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About the role Career progression and training Salary and benefits Entry requirements
As a Systems Engineer, your role is to provide network engineering support to the NZ Army's Communication Information Systems fleet.
You will initially receive a Diploma in Information and Communication Technology and later work towards a Bachelor's with a double major in Networking and Security.
This study is full time and funded by the Army, so you will still earn while you learn.
Service Army
Specialisation Intelligence, IT and Communications
Location Palmerston North Christchurch
Starting Trade Training $64,177
About the role
For future intakes, you will join the Army as an IT Specialist, before branching into a specific trade towards the end of Signals Corps training: Either Systems Engineer, Electronic Warfare Operator, Information Management Specialist, Information Systems Operator or Radio Frequency Technician.
As a Systems Engineer, your role is to provide technical engineering support to the NZ Army's Communication Information Systems (CIS) fleet.
You will work in a team environment, often in high-pressure situations. You will ensure integral communication systems are established and maintained to support our personnel in achieving their tasks.
During your training, you will learn everything required to provide a range of services required to keep channels of communication open.
Working with local area networks and managing routing, encryption and communication links, you will be able to engineer, diagnose and repair cabling and other Army communications equipment.
Job on base
Your day-to-day activities will involve working as a member in a Communications Access Node (CAN) Detachment. This will see you plan, install, configure and engineer networked communications systems.
As well as your day-to-day Systems Engineering tasks, you will also conduct training to stay proficient in soldiering skills such as physical fitness, weapon handling, first aid and general teamwork.
Job on deployment
Deployments of NZ Army personnel will almost always require our own communication networks. As such, Systems Engineers will deploy on a variety of overseas missions and exercises.
These can range from short duration missions to establish or upgrade equipment to six-month deployments in support of sustained operations.
Whilst deployed, Systems Engineers will provide technical engineering support to the NZ Army's deployed Communication Information Systems fleet.
This includes but is not limited to switching, routing, encryption and communication links management.
Our job's quite important because we need the infrastructure to be able to send data from way out in the middle of nowhere.
Career progression and training
Your trade training includes a mixture of Army courses, on-the-job training and tertiary study, spanning over an approximate nine-year period.
Courses to progress your career will vary in content. Trade-specific coursing will focus on your individual technical skills as a Systems Engineer.
Promotion coursing will focus on your personal communication, decision making and leadership ability.
Your training will include tertiary study at Universal College of Learning (UCOL) in Palmerston North towards a Bachelor of Information & Communications Technology (BICT), with a double major in Networking and Security.
Salary and benefits
Careers in the Army are well-rewarded, diverse and exciting. As you become more experienced and move up through the ranks, gaining additional skills and qualifications, your salary will rise accordingly.
$50,597 Under Initial Training
$64,177 Starting Trade Training
$129,061 Future Potential Earnings
Figures updated on July 1st 2023
Benefits and allowances
Earn a competitive salary while training or learning your trade, along with additional allowances for time spent in the field, at sea, overseas, or deployed on operations.
In addition to salary and allowances, other benefits of joining the New Zealand Defence Force include:
Access to your Service marae or turangawaewae
Sponsored tertiary study programmes at all levels
Free access to gyms and swimming pools on camp and bases
Opportunities to travel
Free and subsidised medical and dental care
Subsidised food and accommodation on camps and bases
Free and subsidised insurance cover
Help to buy a home and save for retirement
Entry requirements
You must be at least 18 years of age upon completion of recruit course (basic training)
You must have been a NZ Citizen for a minimum of 10 years
Complete a 10-year background history check that can be checked with the New Zealand authorities to obtain high-level security clearance
You must be able to obtain a TSV security clearance
NCEA Level 2 certificate
Be medically fit for service.
Meet the minimum entry fitness standards.
Colour perception restrictions.
There are strict citizenship and security requirements to gain the required TSV security clearance for this trade.
On completion of your training, there may be a return of service period for this trade.
Please contact our 0800 number or talk to your Candidate Engagement Facilitator for more information.
Ready to start your Army career?
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