15 Jobs In The Defence Industry (Plus Roles And Salaries)

The defence industry designs, develops and manufactures products for the military to deter war and keep the country safe from threats. Most people associate the defence industry with only roles related to the military, while there is a wide range of career options within this sector. Knowing the roles available in this industry can help you make informed decisions about the career path that suits your interests. In this article, we discuss some jobs in the defence industry, provide salary information for each role and explain their primary duties.

15 Jobs In The Defence Industry

The following are some jobs in the defence industry to consider:

1. Aircraft engineer

National average salary: ₹7,04,690 per year

Primary duties: An aircraft maintenance engineer maintains aircraft and ensures they are safe to operate. Their responsibility involves performing scheduled maintenance throughout the aircraft's lifecycle and responding to any technical issues of a plane during flight. These professionals can specialise in repairing parts or components like engines, hydraulics, or general airframe repair. They typically work within an engineering team alongside other engineers and technicians who may be responsible for different parts of the aircraft.

Related: How Much Does An Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Make?

2. Electronic systems design engineer

National average salary: ₹5,69,997 per year

Primary duties: Electronic systems design engineers work with circuits and electronics to create systems that perform specific tasks within devices and machines. They may often start by researching what their system can offer and the purpose of designing one before drawing plans for how it might work and creating a prototype using computer-aided design (CAD) software or a 3D printer. Then, they test their prototypes for performance and reliability before making any adjustments as necessary.

3. Senior software engineer

National average salary: ₹10,07,709 per year

Primary duties: Software engineers specialising in the defence industry typically work with computer hardware and software systems, which the military uses to monitor threats or support operations. The military requires its software to be highly reliable, secure and not fail under pressure. As a senior software engineer, you might direct a team of software engineers as they create new products or develop existing ones. You may require excellent leadership skills and a thorough overview of all stages of the product development process.

Related: What Is Software Engineering? Complete Guide

4. Project manager

National average salary: ₹9,40,462 per year

Primary duties: As with any industry that uses complex systems, defence organisations usually require professionals with project management skills. Project managers typically manage large projects involving many people or several at once, with varying degrees of freedom. Their roles in the defence industry usually involve handling timelines, budgets, resources and quality controls.

Related: What Does A Project Manager Do? (Duties And Qualification)

5. Intelligence analyst

National average salary: ₹6,40,962 per year

Primary duties: Intelligence analysts usually work for the government and military and can also work for private companies on a contract basis. They gather information about threats and vulnerabilities that may affect national security. This duty involves researching sources, such as news reports, social media and government databases, to identify potential risks to the country.

6. IT security specialist

National average salary: ₹10,23,357 per year

Primary duties: IT security specialists protect computer networks and data from unauthorised access and attack. This duty typically involves monitoring networks to track activity and identify vulnerabilities so that the units can address these to avoid a breach. The role of IT security specialists may also include educating users about cybersecurity issues, such as malware threats and phishing attacks. They also help design and implement new secure systems, test alternative approaches to identify vulnerabilities, provide expert advice on the development of software and hardware products, write reports, and create presentations to communicate findings to seniors.

Related: How Much Does A Cyber Security Personnel Make? (With Skills And Types)

7. Field service technician

National average salary: ₹2,46,012 per year

Primary duties: Field service technicians work with weapons and vehicles, installing, testing and repairing electronic systems. They may also provide technical advice to the soldiers that use those systems. Other times, they may require using diagnostic equipment to identify faults or problems with the systems, and repair them using their knowledge of electronics, mechanics and hydraulics.

8. Electronics technician

National average salary: ₹3,40,000 per year

Primary duties: Electronics technicians work on highly advanced, often specialist equipment and systems. They instal, maintain and repair electronic equipment found on both ships and shore establishments. Their role involves establishing and maintaining radar, communications, sonar and weapon control systems. They also work with other defence systems, such as data networks or satellite communications. These technicians typically work with a range of equipment, including computers, fibre optics, advanced electronics, lasers and microwave technology.

9. Mechanical engineer

National average salary: ₹3,52,835 per year

Primary duties: Mechanical engineers work in various industries, but have similar responsibilities. They design, test and build machines and devices that solve real-world problems. Within the defence industry, mechanical engineers may develop new technologies for combat situations or devices that help in maintaining existing equipment.

Related: What Does A Mechanical Engineer Do? (With Career Advice)

10. Communications manager

National average salary: ₹8,39,942 per year

Primary duties: The communication manager handles the company's public relations (PR) strategy. Their job is to enhance the company's image through marketing communications, such as press releases, advertisements, sales promotions and events. They are also responsible for developing the company's corporate identity through logos and signage. This role may require a candidate to work with internal teams, such as marketing and external contractors, even designers. Effective writing skills, along with the ability to communicate with clients, journalists and other media professionals, are essential for a communications manager.

11. Forensic science technician

National average salary: ₹5,00,000 per year

Primary duties: A forensic science technician is a trained professional who works for police departments and government agencies to help them solve crimes. They study evidence gathered from crime scenes and then decide whether the evidence collected is of any value so that the state can use it in the trial process. The job demands excellent attention to detail, accuracy and strong communication skills. The basic eligibility for this role is a B.Sc in Forensic Science, Bachelor of Technology (BTech) or Bachelor of Engineering (BE) degree in electronics engineering or computer science engineering.

Related: A Guide To Forensic Science Careers (With Salary Information)

12. Operations analyst

National average salary: ₹3,97,237 per year

Primary duties: Operations analysts use mathematical modelling and analysis to help solve complex problems for companies, government agencies and other organisations. These professionals can work in many fields, such as logistics or health care, but they all complete similar tasks. They gather data about the problem they are trying to solve, identify relationships between factors, create simulations and models to estimate future outcomes, present their findings to managers or other decision-makers and help implement the changes suggested by their analysis.

13. Quality assurance engineer

National average salary: ₹5,60,497 per year

Primary duties: Quality assurance engineers develop and execute software test plans to identify software problems, create quality metrics and analyse customer needs. They develop and update software testing processes by designing and implementing a plan for all new application development projects. The quality control engineers inspect product samples and finished products for defects, such as improper assembly or styling and check product dimensions to ensure they meet specifications. These engineers compute statistical evaluations of the quality of products or processes. Apart from these duties, they also maintain product quality and process flow records by collecting data from each production stage.

14. Technical advisor

National average salary: ₹7,81,000 per year

Primary duties: A technical advisor provides technical assistance to internal staff and external clients on matters related to the company's products or services. They usually maintain a thorough understanding of government regulations concerning products or services offered by the company. It is also essential for them to stay current with changes in government policies.

15. Project data analyst

National average salary: ₹4,61,655 per year

Primary duties: A project data analyst handles population generation and market analytics. This role may provide an innovative analytical approach to support decisions that can make clients' initiatives more effective. Project data analysts also interpret and analyse results using statistical techniques, provide ongoing reports, acquire data from primary or secondary sources and maintain databases or data systems. Also, they locate and define new process improvement opportunities to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the business development process.

Tips For Pursuing A Career Path In The Defence Industry

Listed below are some tips for finding jobs in the defence industry:

• Get a degree in engineering. Defence organisations require engineers across various specialisations, including mechanical, electronics, communication, computer science, electrical and civil engineering. A degree from a government recognised institute could increase your chances of getting a job in this field.

• Get a master's degree. Having a master's degree in related fields can help you increase your knowledge and competencies. This helps you get into top positions at defence organisations.

• Learn about computers and technology. As most countries rely heavily on technology for specific tasks, having technological proficiency is beneficial.

Salary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at time of writing. Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organisation and a candidate's experience, academic background and location.