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Recruitment & executive search
Defence & National Security
Sovereign capability, delivered at pace.
Work8 recruits engineers, program leaders and executives for defence technology companies and sovereign capability programs, including cleared and clearance-eligible engineers (Baseline, NV1, NV2) and AUKUS Pillar II work.
Capabilities we recruit for
Uncrewed and autonomous platforms across maritime, land and air, C4ISR and command and control, electronic warfare, RF and sensing, counter-UAS, directed energy, guided weapons and hypersonics. AUKUS Pillar II, GWEO and sovereign industrial programs.
Roles we fill
- Systems engineers (MBSE, requirements, V&V)
- Test and evaluation leads
- Airworthiness and seaworthiness engineers
- Cleared engineers (Baseline, NV1, NV2)
- Capability, program and bid managers
- Security, DISP and export control (ITAR, DTC) specialists
Related case study
Anduril IndustriesHow we built the Sydney engineering team behind the XL-AUV, later named Ghost Shark, from 4 to 28 people in seven months.Tell us the problem you're hiring for, not just the job title.
Book a callQuestions
Common questions
- Who recruits defence and national security talent in Australia?
- Work8 is a Sydney-based boutique executive search firm that specialises in defence and national security hiring, among other deep tech fields. We recruit in Australia and to or from more than 24 countries, and have filled more than 1,100 executive and engineering roles.
- What defence and national security roles does Work8 fill?
- Typical roles include systems engineers (MBSE, requirements, V&V); test and evaluation leads; airworthiness and seaworthiness engineers; cleared engineers (Baseline, NV1, NV2); capability, program and bid managers; security, DISP and export control (ITAR, DTC) specialists. We also fill executive and technical leadership roles: CTOs, VPs of Engineering, Chief Engineers and Heads of Product.
- How does Work8 find candidates who are not on the market?
- We agree what the hire must deliver in their first 12 months, map the best teams in the field in Australia and overseas, and approach each person directly with a clear case for the role. Over 90% of the people we approach respond. Candidates are then assessed by people who know the domain, with structured, independently scored interviews and a work sample.
- How is Work8 paid?
- Fees are tied to outcomes: we are paid for the right hire, not the fastest CV. Retained and embedded models are available for larger programs and team builds.
Contact
Tell us what you're building.
Give us the problem. We'll show you who can solve it.