South Australia is spearheading the largest, most complex naval shipbuilding and Defence projects in our nation's history, with more than 10,000 jobs expected to be created in the industry over the next two decades.

Which is why there's never been a better time to consider a career in the state's defence industry.

Discover what’s possible at the Navy and Shipbuilding Careers Expo, being hosted by the State Government in partnership with the Royal Australian Navy at the Port Adelaide Passenger Terminal, Outer Harbor, on Sunday 5 November.

Cameron (pictured below right) has pursued a career in the industry, moving to South Australia two years ago to work on one of the nation’s biggest naval shipbuilding projects – the Hunter Class Frigate Program.

After completing a graduate program with BAE Systems Australia and undertaking various engineering stints in electronics and maritime, Cameron decided to pursue his passion for naval shipbuilding.

He made the transition from a sustainment role on the Hobart class destroyer program to a design role on the Hunter Class Frigate Program.

“It’s very rare that a design project of this scale is based in Australia, let alone the first-of-class of such a large project,” Cameron said.

“First-of-class is where all the interesting engineering happens, and I thought ‘I need to get onto this’.

“My office is based at the Osborne Naval Shipyard, which is home to the largest sheds in the southern hemisphere; it’s a pretty cool place to work.”

Cameron is a stage one design engineer on the project and is responsible for the design of auxiliary sub-systems on the frigates. His focus is on designing fluid transfer systems, including the cooling and firefighting spray systems.

“It is a complex ship that has complex challenges, so the job is about understanding the complexity and discussing what’s important with the subject matter expert,” he said.

“The other aspect of my job is supplier management. We have large contracts to procure equipment from suppliers, so making sure our suppliers meet our requirements.”

Cameron holds a degree in mechanical engineering and project management from the University of Sydney and despite carving out a successful career in naval shipbuilding, he never considered working in the defence or the maritime industry.

“I actually started my degree in civil engineering and quickly realised that the cooler work was in mechanical engineering, which led me into defence,” he said.

“I went to a networking event with a friend and ended up talking to an industry guest from BAE Systems Australia. I then quit my current job in construction.”

Cameron, who is also undertaking a masters in maritime engineering, believes having a growth mindset and a good attitude are the foundations of a successful career in South Australia’s defence and naval shipbuilding industry.

“People pick up on having a positive attitude and building relationships with others goes a long way. The industry is smaller than you think, and everyone knows everyone,” he said.

Representatives from some of the world's largest defence industry organisations and tertiary education institutions will be on hand at the Navy and Shipbuilding Careers Expo to share information on future career and study pathway opportunities.

Australian Defence Force Careers will also showcase the lifestyle, benefits, travel opportunities, training and specific roles it has to offer.

Visitors will also be able to tour the Anzac Class frigate and Collins Class Submarine (places strictly limited).

Registration to the expo is essential. Visit ADF Careers to secure your spot.

Cameron’s story originally appeared on Defence SA’s Find Your Place and has been republished here with permission.