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Airforce

Safety & Surface Technician

As a Safety & Surface Technician you will be responsible for keeping our aircraft and equipment in peak operational condition.

Mō te tūranga

About the role

  • Specialisations

    Operational support

  • Entry type

    General entry

  • Under training

    $68,103

  • Location

    Varied

S&S Techs have one of the most varied roles in the Defence Force. The name Safety and Surface has proud historical roots reaching back to its origins with the Royal Air Force of Great Britain. However these days, Safety and Surface is essentially the banner for three aeronautical engineering specialisations carried out within our Air Force.

  1. Aerial Delivery Equipment: This includes parachute rigging (repair and maintenance) for all personnel and cargo parachute systems. This is essential work to allow insertion of specialist operators, equipment and supplies into operational theatres, or to provide humanitarian aid and disaster relief.
  2. Aeronautical Finishing: This includes removal and application of surface finishes as well as associated repair and manufacture of aeronautical fabric and upholstery components. This is necessary to protect our aircraft from the variety of environments we operate in and keep them looking great.
  3. Aeronautical Life Support Equipment: This includes maintenance of aircrew helmets, oxygen and smoke masks, life preservers, flying clothing, immersion suits, life rafts, and helicopter emergency floatation systems. This is required to enable aircrew to carry out flying operations and keep our aircrew safe.

The work of S&S Techs requires exceptional care and attention to detail. Some of your work is on display every day, and the work hidden out of sight needs to be to the highest standard in order to save lives.

Accepting Applications

  • Recruit 2/25, starts 19 May 2025 Apply by 20 Jan 2025

    Apply Now

Requirements

Basics

  • Must be 18 years old by the time you graduate from recruit course.
  • Eligible to meet national security clearance criteria, as stipulated by the Government's Protective Security Requirements.

Education

  • 3 years secondary school.

Note, qualifications may be used to assess trade suitability.

Citizenship

There are strict citizenship and security requirements to gain the required CV security clearance for this trade.
Find out if you’re eligible here.

Period of Service

There may be a return of service period for this trade.

Please contact our 0800 number or talk to your Candidate Experience Facilitator for more information.

We offer guidance on entry requirements in our eligibility section. Apply if you're uncertain, as we’ll work through the criteria with you to determine if you can proceed.

RNZAF SS TECH

Last line of defence

Ensuring perfection - the role of the Safety & Surface Technician

The saying goes that you’re having a bad day if you need some of the gear the Royal New Zealand Air Force's Safety and Surface team looks after.

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  • Job on base

    As a S&S Tech you will work in a variety of roles carrying out Aeronautical Finishing tasks, repair and maintenance of Aerial Delivery Equipment and Aeronautical Life Support Equipment to allow aircraft and aircrew to meet the demands of flying operations.

  • Job on deployment

    When an aircraft and their crew deploy overseas they require the same maintenance they need on base. As a qualified S&S Tech you will have the opportunity to be part of the deployed maintenance team supporting overseas operations and exercises.

“On any given day, we're doing a range of different things. From painting an aircraft to packing a parachute.”

Career Progression and training

01Basic Training

02Job Training

03Career Progression

Benefits & allowances

Earn a competitive salary while training or learning your trade, along with additional allowances for time spent in the field, at sea, overseas, or deployed on operations.

In addition to salary and allowances, other benefits of joining the New Zealand Defence Force include:

  • Access to your Service marae or tūrangawaewae
  • Sponsored tertiary study programmes at all levels
  • Free access to gyms and swimming pools on camp and bases
  • Opportunities to travel
  • Free and subsidised medical and dental care
  • Subsidised food and accommodation on camps and bases
  • Free and subsidised insurance cover
  • Help to buy a home and save for retirement

Salary & benefits

Careers in the Air Force are well-rewarded, as well as being diverse and exciting. As you become more experienced and move up through the ranks, gaining additional skills and qualifications, you will see your salary rise accordingly.

  • Under training

    $68,103

  • Future potential earnings

    $98,000

20220909 NZDF R1055140 005

Am I fit enough?

If you want to be part of the NZ Defence Force you need to be medically and physically fit for military duties worldwide.

Air Force Application Process 20240920

The application process

Your step-by-step guide on what to expect at various stages of the application process, specifically for military roles.

Application process
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Ready to start your Air Force career?

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Tūranga whaipānga

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