Your career in the defence industry.
Date: 2019-03-12
Institutions: Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs
Subjects: common security and defence policy, defence policy, innovation, professional career, research and development

Your career 
in the defence 
industry

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Y O U R   C A R E E R  

I N   T H E   D E F E N C E  

I N D U S T R Y

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An important 
role to play in 
the EU’s future

The EU’s defence industry employs more 
than 500,000 people and also supports 
1,200,000 jobs indirectly within local 
economies across Europe. It attracts 
talented and skilled people to a wide range 
of careers, from business, engineering, 
manufacturing and maintenance to cyber, 
data analytics and more.

A career in the defence industrial sector 
can take a variety of different paths and 
offers many opportunities from training to 
management. Europe is home to some of the 
most advanced industrial capabilities, 
both in terms of skilled labour and high-
tech infrastructure, and hosts firms that are 
competitive throughout the world. Companies 
that are part of the European defence, 
technological and industrial base help secure 
the EU’s ability to face emerging and ever-
changing global challenges. They also bring 
further benefits to the EU economy through 
profits, job creation, skills and innovation. 

The sector includes several large industrial 
groups and a considerable number of 

smaller and mid-sized companies, which 
are often at the forefront of cutting-edge 
innovation. Research and development 
are fundamental to drive the development 
of products that will secure the EU’s military 
strength for the future and keep Europe 
competitive on the global market. Some of 
these technologies spill into other sectors 
such as civil aviation, space and electronics, 
also boosting the competitiveness of those 
sectors.

As well as being strategically and 
economically important, the defence 
industry also provides exciting work 
opportunities because of its diversity. Over 
the years, many larger companies have 
developed a strong global presence, 
providing opportunities for their staff to 
work in different countries, languages 
and cultures. Similar opportunities are 
available thanks to European multinational 
programmes that jointly invest, develop 
and operate defence equipment, such as 
remotely piloted aircraft systems.

What are  
capabilities?

The term ‘capability’ 
covers not only 
defence equipment but 
also the supporting 
people, infrastructure, 
communication 
systems and other 
aspects that help the 
military to achieve its 
aims.

YOUR CAREER IN THE DEFENCE INDUSTRY4

Y O U R   C A R E E R  

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A role to  
suit everyone

EU defence companies present a 
wide range of opportunities for early 
careers. From aircraft to submarines, 
from cyber to robotics, the sector tackles 
complex technological and engineering 
challenges for all defence requirements. 
The defence industry designs, manufactures 
and supports a diverse range of equipment, 
from nanoscale products to warships, the 
underlying systems critical for military 
operations. Even within one company, the 
work can span many different projects as 
technology and innovation are constantly 
pushed to the limits to achieve better, 
more reliable product performance. Many 
companies have portfolios crossing between 
defence and civil products, so-called ‘dual 
use’ goods, software and technology. 

Work in the EU defence industry spans 
all stages of the defence equipment life 
cycle (see Figure 1) and beyond. There is 
a need for people with skills ranging from 
strategic planning and project management 
to the development of new technologies. 
The defence sector draws talent from 
a range of academic and vocational 
backgrounds including science, technology, 
engineering and mathematics (STEM), 
the arts, humanities, social sciences, 
manufacturing, computer science, law and 
accounting. 

As armed forces have bases all across 
Europe, so too do defence companies. From 
north to south and from east to west, EU 
defence firms are situated all over Europe, 

Y O U R   C A R E E R  

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offering exciting careers in different areas 
and boosting regional economies. Defence 
companies also maintain fruitful links 
with local schools, universities and 
research institutions, collaborating on 
joint projects, industry placement schemes 
and the exchange of knowledge.

The defence industry offers 
opportunities for all and continues to 
attract a growing number of women into 

defence roles. Women provide ambitious 
strategic leadership, filling management 
roles, engineering posts, careers in 
manufacturing and operational support 
as well as wider commercial and business 
services (including legal, accounting, IT, 
human resources and communications). 
Skilled professionals at all levels also provide 
important mentoring to younger staff, 
promoting career growth and wellbeing in 
the workplace.

Figure 1. Defence industry employees work across all the stages of the defence equipment life cycle

MANAGEMENT

ENGINEERING

MANUFACTURE

MAINTENANCE

DISPOSAL

projects, 
programmes, 
people

design, 
development, 
testing

building, welding, 
assembling, 
testing

repair,  
overhaul, 
replacing, testing

demilitarising, 
removing or sealing 
hazardous materials

SUPPORT

IT, legal, HR, 
comms

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A starring 
role in Europe

According to the EU Global Strategy from 
June 2016, EU citizens and the world need 
a Europe that takes greater responsibility 
for its own security: to deter, respond to 
and protect itself against external threats. 
To do so, the EU needs credible defence 
capabilities and the ability to use them when 
required without depending on others. The 
ability to develop and use such capabilities 
with at least some degree of strategic 
autonomy relies on having certain key skills 
within Europe. This is only possible thanks 
to a strong, first-class defence industry 
and the people who work within it.

The defence industry plays a vital role in 
delivering defence equipment to European 
armed forces. This enables the armed 
forces to respond to external crises and 
to guarantee Europe’s safety and security. 
Across the EU, defence industries produce 
a wide range of equipment that the armed 

What used to be known as stable,  
single-track, often ‘siloed’ employment is 
transforming into a dynamic professional 
development opportunity, attractive at 
different stages of one’s career. 

Christina Balis, Director of Services and  
Product Strategy, Qinetiq

1  ASD Facts and Figures 2017

forces need to fulfil their missions. The 
industry also maintains and services the 
equipment to ensure it is ready when 
required. What this means is that the armed 
forces rely on the defence industry to 
develop, produce, maintain and support the 
equipment they need, when they need it. The 
industry is therefore critical for Europe’s 
ability to act independently and 
decisively in its security and defence. 

The EU defence industry serves not only the 
armed forces of each individual EU member 
state but also Europe as a whole. It directly 
contributes to the EU’s ability to provide 
security and safety to its citizens and to 
keep a strategically important role globally. 

The EU's defence industry also enhances 
the EU’s credibility as a global player. It 
helps the EU to deliver its Common Security 
and Defence Policy as it provides the EU 
and its member states with technologically 
advanced, globally competitive products 
superior to those held by potential 
adversaries. These innovative products stem 
from large defence companies as well as 
small and medium-sized enterprises. Their 
ability to compete with other products on 
the market is proven by the €42bn value of 
defence exports achieved by the EU defence 
industry in 2016.1 

YOUR CAREER IN THE DEFENCE INDUSTRYY O U R   C A R E E R  

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Staying ahead 
of the game

Advances in technology hold great potential 
for the EU but they also can present it with 
new and greater risks if used maliciously. 
Ensuring that Europe remains able to deter 
and respond to technologically advanced 
threats is one of the main tasks for the 
defence industry and its employees. 
Innovation is key to maintaining 
Europe’s operational advantage into  
the future. 

Cutting-edge innovation is a vital pursuit 
of the EU’s defence sector. This means 
pushing the boundaries of physics 

and engineering in a way that applies 
technology to real-world problems. From 
basic research to full-scale manufacturing, 
the EU defence industry offers opportunities 
for talented people to work on innovative 
solutions at all stages of the defence 
equipment life cycle.

Creative solutions drive the development of 
advanced military capability using advanced 
tools and processes such as augmented 
reality and big data analytics. The defence 
industry uses the automation, digitalisation 
and integration of different systems and 

YOUR CAREER IN THE DEFENCE INDUSTRY9

networks to harness the benefits of the 
new industrial revolution. From autonomous 
systems to wireless energy transfer, the 
industry is actively pushing technology limits 
for better performance, greater reliability and 
thus better service to the armed forces and 
EU citizens. 

The EU defence industry is constantly 
developing new technologies, with thousands 
of patents granted to companies for 
innovative ideas and products. Advanced 
solutions and technological applications make 
EU defence products attractive within Europe 
but also competitive on the global market. 
As many companies are active in both civil 
and defence sectors, innovation can spill 
over from one part of the business to 

another, as well as outside of the defence 
industry, benefiting the wider economy. 

Strong links are also maintained with 
academic researchers and national 
governments, tapping into early research 
and development (R&D) as well as broader 
initiatives. In 2016, EU Member States 
invested about €10bn in defence R&D 
to develop cutting-edge products that seek 
innovative answers to current and future 
challenges. Between 2017 and 2019 the 
European Commission made available 
a further €90m for defence research, 
anticipating the launch of a fully fledged 
European defence research programme to 
which it is expected to contribute more than 
€4 billion between 2021 and 2027. 

Figure 2. Examples of technologies the EU defence industry works on 

Artificial 
intelligence 

Robotics and 
autonomous systems

Digital/advanced 
manufacturing

Big data, advanced 
analytics and simulation 

Horizontal and vertical 
systems integration

Biotechnologies and 
synthetic biology 

Cybersecurity and 
cloud technology 

Additive  
manufacturing 

Augmented and  
virtual reality 

Advanced propulsion 
and energy storage  

Novel sensors  

Nanotechnologies 

YOUR CAREER IN THE DEFENCE INDUSTRY10

Joining 
together for a 
stronger Europe 

To be a world leader, as outlined in the 
EU’s Global Strategy, EU countries need 
to cooperate on defence issues. This 
involves not only governments and the 
armed forces but also the defence industry, 
which plays a crucial part in creating, making 
and supporting defence equipment that is 
used across the EU. 

Joint equipment programmes, involving 
workers from around Europe, have existed 
for decades. Some of the most well known 
include the Eurofighter aircraft built 
by Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, and 
the A400M transport aircraft funded by 
Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and 
Switzerland. 

YOUR CAREER IN THE DEFENCE INDUSTRY11

Some defence industries are ‘European’ 
by design; for example MBDA, the missiles 
manufacturer, merged the guided missile 
divisions of Airbus, Leonardo and BAE 
Systems in 2001 and has sites in Germany, 
Italy, France and the UK. Airbus, Thales 
and Leonardo and others also have 
bases in many EU member states. 

An extensive chain of suppliers of various 
sizes supports the larger defence companies, 
providing parts for the assembly of their 
final products. The presence of these 
suppliers within Europe means that both the 
larger companies and the armed forces 
can rely on a secure supply of parts 
and components as and when needed. 
In this way, the European defence industry 
as a whole supports the EU’s ability to 
act decisively in the realm of defence and 
security. 

European defence companies – small and 
large – aim to bring together the technology, 
skills and infrastructure needed to develop 
defence capabilities for the future. They 
actively work together across national 
boundaries to create joint solutions to the 
challenges of tomorrow. Learning from 
each other and sharing innovation allows 
them to capitalise on the ‘best athletes’ in 
technological solutions. This means that all 
of Europe benefits from the combined 
excellence of the individual parts of the 
EU’s defence industrial base. 

A career in defence offers skilled 
young people the opportunity to work 
in an exciting, high-tech environment 
with like-minded colleagues.

Bertrand Carette, Strategic Workforce 
Planning, Safran

YOUR CAREER IN THE DEFENCE INDUSTRY12

Building on 
a legacy of 
innovation

The defence industry of today offers a 
unique opportunity to build on the 
history of innovation while looking into 
the future in an interconnected world. Many 
well-established defence companies can 
pride themselves on their heritage and also 
the many technologies and industries that 
have flourished as a result of their research 
and development. Joining an EU defence 
company may mean working for the firm 
that developed the first tank or the first ever 
air defence system. 

Industries such as aviation, electronics, 
mechanical systems, transport and space 
have benefited significantly from the 
technological solutions first developed 
in the defence sector. Today, this 
relationship goes both ways, with innovative 
high-tech products also flowing back into the 
defence sector from civil industry.

In recent decades, EU defence companies 
have also spread their business interests 
beyond Europe, establishing exciting working 

Figure 3. Innovations in the European defence sector 

Spanish engineer Juan de la Cierva’s 
'autogyro' sets the foundations for 
the development of the rotor head 
principle that would become a model 
for future helicopters

The first computer, 
Colossus, is created 
by Second World War 
British codebreakers 
and paves the way for 
unprecedented digital 
interconnectedness

The first rubber inflatable 
boats are developed by 
the airship industry and 
employed for life-saving 
rescue missions in the 
Second World War

1923

1934

1943

YOUR CAREER IN THE DEFENCE INDUSTRY13

Modern working environments

The EU defence industry uses innovative technology to optimise working environments to design, 
develop, manufacture and maintain products in an efficient and effective way. This is done by:

•  increasing automation within the workplace (especially in manufacturing); 

•  embedding virtual tools (such as virtual design tools);

•  using advanced tech to speed up processes (including the use of robots to inspect vehicles for 

maintenance purposes and bionic arms for lifting heavy items); 

•  digitalisation of processes and tools (including, for example, data-driven design, manufacture 

and maintenance)

opportunities around the world. European 
at heart but global in their outlook, these 
companies have strategic ambitions for 
a worldwide presence to ensure their 
resilience and competitiveness. For many 
employees international travel and inter-
cultural exchanges can thus become a part 
of their working life. 

The use of cutting-edge communication 
technologies is essential to allow the global 
sites and their employees to stay connected. 
EU defence companies continually adopt 
modern ways of working to offer their 
employees a productive and stimulating 
work environment. This is where challenge, 
innovation and excellence combine for the 
higher purpose of serving Europe and its people.

The first satellites are launched; 
today they can be used for advancing 
environmental research (for example, 
plastic pollution) and to gather transport 
and infrastructure data

Video games are 
developed; initially for 
recreation, they are 
now used in a range 
of sectors, contributing 
to activities such as 
physical rehabilitation 
and education

Graphene is discovered; the 
defence industry is primarily 
developing this material for 
superstrong and super-light 
vehicle structures, but it also has 
applications in areas such as 
medicine and energy storage

1966

1986

2004

YOUR CAREER IN THE DEFENCE INDUSTRY14

Case study

Frank Schindler
Head of IFF/COMMS 
Hensoldt

Description of my work 
As Head of IFF/COMMS I manage all 
customer contracts and product development 
in the domain of Communication systems 
and IFF (Identification Friend Foe) for 
military and civil clients operating aircraft, 
helicopters, ships, submarines and ground 
stations.

Why I choose to work in defence 
I have always liked to develop solutions 
that are driving technology to the edge. On 
the other hand I appreciate very much that 
with our IFF systems we protect our end 

customers from being attacked. Contributing 
to protecting lives gives meaning and a also 
good feeling at the end of the day. 

My top tip for a career in defence 
Defence is by nature an international 
business in Europe. Studying (partly) abroad, 
practising foreign languages and developing 
a cross-cultural awareness will help to ease 
relationships with diverse international 
partners. Being a real team player, working 
hard and staying customer-focused, with a 
real attention to their needs, will prepare you 
for a career in defence.

YOUR CAREER IN THE DEFENCE INDUSTRY15

The next  
step in your 
career journey

The EU’s defence industry is an exciting 
and diverse sector to be a part of and 
it is continually on the hunt for skilled and 
talented employees to ensure it stays at 
the top of its game. A strong defence sector 
allows EU countries to defend the EU and 
its interests against current and future 
challenges and gives it the ability to respond 
to threats in an agile and robust way. 

A range of factors will affect the future 
operating environment, which will need 

not only different types of military 
operations but also the development 
of new technologies and the innovative 
application of existing ones. The world-
class industrial, technical and scientific 
knowledge within the EU defence industry 
enables the development of military 
capabilities to secure and defend the people, 
interests and territory of the EU as well as to 
contribute to global security.

YOUR CAREER IN THE DEFENCE INDUSTRYThe information and views set out in this 
publication are those of the author(s) and do not 
necessarily reflect the official opinion of EASME 
or of the Commission. Neither EASME, nor the 
Commission can guarantee the accuracy of the 
data included in this study. Neither EASME, nor the 
Commission or any person acting on their behalf 
may be held responsible for the use which may 
be made of the information contained therein.

Image credits

Adobe stock 
Cover (row 2 left, row 3 left), pp.7–8, p. 13

Crown copyright 
Cover (row 1 centre, row 3 right), 
pp.10–11, p. 15 (left)

EUNAVFOR/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 
Cover (row 1 right), p. 5 (left)

Hensoldt 
Cover (row 1 left, row 2 centre & right, 
row 3 centre), p. 2, p. 4 (left), p. 5 (right), 
p. 14 (left), p. 15 (right)

This brochure has been produced within the framework of the European 
Defence Skills Partnership deliberations. The EDSP brings together industry, 
academia, authorities and innovation, research and vocational organisations 
to foster cooperation in building skills for the European defence industry.

The EDSP is financed by the COSME programme

© European Commission, 2019

Reproduction and reuse are authorised provided the source is acknowledged. The reuse 
policy of Commission documents is regulated by Decision 2011/833/EU (OJ 330, 
14.12.2011, p. 39). For any use or reproduction of photos or other material that is not 
under the EU copyright, permission must be sought directly from the copyright holders.

ISBN: 978-92-9202-440-6 doi: 10.2826/47849 Catalogue number: EA-02-19-177-EN-N