Our defence system has never been just about National Service nor a normal day-to day job. For engineers at the Defence Science & Technology Agency, working on these high-tech giant machines gives them a sense of fulfilment and continues to pique their interest in defence science and technology.

By Everlyn Lee

At over 100 metres long with a 76mm gun and a range of combat systems, the sleek stealth Formidable class frigates, Singapore’s latest naval vessels, already look imposing and awesome. Today’s war fighting demands however, require not only superior weapons but also exceptional software to secure victory...

Set on defence

As an engineer in the Defence Science & Technology Agency (DSTA), Venessa Ng plays a crucial role in developing the systems that enable navy crews to maximise the effectiveness of the warships. Her current position within the agency’s C4I Development sees her working on the frigates’ Combat Management System (CMS).

The CMS integrates all shipboard sensor and weapon suites, allowing the warship to make swift and accurate responses to potential threats. The system is also a key component in automating the vessel, reducing the manpower requirements and streamlining operations.

Although a rose among thorns, Venessa doesn’t let that fact stop her from breaking ground in a traditionally male-dominated industry. “Ladies are very meticulous. We also offer a different perspective thus complementing the guys well by providing a more holistic view of the situation at hand,” she explains.

“In DSTA, female employees are given equal opportunities at work. Just like our male counterparts, we rough it out at sea during the testing of the CMS,” says Venessa, recounting her experience sailing onboard the multimission frigates and participating in sea trials as part of her involvement with the project.

Even before entering university, Venessa already had an idea of which field to pursue a career in. “I frequent military-related exhibitions such as Asian Aerospace and the various Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Open Houses with my family. These played a significant role in shaping my impression of the defence ecosystem,” she says.

As an Electrical Engineering undergraduate in NUS, Venessa interned at DSO National Laboratories. She recalls: “After that brief stint, I knew I wanted to work on defence projects.” She was also inspired by the Infrared Fever Screening System developed by DSTA during the SARS outbreak in 2003. “I was very inspired. I read up a lot about infrared technology and even chose the topic for my final-year project.”

Upon graduation in 2005, a career with DSTA seemed the natural choice. Early on, she was involved in the upgrading of the SAF intranet email system before moving on to work on more advanced computer-based projects.

More than just engineering

As a large organisation, DSTA is able to offer diverse career paths for engineers, catering to varying interests and aptitudes. This was, in fact, what drew Lim Weineng to DSTA in 2006 after graduating from NTU with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering. “That was a year with a lot of job openings but DSTA eventually caught my eye as fresh graduates are offered jobs that involve not only engineering, but also project management and many others,” he says.

Opening himself to this breadth of opportunities, Weineng’s current post in the agency’s Networked Systems requires him to provide clients like the SAF with technical consultancy services and engineering solutions. Aside from that, his job also sees him travelling often to various locations to conduct site surveys and meet with people of various backgrounds.

He notes however that while his engineering background has prepared him adequately for technical work, ‘soft’ skills such as interpersonal and negotiation skills are just as essential to perform in the non-technical aspects of his job.Fortunately, his minor in Business is especially relevant and came in handy.

Venessa and Weineng both agree that one of the challenges regularly faced in their line of work is the need to constantly keep up with the latest in defence technology developments. To keep its employees at the forefront of the industry, DSTA actively engages them in frequent information-sharing sessions.

The agency also invests in its manpower to ensure that they are able to continuously harness cutting-edge science and technology for the defence of Singapore. For example, Weineng recently spent a week in New York together with colleagues from various departments to attend a course on the development of simulation modelling technology.

Balance and Satisfaction

Like any other job, there are times where extra hours need to be put in to meet deadlines. Weineng however has no problems maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Venessa explains: “At the end of the day, what matters is not the number of hours we put in but the satisfaction we gain when we see our work come to fruition; I believe that’s priceless.”

To catch a glimpse of the work that defence scientists and technologists do, interested undergraduates should make use of internships and other chances to participate in related activities. Keeping a lookout for campus recruitment exercises held by DSTA will also help. After all, that was how Weineng secured his job.

So if you’re looking for a place to put your knack for science to good use in engineering the defence of an entire nation, DSTA may very well be the place for you. Venessa puts it succinctly: “DSTA is definitely one of the places to consider if you have the passion for defence science and engineering.”

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