Electrical Fitter Submariner
As an Electrical Fitter Submariner, you’ll play an important role in keeping Navy submarines fully operational and mission ready while working towards a nationally recognised qualification. Working on board and on shore, you’ll operate and maintain the submarine’s electrical systems, including hydraulics, refrigeration and high voltage power generation.
What you'll do
On any given day, you’ll be working as part of a team, operating engineering systems and conducting maintenance to ensure the electrical and mechanical systems onboard your submarine are capable of handling whatever a mission might throw at them. You’ll gain new skills and work towards a Certificate III in Electrical Fitting. There are also opportunities to gain further qualifications up to and including a Diploma. Best of all, you’ll be paid from day one, whether you already have a trade, you’re an apprentice or you’re just starting out.
Your duties may include:
- operating and maintaining electrical generation and distribution
- operating propulsion systems
- domestic and associated mechanical services
- maintaining main and auxiliary machinery
- maintaining automatic and remote-control systems
- operating and maintaining hydraulics
- maintaining air conditioning and refrigeration systems
- maintaining ventilation systems
- maintaining Submarine Main Storage Batteries
- working with electrical power generation and high voltage systems.
As a submariner, you'll also perform additional general duties that support the whole submarine, including:
- submarine security, firefighting and replenishment at sea
- boarding party, first aid, flood repair and flight deck
- assisting with medical, ammunitioning or ceremonial duties
- shift work, or on-call duties as required
- loading, unloading and testing submarine weapons (missiles, torpedoes and mines).
Opportunities for progression and upskilling continue throughout your career. As you progress, the Navy will provide you with development opportunities to assist you with your increasing leadership responsibility, as well as further education and specialised training within your chosen role. This will set you up to run a highly skilled team of sailors in a variety of tasks, both at sea and ashore.
Following training, you’ll spend the majority of your career based out of HMAS Stirling, WA. There are a limited number of other shore postings available at various locations around Australia.
Discover where the Navy operates across Australia on our base locations map.
Requirements and training
You must be an Australian citizen to serve in the ADF. However, Australian permanent residents may be eligible. For more details, visit the "Citizenship" tab on the Eligibility Requirements page.
You can apply for a role in the ADF from 16.5 years of age and must be at least 17 to join. The maximum age to join is 57 years.
You don’t need a driver’s licence for this role but if you have one, it can’t be suspended or cancelled.
All ADF members require a security clearance. As an ADF member, you’ll need to obtain the appropriate level of security clearance for your role. You’ll need a collection of relevant information including background checks and/or interviews so the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) can make an informed assessment to ensure the protection of Government resources and information. Your Careers Coach will explain what level of clearance is required for the career you are considering.
For more information or to learn about how security clearance will apply to you, view the eligibility requirements page.
Completion of Year 10 (or equivalent) education required with passes in English and Maths. If you haven't completed Year 10 but are interested in joining, the ADF may be able to support your application.
Note: Consumer Maths, Maths in Society and similarly 'modified' maths are not suitable for this job. Year 10 Trade and Business Maths is acceptable.
To join the Navy, you must be healthy and physically fit. This is partially assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering your medical history, followed by a physical examination.
Once you join, Navy will support your physical conditioning to ensure you're prepared to serve. You'll also have access to chef-made meals, gyms, sports and fitness sessions run by physical training instructors. Throughout your Navy career, you’ll be expected to conduct an annual fitness test which includes a plank as well as either a beep test or run/walk or swim.
During the application process, you’ll be assessed through completion of a questionnaire relating to your medical history and a physical examination.
The Navy swim test
During Navy Military Training, whether heading to the New Entry Sailor Course (Recruit School) or the New Entry Officer Course, you'll need to pass a swim test wearing your Navy uniform to graduate. This includes:
- safety jump off a 3m tower
- 10m underwater swim
- 50m swim using survival strokes
- treading water or floating for 15 minutes.
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.
You’ll be enlisted for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of 3 years. Subsequent periods of service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service. You’ll have a Careers Coach who can advise on how IMPS will relate to your chosen occupation and personal situation.
You may request discharge at any time provided you do not have an outstanding IMPS obligation.
Course: New Entry Sailor Course (NESC)
Duration: 10 weeks
Location: Recruit School at HMAS Cerberus, Vic
You’ll conduct your initial sailor training at the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Recruit School prior to commencing specific category training. The NESC course is designed to prepare you to conduct basic duties as a sailor.
NESC Course
- Physical fitness: General fitness and the Navy swim test.
- Military life: General service knowledge including drill and ceremonial procedures.
- Specialty skills: Weapons training, workplace safety, first aid and sailing.
- Navy skills: Seamanship, corrosion control, survival at sea and fire and flood control.
After successfully completing all components of the course, you’ll participate in a Graduation Parade to mark the occasion. You’ll have the opportunity to invite family and friends to view the parade.
On completion of your NESC course, you’ll proceed to your respective employment training.
Course: Marine Technician Initial Technical Training
Duration: 5 weeks
Location: Technical Training Faculty, HMAS Cerberus, Vic
This course provides you with the appropriate level of knowledge and skills required to successfully complete the subsequent trade and marine system technician components of Initial Employment Training.
Marine Technician Submariner – Electrical Employment Training:
Course: Stage 1 – Marine Technician Electrical Initial Employment Technical Training
Duration: 15 weeks
Location: Technical Training Faculty, HMAS Cerberus, Vic
Course: Stage 2 – Marine Technician Electrical Initial Employment Training (TAFE UEE 33020)
Duration: 16 weeks
Location: Dandenong TAFE, Vic
Course: Stage 3 – MT Electrical Initial Employment Training (Cerberus UEE33020). Training (TAFE UEE 33020)
Duration: 10 weeks
Location: Technical Training Faculty, HMAS Cerberus, Vic
The UEE33020 package is offered as an Intensive Delivery Method through HMAS Cerberus, with the Task Evidence Journal being completed as part of the apprenticeship after joining the Fleet. On completion of the Intensive Delivery Method and Task Evidence Journal, you’ll be awarded the Certificate, and trade.
Course: Marine Systems Foundation (MSF)
Duration: 14 weeks
Location: Technical Training Faculty, HMAS Cerberus, Vic
The aim of MSF is to contextualise trade skills in a maritime environment and to introduce the concept of operating and monitoring marine systems. The course provides the first exposure to watch keeping and develops underpinning knowledge to assist in successfully completing your maritime training.
Course: Navy Specific Marine Technician – Electrical Training
Duration: 5 weeks
Location: Technical Training Faculty, HMAS Cerberus, Vic
This course teaches you to take your current electrical skills and knowledge and apply it in the marine environment. This can be on Navy ships and other platforms. At the completion of this course Electrical Fitter Submariners transition to Trained Force (TF) signifying completion of Initial Employment Training and able to conduct maintenance under supervision on submarine systems.
Course: Initial Collins Class Course (ICCC)
Duration: 5 weeks
Location: Submarine Training Systems Centre, HMAS Stirling, WA
Consists of a series of computer based and instructor-based modules that introduces you to how the systems and construction make up the submarines. You will also undertake Submarine Firefighting and Submarine Escape courses during this 5-week period.
Course: Submariner Platform Systems Operator Course
Duration: 7 weeks
Location: Submarine Training Systems Centre, HMAS Stirling, WA
This course teaches you about the systems specific to the Collins Class Submarine, where you adapt your training to the systems you will be working on at sea.
There are opportunities to obtain further qualifications (up to and including a bachelor’s degree) as you advance through the Marine Technician Submariner - Electrical Career Continuum.
You’ll have opportunities to earn the Certificate IV qualifications listed below as well as a Diploma in Engineering:
- Certificate IV in Electrical Distribution and Fluid Power
- Certificate IV in Condition Monitoring and Instrumentation
- Certificate IV in AC and Refrigeration.
If you display the correct aptitude and leadership qualities, and satisfy ADF Officer requirements, you may have an opportunity to pursue a Bachelor of Engineering degree.