From automotive engineer to defence expert: a realistic career guide
The move is possible. But it is not as easy as many people think.
The defence sector is increasingly moving into focus for the automotive industry - both at the level of individual candidates and of entire companies. And that is understandable: the automotive industry is under pressure. Platform strategies are uncertain, overcapacity is growing, order volumes are barely plannable worldwide. The security and defence industry (SVI), particularly in the Dual-Use area, looks by comparison like a more stable harbour with full order books and a clear mandate from society.
Technically, the transition seems obvious at first glance. Both industries work with safety-critical, highly regulated systems. Automation, software-centred solutions, shorter development cycles - all of that is familiar from the automotive sector. The paradigm shift completed there towards the "Software-defined Vehicle" translates conceptually well to what is happening in the defence sector right now: "Software-defined Defence" is no longer a strategic buzzword but part of operational reality at many companies.
And yet: a move does not succeed automatically.
Where the transition really works
Profiles from avionics and Embedded Systems transfer particularly well. Both industries have complex Safety Standards here - conceptually related, even if the specific certifications differ.
Anyone who already has experience in the automotive environment with safety-critical test disciplines and certification processes can carry that foundation over into the defence context well. The specific terminology and the higher documentation requirements can be learned - the technical foundation is already there.
The same applies to cybersecurity and IT security. Cloud architectures, Security-Monitoring, network security - these competencies are built up in many civilian industries and can be applied directly in the defence sector. NATO or VSI standards can be learned. What cannot be learned so easily is the systems thinking that good IT security professionals already bring with them.
Why it still gets stuck
From conversations with defence companies we currently hear the same thing: they are being flooded with automotive candidates. And still positions stay unfilled.
Why?
Because defence follows a logic of its own. Regulatory requirements, legally mandated security clearances, military requirements processes - these are not small matters you can tick off in a single Onboarding day. Anyone who believes technical competence alone is enough to get in underestimates the complexity of the industry.
On top of that: many defence companies are still looking for the "finished" candidate - the senior, with 15 years of professional experience and an existing security clearance. That person barely exists. And where they do exist, they usually do not want to move. That is understandable, but it leads into a dead end: the market simply does not offer enough native defence profiles. At the same time, enormous potential among career changers is being left untapped.
What companies should do now
The strategically smarter route is a hybrid model: key positions are filled with genuine defence experts - people who know the regulatory requirements, the standards and the work with military clients. Around them, a team can be scaled with strong engineers from civilian industries who bring the Mindset in demand and transferable core competencies.
The decisive factor here is the willingness of companies to invest in Upskilling. Not as a years-long major offensive, but in a structured and pragmatic way: fundamentals and standards in phase 1, simulations and applications in phase 2, independent tasks with regular Review-Loops in phase 3. Plan that well and after a few months you have an employee who has genuinely arrived, technically and culturally.
And one more thing: automotive companies that want to enter the Dual-Use area themselves have to understand - in recruiting they cannot be slower than modern defence companies. Anyone who brings sluggish processes from the old world along will not win the right talent.
What candidates have to bring
For engineers from the automotive environment who are seriously aiming for the move: technical competence alone is not enough. What counts is the capacity for change - and the willingness to engage actively with the particularities of the industry. Anyone who brings that has good chances. Anyone who believes it is enough to submit a CV and wait for an invitation will be disappointed.
The move from automotive engineer into the defence sector is not a sprint. It is a deliberate step - with realistic expectations, the will to develop further and the understanding that you are entering an industry that has rules of its own. And that is worth learning.