About the Job

The maintenance of our avionics systems is vital to the operation of the Air Force. This makes the Avionics Technician role essential. In this role, you’re responsible for the ongoing maintenance of avionics systems and equipment at either flightline or workshop level.

This equipment may include instrumentation, communication, navigation, surveillance, radar, electronic warfare systems, self-protection and explosive ordnance systems, automatic flight control systems, oxygen systems and electrical power generation and distribution systems. You will also have the opportunity to undertake flightline operations, including launching and recovery of aircraft.

What you'll do

As an Avionics Technician, you’ll maintain and repair electronics systems on some of the world’s most advanced military aircraft, such as the P-8A Poseidon, C-17A Globemaster III or F-35A Lightning II.

The nature of this role means there is plenty of variety and opportunities to apply your trade. Your day-to-day tasks could include:

  • Aircraft flightline handling and replenishment.
  • Aircraft oxygen replenishment.
  • Inspection, removal and installation, test and troubleshooting of aircraft avionic and oxygen components and systems at all levels of maintenance.
  • Disassembly and reassembly of aircraft components.
  • Preparation and use of aircraft support equipment.
  • Manufacture and repair of aircraft electrical looms and antenna cables.
  • Perform aircraft reconfigurations, upgrades and modifications.
  • Identification and demanding of aircraft spares.
  • Preparation and packaging of technical equipment for transportation.
  • Amendment and maintenance of technical publications.
  • Inspection, maintenance, servicing, repair test and fault diagnosis of electronic and electrical components and systems.

Training and Career progression

We’ll provide you with all the training and knowledge you need to kickstart your career in this role during your Initial Employment Training (IET). You’ll receive a nationally recognised qualification and be paid to do it. Plus, there’s plenty of opportunities to develop in this specialised career.

With further experience in this role, in the future you’ll have the opportunity to apply for more additional training and education options, leading to potential employment within areas such as Electronic Warfare, Non-Destructive Inspection and Testing or within Project Offices.

Additional Information

This is no ordinary technician role. You’ll become an integral part of the Air Force, working with the world’s leading aircraft as you help protect our country. That’s not something you’d find in everyday civilian life.

During your career you may also have opportunities to work on aircraft belonging to the Navy and Army, and be employed within Navy or Army Units.

If you’re good with your hands, enjoy electronic/electrical hobbies, work well in a team and are naturally curious, you’ll go far in this highly rewarding and specialised career that’s integral to the Air Force. We’ll provide the training; you just need to bring your ambition.

In-service Information

In the Air Force this role is known as Avionics Technician (AVTECH).


Key Information

Preparing for Your Recruitment Process

This document provides information that will assist applicants for roles in the Navy, Army and Air Force, including details about the recruitment process, how to prepare yourself for assessment, and what to expect if you are successful in joining the Australian Defence Force.

National Qualifications

Defence is a nationally Registered Training Organisation (RTO). This registration allows the Defence RTO to issue national awards to ADF members, which are the same as those provided by Universities and other Institutes of TAFE.

Following completion of the Avionics Technician course and successful attainment of the competency standards, you will be issued with a Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Avionics) or its successor to meet Defence capability.

Salary & Allowances

In the Air Force you'll get paid a good salary from day one regardless of your age, experience or qualifications; and your pay increases as you progress through training.

In addition to your salary you'll receive a variety of allowances, extra pay for relevant qualifications – plus 16.4% superannuation, a far higher rate than you're likely to find in the civilian world.


For more details download our Salary Scales.


Locations

You may be posted to most Air Force bases and other Defence establishments within Australia, however initial postings will generally be to Air Force bases housing flying Squadrons. Limited opportunities exist for future postings to overseas locations.


Requirements

Age

You can start your application at sixteen and a half years but you must be at least seventeen years on the day you join the Air Force.

The maximum age that you can join is sixty years, minus the period of obligation.

For example, if your obligation is six years, you can join at fifty-four years.

Education & Experience

It is essential that you have completed Year 10 with passes in English, Maths and Science (with a Physics component). This is the minimum standard required to facilitate understanding of the engineering principles taught on the initial training course.

Note: Consumer Maths, General Maths, Mathematics (General Mathematics) and similarly 'modified' Maths subjects are not suitable for this job.

Medical & Fitness

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

You will also be required to pass a physical fitness test before enlistment.

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

Period of Service

Your initial obligation will be for six years. However, there is a grace period where you can choose to resign from the Air Force up until the time you become eligible to graduate from your Initial Employment Training.

Subsequent periods of service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service.

Additional Requirements

Further Requirements:

  • Well-developed hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity.
  • High level of oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Advanced analytical and problem solving skills.
  • Strong attention to detail and appreciation of safety requirements.
  • Ability to work under pressure and in a wide range of environments.
  • Comfortable working in confined spaces and working at heights.
  • High level of maturity, accountability and integrity, and ability to work as part of a team.

Licence Requirements:

At a minimum, candidates must hold a valid Australian State or Territory provisional/probationary C Class Drivers Licence upon enlistment/appointment. Candidates with suspended or cancelled licences will not be eligible to join until the suspension or cancellation has been lifted or has expired.

Aptitude

The Job Opportunities Assessment (JOA) is completed as part of the application process to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Some jobs may also require you to complete a further evaluation at a later date.

The JOA is used by Defence to establish suitability for ADF entry, and then identify jobs that best match your abilities.

Further information about the JOA can be found in the Guide to the Job Opportunities Assessment for the ADF.

To get a feel for the types of questions that are used in the JOA and how they will look on your screen some examples can be found in the Job Opportunities Assessment Example Questions.

Citizenship

To serve in the ADF you must be an Australian Citizen.

If you are a permanent resident of Australia, the ADF may consider a temporary deferral of the citizenship requirement if the position for which you are applying cannot be filled by an applicant who meets all the citizenship requirements, and then only in exceptional circumstances. You will be required to obtain Australian Citizenship as early as possible following enlistment or appointment.

Find out more in our Citizenship page or ask your local ADF Careers Centre.

Security Requirements

The Department of Defence requires ADF employees to have a security clearance appropriate to their employment.

A process of background checks, collection of relevant information and if required, interviews, enables the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) to make an informed assessment of an applicant's suitability for a security clearance.

The minimum security clearance level required is Negative Vetting Level 1 (NV1), and current policy requires applicants to have a checkable background for the previous 10 years.

This means applicants must provide credible referees (non-family members) who are able to provide information about the applicant covering an extended period of time. Required information for an NV1 includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Residence
  • Employment
  • Education
  • Financial information
  • Travel

Some ADF jobs may require a higher level of security clearance such as Negative Vetting Level 2 (NV2) or Positive Vetting (PV). Your individual circumstances will determine the number and complexity of the questions and the supporting documents required for these levels.

Australian Citizenship is a requirement for a security clearance and a clearance will only be granted to a non-citizen in exceptional circumstances.

The security clearance is critical to an applicant's successful progression through the recruiting process. It is strongly recommended that all applicants action the Security Clearance Package (ePack) and provide the required documentation without delay to provide the best opportunity to commence training and be employed in their preferred employment category.

For more detailed information on the security vetting process and specific clearance level requirements set by AGSVA, please refer to the AGSVA website.

Support will be provided by your ADF Careers Centre during the initial application process.

Training

Military Training

Location: RAAF Base Wagga, NSW
Duration: 9 weeks

During this training you will transition from civilian to Service life, acquiring the basic knowledge, skills and physical fitness required for your role; and learning to become an effective and productive member of the Air Force.

Follow the link to learn more about what to expect at No. 1 Recruit Training Unit (1RTU)

Employment Training

Avionics Technician Course

Duration: 53 and a half weeks - not including any time taken for Christmas leave. This is an approximate duration and may be subject to change.

Location: RAAF School of Technical Training (RAAFSTT) at RAAF Base Wagga (NSW).

Training Philosophy

The training philosophy adopted by Air Force for Avionics Technician Technical Training is based on the requirements of the MEA18 Aeroskills Training Package and is aligned to the Competency Standards required for a Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Avionics).

Whilst undertaking Initial Employment Training (IET) at RAAFSTT, training for Avionics Technicians includes:

  • Technical hand skills.
  • Aircraft general safety.
  • Flight servicing and marshalling.
  • ADF aviation maintenance documentation.
  • ADF Technical Airworthiness regulation.
  • Aircraft maintenance training, including component removal and installation and inspection, testing, and troubleshooting of a variety of avionics systems and subsystems.

Upon completion of IET, trainees graduate as Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman (AC/W) Avionics Fitter (AVFITT) Grade 1 and are posted to a unit to undergo further skills consolidation and on-the-job training.

Trade progression

As an Avionics Technician, you are required to consolidate your training through work experience and you could expect to complete the Certificate IV requirements within 24 months after you graduate from IET. After 12 months’ effective service post IET, you will be eligible to be regraded to AVFITT2 and promoted to Leading Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman (LAC/W). After a minimum of 24 months’ effective service post IET, and successful completion of all Certificate IV competency requirements, you are then eligible to be regraded to Avionics Technician.

Following a further 24 months’ experience as an LAC/LACW Avionics Technician, and the successful completion of pre-requisite training and satisfactory performance, you will be eligible for consideration for promotion to CPL and/or regrade to Avionics Technician Supervisor (ASPVR). Advancement through the ranks to Warrant Officer is in competition with other Avionics Technicians.

Further Training

Technician Progression Options

There are a number of career options that provide for employment beyond Avionics Technician however, in every instance, advancement is competitive and strictly according to Service requirements, regardless of which career path you choose. The following options are available:

Progression through Promotion

You may choose to remain within the Avionics Technician career pathway and seek advancement through the Supervisor and Technical Manager skills grades to the rank of Warrant Officer. This career option provides a wide variety of employment options either working directly on aircraft or within aviation support staff roles at project offices, training establishments, regulatory authorities, or within higher headquarter units.

After completing your initial six year obligation, you can also apply for non-technical roles within areas such as personal management, workforce planning, Military Skills Instructing and the Australian Federation Guard, and you might further consider applying for Promotion to Officer Rank within selected categories.

Alternate career pathway to Non-Destructive Inspection Technician (NDITECH).

As an Avionics Technician, you are also provided with an opportunity to undergo competitive selection and training leading to remuster to NDITECH. Once you complete NDI training, you will progress from NDITECH Grade 1 to Grade 2, then progress through the ranks to Warrant Officer in competition with other NDITECH members.