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Weapon Technician

Job Group

  • Rating

Job Availability

  • Full Time

The Role

One of the  key difference between the Navy’s warships and a commercial ship is the advanced weapons onboard. Weapons are ultimately the reason for the existence of a warship, and as a Weapon Technician you are the expert on these systems. You will be responsible for the testing, maintenance and repair of the ships arsenal of modern and accurate weaponry, which may include: small arms, torpedoes, surface to air missiles, Phalanx close in weapons systems, 25mm Bushmaster, the Mini typhoon and the ANZAC Frigate’s 5 inch gun.

You will learn to understand the weapons inside and out, to guarantee that they work first time, ensuring that a ship is ready to engage in combat if necessary. As a Weapon Technician you will work at sea and ashore and spend the majority of your time testing, fixing and maintaining the weaponry.

You will join the Navy as an Electronic Technician, before deciding on your specialised role as a Weapons Technician.

Job on Base

Weapon Technicians primarily work regular 8am to 4pm weekdays both at sea and ashore. There will be times however, when general duties, urgent repairs or preparations of systems for peacetime firings require work outside these hours.

Due to the high reliance on technology throughout the RNZN, employment opportunities for Weapon Technicians exist on most Royal New Zealand Navy Ships and also at shore establishments. This means Weapon Technicians may find themselves working at the Defence Armament Depot in Auckland or Devonport Naval Base undertaking training or employment.

Job on Deployment

Whilst at sea, Weapons Technicians are charged with the repair, maintenance and operational readiness of all weapons systems on board all New Zealand Warships. Outside of these duties you will also be expected to conduct whole ships activities which could be assisting Seamen with seamanship based activities or maintaining whole ship maintenance.

Career Progression

Upon completion of Basic Training you will conduct your Basic Branch Training which is also known as the Able Electronic Technicians Course. This course takes 44 weeks and teaches you the basics of becoming a Weapons Tech. Once completed, you will be posted to one of the New Zealand Navy warships for 18-24 months for initial sea training and familiarisation. This usually leads to promotion to Able rate.

Continuous development is required to ensure your ongoing knowledge and understanding of the weapons the Navy uses to ensure operational readiness.

Pay & Benefit Details

The minimum remuneration you will be paid from day one is $33,256. Your remuneration will increase upon graduation of your recruit course to $40,500+ and will continue to increase on promotion and seniority.

General Requirements

  • You must be at least 17 years of age.

  • You must be a NZ citizen or have permanent residency and have lived in New Zealand for five years.

  • You must be of good character – assessed by a study of testimonials and a police record check.

  • You must be free of any criminal convictions.

Educational Requirements

  • You must have completed at least three years at secondary school.

  • Minimum 80 credits at level one.

  • Minimum 12 credits in Maths and English at level one or above.

  • Minimum of 12 credits in Science or Physics at level one or above.

Fitness Requirements

  • Be medically fit for service.

Training

Basic Training

Upon successful enlistment into the Navy you’ll be posted to Devonport Navy base in Auckland. Here you will do 13 weeks of basic military training to find out if you’ve got what it takes to be in the Navy, and learn various subjects including:

  • Teamwork/team support

  • Naval discipline and regulations

  • Physical fitness

  • Parade training.

Job Training

Following your Basic Common Training course, you will complete an Able Electronics Technicians course  at Devonport Naval Base, Auckland. On completion, you will then spend up to two years undergoing on-the-job training both at sea and ashore to gain experience. After the Leading Technician (Weapons Engineering) (normally during your fourth year of training), you will be selected for either a Weapons or Electronics specialisation that best suits your skills and interests.

Weapons Technicians then complete a specialised course before additional on-the-job training at sea and ashore to consolidate the skills they have learnt. As your career progresses, further equipment specific courses are completed to enhance specialised experience and knowledge, such as: safety, explosives familiarisation, electrical theory, PC maintenance, power and distribution systems, workshop skills, lubrication and coatings, hydraulic theory, noise reduction and condition monitoring, radar and communication theory, small arms, ANZAC systems, and administration and communication skills.

On each training course, Weapon Technicians are required to pass examinations and assessments. The learning doesn’t stop in the classroom as you will be required to complete a ‘task book’ whilst working at sea or ashore. Training combined with specialised postings at sea and ashore continues for the majority of a junior Weapon Technician’s career. This provides the necessary knowledge and experience required to complete this specialised role and prepare them for promotion.

Ongoing Training

Like all other technical trades in the RNZN you will be doing most of your training hands on in your field of expertise. Continuously developing and enhancing your abilities to ensure that you are the best you can possibly be at your trade. On occasion you will be posted ashore to conduct classroom qualifications which usually equate to NZQA unit.

Specialist Training

As part of  your studies as a Weapon Technician you will have the opportunity to attain unit standards which contribute towards a National Certificate (Level 4) in Electronics Technology under the National Qualifications Framework. These civilian qualifications are instructed at the Naval College and can be gained in addition to professional naval qualifications. The Navy meets all costs of this training, which is usually completed in the first four years of a Weapon Technicians career.

Later in your career, you will complete the Electronic Service Technician A and B courses.

Location Details

As a Weapons Technician you will be predominantly posted to sea as our weapons are most effectively used at sea. If not at sea you will be posted to the Devonport Naval Base or the Defence Armament Depot.