repair schemes, and supervise and evaluate equipment trials. To assist in these tasksyou will have access to external organisations where you will liaise closely with your civiliancounterparts.

Marine Engineers are heavily involved with resource management, assigning and scheduling personnel,assets, equipment and finances to the task at hand. Ashore, you could be responsible for the provisionof financial estimates or the progression of technical works requirements or maintenance programs.

As the Navy regularly introduces new ships and systems, life as a Marine Engineer Officer is constantlychallenging and changing. To help you meet these new challenges, Navy provides many internalcourses as well as offering the chance for postgraduate training at external institutions throughout youremployment.

Entry

The Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) was established to provide young Officer Cadets fromthe Navy, Army and Air Force with the finest tertiary education in Australia.

ADFA is a College of the University of New South Wales and officers graduate with a University of NewSouth Wales degree. But academic pursuits are just a part of being a student at ADFA. There's also themilitary studies, fitness training, leadership and management skills you'll develop.

It is the Academy's philosophy to provide cadets with every possible resource and opportunity to helpthem do their best, which in turn helps the Academy and its graduates live up to the maxim "To lead.To Excel".

You are paid to study at ADFA and receive a textbook allowance, free medical and dental treatment,

free uniforms and Higher Education Contribution Scheme payments are met by the ADF. In addition,you are guaranteed a job as an Officer in the Royal Australian Navy when you graduate. While you arestudying, you will enjoy one of the best student/teacher ratios in the country and have access tostate-of-the-art technology and facilities on campus dedicated to giving you the best academic andmilitary qualifications possible.

As a Marine Engineer Officer you will undertake a four year Bachelor of Engineering Degree inMechanical Engineering. Honours may be awarded depending on academic performance over theduration of the degree.

The academic year essentially consists of the following components:

1 week Orientation;

4 weeks Common Military Training (CMT) and or Single Service Training (SST);

1 week Chief of the Defence Force Parade;

16 weeks Session 1 academic studies (This period includes a 2 week recess of career development andfield trips which can be either academic or military in nature);

2 weeks mid-year examinations;

2 weeks mid-year leave;

14 weeks Session 2 academic studies (This period includes a 1 week study recess);

2 weeks study and end of year examinations;

3 weeks CMT and or SST;

1 week - Graduation; and

5 weeks end of year leave.

Pay & Allowances

First year of training: $29,413 per year ($1,129 per fortnight).*

Second year of training: $34,761 per year ($1,334 per fortnight).*

Third year of training: $40,109 per year ($1,539 per fortnight).*

Fourth year of training: $45,457 per year ($1,744 per fortnight).*

While under training, you will also receive $9,552 per year pro rata ($366 per fortnight) TraineeAllowance.

To assist you in maintaining your uniforms in good order and condition, you will receive a UniformAllowance of $419 per year ($16 per fortnight). This increases to $682 per year ($26 per fortnight) aftercommissioning.

Salary (excluding allowances) on completion of academic, military and employment training will be:

$61,575 per year ($2,362 per fortnight).*

In addition to your salary, you will also receive Service Allowance of $12,924 per year ($497 perfortnight) except while undertaking Military (Initial) or Employment training. This allowancecompensates a member for the unique requirements that service life may impose on an individual andhis or her family.

Your salary will continue to increase based on your rank and the number of years of service completedin that rank. Your pay grade may increase following the acquisition of additional skills and completion of

further training. Refer to the Salary Scales for further details.

Trainees with dependants may be entitled to Trainee's Dependant Allowance which is paid to enabletrainees with dependants to receive a salary not less than $43,766 per year ($1,679 per fortnight) whiletraining. Conditions apply. Speak to your Careers Counsellor for details.

* Note: These figures do not include compulsory deductions for taxation; meals, accommodation andutilities (as applicable); or superannuation.

General Requirements

Age Requirement

Applicants must be a minimum of 17 years of age on day of entry.

Applicants will not be allowed to enter the ADF until they achieve a minimum of 17 years of age,however they may be able to initiate the application process from 16 years of age, depending upon thecapacity of their local recruiting centre.

Maximum age on entry is 50 years of age.

Citizenship Requirement

Only Australian citizens are permitted to serve in the ADF.

If you are a Permanent Resident of Australia, the ADF may consider a temporary waiver of thecitizenship requirement if the position for which you are applying cannot be filled by an applicant whomeets all the citizenship requirements, and then only in exceptional circumstances. You will be requiredto obtain Australian citizenship as early as possible following enlistment or appointment.

More information on citizenship requirements and the citizenship waiver process is available from theRecruitment Centre and your local Defence Force Recruiting Centre.

Security Requirement

The Department of Defence requires ADF entrants to obtain a security clearance appropriate to theiravenue of entry.

A process of background checks, collection of relevant information and, as required, interviews enablesthe Regional Security Office to make an informed assessment of an applicant's suitability for a securityclearance.

Current policy requires applicants for this particular avenue of entry to have lived in Australia for thepreceding 10 years, or have a checkable background for this period.

Aptitude Requirement

The application process to join the Australian Defence Force requires you to complete a series ofaptitude tests including verbal, spatial and numerical ability and a general maths test. Some jobs mayalso require you to complete additional testing at a later date.

• Full Time• ADFA

Psychology support staff will explain what is involved with each test.

The aptitude tests provide information about your suitability for the Defence Force and for particularjobs. Defence Force Recruiting can then help you identify jobs that best match your abilities.

Further information on the aptitude testing requirements can be found here.

Education & Experience

To be eligible for admission to UNSW@ADFA, applicants must have completed Year 12 and obtained anentrance rank high enough to qualify for entry to the relevant degree program.

Further information on studying at ADFA is available here.

Assumed Knowledge Requirements

Assumed Knowledge is the level of subject knowledge that a lecturer or a tutor of a first yearUNSW@ADFA course could reasonably expect of students enrolled in that course.

Assumed Knowledge is fundamental to the assessment of whether or not an applicant is likely tosucceed and is taken into account by the ADF (during the recruiting process) and by UNSW@ADFAwhen assessing the application.

The specific Year 12 subjects that currently satisfy the UNSW@ADFA Assumed Subject Knowledgerequirements for engineering applicants are (by State):

• ACT: Majors in English, Mathematical Methods and Physics. Chemistry desirable;• NSW: 2-Unit English; Mathematics (previously called NSW 2 Unit Mathematics), 2-Unit Physics

or 2-Unit Senior Science (Multi-strand, including Physics) and 2-Unit Chemistry (desirable) or2-Unit Senior Science (Multi-strand, including Chemistry) (desirable);

• QLD: English, Mathematics B and Physics. Chemistry is desirable;• SA/NT: English (or Year 11 plus Year 12 Language-rich subject), Mathematical Studies and

Physics. Chemistry is desirable;• TAS: One of the TCE English Group Choices; Mathematics Methods 5C and Physics 5C.

Chemistry 5C is desirable;• VIC: One of the VCE English Group Choices, Mathematical Methods 3 & 4 and VCE Physics. VCE

Chemistry is desirable; and• WA: English Literature or English, Mathematics (Calculus or Mathematics 3DMAT) and Physics.

Chemistry is desirable.Requirements are expressed as a minimum.

In States where Year 12 English may be replaced by a Humanities subject for the purposes of meetingYear 12 certificate requirements, the Assumed Knowledge is Year 11 English plus a Year 12 Humanitiessubject.

Note: All applicants for undergraduate programs at ADFA must also apply to the UniversitiesAdmissions Centre (NSW and ACT) for entry to the University of New South Wales. The UniversitiesAdmissions Centre website is http://www.uac.edu.au

ADF Service Requirements

You should be aware that in addition to the UNSW @ ADFA Assumed Subject Knowledgerequirements, there may be some Year 12 subjects that are ADF Service requirements.

Medical & Fitness Requirements

To be enlisted or appointed, you must be medically and physically fit for entry to your chosenoccupation. This is partially assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering yourmedical history, followed by a physical examination.

You must also pass the swim test and physical fitness test to graduate from your Navy Training and toproceed to the Safety of Life at Sea Training that is a requirement for Recruit School and Officertraining.

Navy Swim Test

The Navy Swim test consists of:

• A safety jump off a 3m tower in overalls;• 10m underwater swim in overalls;• 50m swim using three safety strokes; and• Tread water or float for 15 mins (removal of overalls optional).

Note: You will find it much easier to pass the swimming test if you undertake swimming training beforeyou join.

Further information on the swimming test is displayed in the Additional Requirements section.

For more details on medical and physical standards refer to 'Physical Fitness Standards for Entryinto the ADF' and 'Medical Process for Entry into the ADF'.

Period of Service

You will be appointed for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of nine years. Subsequent periodsof service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service.You may tender your resignation at any time provided you do not have an outstanding Initial MinimumPeriod of Service obligation and provide a minimum of three months notice.

Defence Academy Entry Officers become liable to an IMPS from appointment into the ADF. However,the Services will allow you to resign at any time up to the end of either the first or second year ofacademic studies. For Defence Academy Entry Officers in the Navy who undertake Navy training in theirfirst year of appointment, they may resign up until the graduation day of their first year of study (whichgenerally equates with having completed by then two years of Naval service). 

Additional Requirements

Further Requirements:

• Well-developed hand-skills and hand-eye coordination; 

• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills required to formulate repair schemes; 

• Appreciation of safety requirements; 

• Good attention to detail; 

• Ability to work under pressure; 

• Able to sustain long periods of precision lifting; 

• Comfortable working in confined spaces; and

• Resourcefulness and common sense. 

 Licence Requirements

 Applicants should be free of traffic infringements and/or offences that may result in future cancellationof their licence, or prevent the issue of an ADF Drivers Licence.

Military Training

Defence Academy Engineering Midshipmen complete a New Entry Officer Course (NEOC) at the RoyalAustralian Naval College, HMAS CRESWELL at Jervis Bay on the NSW south coast immediatelyfollowing entry to the Navy in February.

This 22 week course covers drill and ceremonial, physical training, officer development, oral and writtencommunications, naval message writing, management and leadership, officer of the day duties, Navyorganisation, Defence studies, character guidance, Navy history, swim test, first aid, small armstraining, adventure training, and a training cruise.

Refer to the Joining Instructions for further details on the NEOC.

Training for the remainder of the year will include periods at sea posted to their respective engineeringdepartments and time ashore with the emphasis being on broadening your understanding of the rolesand functions of engineers in the RAN. Our aim is to let you experience how exciting and rewarding lifeas a Naval Engineer Officer can be and allow you to decide if that is what really motivates you. Therewill also be scope for you to gain an insight into the different engineering sub-specialisations you maywish to pursue including Marine, Weapons Electronic, Aerospace, and Weapons Electronic Aerospace.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will I be doing in my first year?

You will undertake NEOC with your cohort of Maritime Warfare and Maritime Logistics officers - thepeople you will work with closely for the rest of your naval career.

The whole purpose of the program after NEOC is to give you an insight into what an Engineer Officerdoes at sea, in the Navy and in the wider Defence organisation. It will be a series of attachments, notunlike industry practice, to show you the scope of the enterprise you are joining, each being designedto give you a high quality, motivating experience.

Feedback from officers who joined in 2000 and took this path is highly positive, they found the Navyyear one highly enjoyable and motivating. Officers who joined pre-1999 and who missed out on thisscheme are highly envious.

A one month maths refresher program is added to the end of this first year for engineering students, tohelp them prepare for the first year of their engineering degree.

What if I don't like the sea time?

You will be able to discuss what other options are available to you with your supervising officer. Thismay include a service transfer which would depend on available positions and service requirements.

What is the benefit of all that extra training before my studies?

The program has shown that this opportunity to complete naval officer training both motivates peopleto becoming a professional Naval Officer and also means you can focus better on your studies at ADFA,with a clear vision of the purpose and context of your learning.

The academic staff at UNSW-ADFA have reported that the young officers who have come through thisscheme are much more motivated towards their studies and are doing well.

Won't that early sea time learning be lost?

No, the evidence from the young officers who have followed this program so far is that it is highlymotivating. The lessons they learnt at sea are well cemented, and they have said it is a great, firstexperience of life at sea. The evidence is people retain this knowledge as the guiding context for their

studies at ADFA and beyond.

Will this help my engineering studies?

Yes! Our experience is that personnel who gain engineering experience prior to their academic studiesinvariably perform better in those studies. They tend to be more highly motivated to learn more aboutengineering and can better understand the theoretical aspects of the degree studies because they canrelate that theory to their practical experiences.

During Military (ADFA and NEOC) Training and Employment Training, members may be required to paya contribution towards meals, accommodation and utilities.

Employment Training

Engineer Officers’ Application Course

On completion of military training, Marine Engineer Officers (MEOs) undertake an 18 week EngineerOfficers’ Application Course (EOAC) at HMAS CERBERUS in Victoria, commencing in January each year.This course supplements theoretical degree education with training in fields specific to engineering inthe Navy such as warship propulsion systems, hydraulics and pneumatics, auxiliary systems, warshipconstruction, stability and maintenance administration procedures. The course is split into three distinctparts as follows:

• EOAC (Common) lasts for 5 weeks, it is conducted as a combined class with the WeaponsElectrical Engineer Officers on course and covers various common aspects of Engineer Officertraining such as Engineering Safety, Technical Administration, Risk Management and NavalInfrastructure;

• The EOAC road trip lasts for one week and involves visits to the various key directorates andorganisations in Canberra and Sydney; and

• EOAC (ME) lasts for 12 weeks and covers specific Marine Engineering subjects.On completion of the EOAC, the students are posted to a sea-going ship as an Assistant MEO andissued with an Engineering Requirements Journal, which consists of a series of tasks that need to becompleted in order to prepare the individual for their Marine Engineering Certificate of Competency(MEOCC) examination board, which typically occurs after twelve to eighteen months of sea training.Achievement of the MEOCC qualifies the individual to be a Deputy MEO in a major warship and is asignificant milestone in a MEO’s training.

At this point the individual can expect to spend two to three years ashore before returning to sea for atwo year posting as a Deputy, during which time they will achieve their Marine Engineering ChargeQualification (MCQ), which is the final qualification required to enable them to run a Marine Engineeringdepartment in a major warship. This they can expect to do after a further two to three years ashore andpromotion to Lieutenant Commander.

Sub Specialist Option

Application to transfer to submarines is open to all sailors and some officers, male and female.Volunteers may apply as early in their careers as during initial sailor trade and officer primaryqualification training.

Officers from the Seaman, Marine Engineer and Weapons Electrical Engineer Primary Qualifications mayapply to serve in submarines.

If Submarine Service interests you, let the Interviewing Officer know at your Recruiting Centre.

Service in submarines is extremely demanding, both emotionally and physically.Submariners work and live in very close proximity to each other and personal privacy is extremelylimited, except when ashore. Submarine personnel work long hours and are constantly subjected toemotional and physical pressures not found in surface ships.

Many a new recruit to the Submarine Arm of the Royal Australian Navy believes that he /she has what ittakes to become a good submariner. However, until you have been tested and have experienced thearduous conditions and life inside a submarine, you won't fully appreciate the difficulties.Today's Submariner is a unique breed of sailor/officer. They have met the challenges, been tested tothe limits of their endurance and abilities and found to have what it takes to be members of a verydemanding arm of the Royal Australian Navy.

If you think you have what it takes, then you must be prepared for some very demanding personalchallenges throughout your training and employment. If you come through these you will be willinglyaccepted into the Submarine Arm of the Royal Australian Navy and welcome to wear 'The Dolphins' (thesubmariner's badge of distinction).

Employment Location

All officers will serve in fleet units and shore establishments around Australia based on service need.Individual preferences for posting location will be taken into account where possible.

Many opportunities also exist for short periods (4 – 6 months) of operational service overseas.

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