Each year, we have the unique opportunity to host interns at the Royal Australian Navy's Fleet Base East at Garden Island in Sydney.
Since 2020, we've been at the forefront of the Destroyer Enterprise, working alongside other industry leaders like Navantia, Thales, and Raytheon. Our collective mission? To work with the Navy and the Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Group (NSSG) to ensure the readiness and sustainment of the Hobart class ‘DDG’ Destroyers.
From 2024, there will be a significant shift. The Destroyer Enterprise is transitioning into the Commonwealth’s Maritime Sustainment Model, and we will take on the role of the Destroyer Capability Life Cycle Manager – or CLCM for short.
It's a landmark move – the first time this has been done for an in-service class of ships in Australia. And the best part? It opens up a whole new door of opportunities for interns, graduates and prospective employees, right here in Sydney!
But don’t just take our word for it — hear from our interns about what it’s like to work with the mighty Destroyers on Garden Island.
My name is Shaleen and I completed a Project Management Intern role on Garden Island working in the BAE Systems Australia Destroyer Enterprise. Currently I am doing a double degree in Software Engineering and Project Management with the University of Sydney. I plan on doing an exchange program this year, spending a semester in London, and yes, my bank account will hate me for that.
I have always aimed to work in the defence industry, and starting out at BAE Systems as one of my first professional roles was more than I could ask for.
My first month was extremely surreal. I could not get used to seeing warships ‘parked’ right outside my desk window!
Despite not understanding the language of acronyms everyone seemed to speak in, it was exciting to hear and talk about the work I’d be contributing to. The weekly stand-up team meetings and ‘Clear Lower Deck meetings’ with the Navy and other industry partners were something I admired very much.
I loved the level of collaboration and frequency of communication from the senior leadership team across the whole Enterprise. It kept me involved, motivated and created a sense of purpose and value for my work that I hadn’t felt before.
The months that I’ve spent at BAE Systems, that I hope turns into years, has been a greatly stimulating experience. The culture, the views from Garden Island, the people and the work itself are embedded into what I want out my career. To say my time here has been memorable would be an understatement. Hopefully I’ll be back here very soon.
As a Systems Engineering Intern I was given the opportunity to attend various business related meetings as well as having tasks of reviewing, reading and making templates for various engineering changes, reports and drawings.
As I finish my final year at the University of Western Sydney, this internship has provided me with a massive leap into the defence industry and has helped me confirm the path I would like my career to follow. The Destroyer sustainment program has also introduced me to various other programs that I would like to experience, including Nulka, STRIX and other drone related fields. The friendly environment from BAE Systems has inspired me to continue my career at this organisation.
As a Naval Architect Intern in the Destroyer Enterprise engineering change function I was embedded in a highly talented and driven team of engineering change officers.
This was my first industry experience and quickly became an invaluable learning opportunity that really helped me to contextualise my study within the reality of working as an engineer.
I was able to engage with a wide range of activities across multiple engineering changes. I was able to review engineering investigations, contribute feedback to designs, and interact with subject matter experts both within BAE Systems and other companies in the Destroyer enterprise.
I have to say that the highlight was getting to go aboard the Destroyers and seeing the vessels that I was working on in person. It’s just a truly indescribable experience.
As an electrical engineering student at the University of Sydney, this Internship has far exceeded my expectations of the kind of work I could contribute to.
Stationed in the sustainment department for the RAN’s Destroyer class ships I have been able to review and comment on many different facets such as electrical schematics, safety for our sailors, and new additions to ensure our ships are the best they can be.
I have gained real practical knowledge that I can use to guide my further development no matter what direction I choose.
This, coupled with the connections I have made with other interns and the engineers that come from many different disciplines, makes BAE Systems one of the most compelling businesses to pour my efforts into. I would thoroughly recommend anyone with the opportunity to intern with BAE Systems to put it at the top of the list.
During my Mechanical Engineering Internship with the Destroyer Enterprise sustainment team I gained invaluable hands-on experience and deepened my expertise in various areas of mechanical engineering.
From collaborating with experienced engineers, and tackling real world challenges in the maintenance and upgrades of the Destroyers, I developed my reviewing and analytical skills. I’ve been involved in numerous projects that have given me the opportunity to take part in ship visits on Destroyers HMAS Sydney, HMAS Hobart, and HMAS Brisbane and inspect various mechanical systems.
The exposure to intricate systems and new technologies in the defence industry has been immensely enriching.
Guidance from experienced BAE Systems employees, opportunities for growth, and the complex yet rewarding projects have reinforced my desire to continue contributing to BAE Systems, where the potential for innovation is real.
I’m a final year Mechanical Engineering and Commerce (Finance) student at UNSW, Sydney. My time as an Intern at BAE Systems over the summer at the Destroyer Enterprise was an unforgettable first experience into industry.
Working under the Engineering Change Officers, I was exposed to a multitude of challenging and fascinating mechanical engineering challenges on the Hobart class Destroyers, as a constituent in managing and resolving the engineering changes to solve problems.
The experienced truly allowed me to utilise the theoretical engineering knowledge that I’ve gained at university, applying and developing my skills to a rewarding, real-world tangible project. Being able to witness the process and outcome of these engineering changes was a fantastic and rewarding opportunity which was experienced through ship tours aboard the three Hobart class Destroyers whilst in dock at Garden Island. I’m incredibly excited for future opportunities at BAE Systems to develop my skills and grow my engineering career.
I have had the amazing opportunity to immerse myself in the dynamic Intern role of a Supply Support Analyst.
My time at BAE Systems Australia has been an eye-opening journey, providing me the opportunity to bridge theoretical skills taught in class with real-life situations and problems.
I have encountered a diverse range of challenges which pushed me outside of my comfort zone and forced me to further innovate and refine my skills. These tasks and challenges range from conducting analytical work, to reviewing key processes, managing relationships with other departments, and more.
Furthermore, the internship has provided an environment that facilitates collaborative engagement, allowing me to foster relationships with various professionals who each specialise in distinct facets of the supply support network. Through this, I have been able to gain a holistic perspective into the intricacies of the supply chain, and how each component interconnects with one another.
I am confident that the experiences and skills I have learnt during my time here will continue to guide me as I move on to the next chapter of my journey.
Based at Sydney’s Garden Island Naval base, BAE Systems continues to grow our capability on the Destroyer Program, including recruiting people across a wide variety of roles and levels, ahead of Australia’s first major Capability Life Cycle Manager contract which officially kicks off in July 2024.
Career opportunities at Garden Island
- Find out more about early careers opportunities, including internships, our graduate program, and traineeships.
- Search for current opportunities across our business – put ‘Sydney’ in the location field for positions with the Destroyer Enterprise.