Step into a cadetship at the Port Kembla Steelworks where steel shapes not just our bridges, hospitals, homes, and stadiums, but your future too. Our program has been designed to blend paid real-world experience with your studies, so you can launch your career while you study. 

Each year, our manufacturing business in Port Kembla, NSW offers amazing opportunities for highly motivated students to join the team in Science (Chemistry), Materials, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil/Structural and Computer Engineering. 

Combining part-time study with paid, hands-on work, our Cadetship program allows you to start your career journey while undertaking your university studies. You'll work alongside experienced and supportive professionals, contribute to meaningful projects, and earn a competitive salary - all before you graduate. Whether you're finishing year 12 or in your first or second year of an undergraduate Science (Chemistry)/Engineering degree, this is your opportunity to gain a real head start in the industry. 

With rotating placements across different departments, you'll gain exposure to a range of areas and projects across the business that directly connect to your studies. Since 1974-75, the University of Wollongong (UOW) and BlueScope have fostered leaders shaping industry, infrastructure and innovation - this is your opportunity to continue this legacy into the future.

To learn more about what it's like to be a cadet, view our FAQ document and find further links and content below. 

Applications for our 2027 intake open now (closes Sunday, 30 August 2026) - click here to apply 

Explore your major, envision your daily life, and imagine your future.

Materials Engineering Cadetship

A deep understanding of materials is at the heart of BlueScope's products - this is where you come in. You'll dive into what makes steel materials strong, versatile, and enduring. Study the structure and properties of materials, and apply that knowledge to improve performance and production. Be prepared to make your mark through innovation, creative thinking, and expertise, where real-world research creates visible, lasting impact. 

Civil/Structural Engineering Cadetship

Steel supports our cities, and as a Civil/Structural Engineering Cadet, you'll help support the structures that make it possible. You'll be involved in the design and maintenance of critical infrastructure that keeps our operations running safely and efficiently. Play a key part in the design and integrity of our infrastructure, conducting structural inspections, assisting in project delivery, and contributing to long-term maintenance and improvement plans. 

Mechanical Engineering Cadetship

Do you enjoy pulling things apart and seeing how they work? As a Mechanical Engineering Cadet, you'll be immersed in the complex, large-scale machinery that brings steel to life. From smelting ore to casting and shaping raw steel, you'll rotate through departments and get hands-on experience with the systems that drive our operations. Working with experienced leaders and teams, you'll help maintain, design, and improve our systems, gaining valuable skills in problem-solving, project work, and engineering. 

Electrical Engineering Cadetship

Working alongside skilled engineers to design, maintain and optimise the systems that keep our 24/7 operations moving, this opportunity sits at the intersection of automation, energy, and innovation. You'll have the opportunity to work with electrical and automation technologies and processes across the entire plant, all of which play a critical role in steel manufacturing. Alongside your degree, you'll also gain a Certificate III in Electrotechnology, giving you hands-on trade skills to compliment your knowledge and learning. 

Computer Engineering Cadetship

Interested in how digital systems shape the physical world? As a Computer Engineering Cadet, you’ll be involved in building and refining the digital infrastructure behind our steelmaking process. Think industrial data, analytics, and automation software - all contributing to smarter, more reliable manufacturing. You’ll be part of a team using code and systems thinking to solve real operational challenges, shaping the future of our processes. 

Science (Chemistry) Cadetship

Curious about how materials behave and how processes can be improved? As a Science (Chemistry) Cadet, you’ll work closely with teams across production and laboratories to understand how steel is made, tested and refined. You’ll support chemical analysis, testing and process improvement, helping ensure product quality and performance across the Steelworks. Over time, you’ll build a practical understanding of how chemistry applies in a large-scale manufacturing environment, using data, experimentation and problem-solving to improve how things are done.

Watch the video to hear the stories of our Cadets!

You can also find the extended interviews in 'The Cadetship Experience' episode on our Voices of BlueScope podcast. Play it in your browser or with Apple Podcasts and Spotify. 

Applications for our 2027 intake open now (closes Sunday, 30 August 2026) - click here to apply 

Do you love solving problems, asking “how does that work?” or imagining how things could be improved? Whether you're fascinated by science and technology, love solving problems, or wanting to make a positive impact, a cadetship could be the path that turns your curiosity into real change.

At BlueScope, we’re looking for passionate, future-focused students who are ready to start their journey into the world of science, engineering and innovation with us from January 2027.

We'd love to hear from you, if you find yourself answering "yes" to the below:

•  Are you a Year 12 student who’s ready to turn your curiosity into a career, and has the subjects lined up to study Science or Engineering at the University of Wollongong (UOW)?
• Or maybe you're already an undergrad at university (in your 1st or 2nd year) currently studying, or open to transferring into, a Science (Chemistry), Materials, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, or Computer Engineering degree at UOW?
• Do you want to be part of a team where you’ll do real, hands-on work that matters, helping shape not only how we work and what we create, but also the world we live in?

We welcome students from all backgrounds who are excited to challenge themselves, try new things, and be part of a future shaped by innovative ideas, bold thinking, and meaningful work. Engineering and Science are as much about creativity and impact as they are about technical skills, so if you’re curious, passionate, and ready to make a difference, this could be the opportunity for you.

Click here to apply for our 2027 intake and start your journey with BlueScope, where your passion shapes our future. (Applications close: Sunday 30 August 2026)

When you join our Cadetship program, you’re not just gaining work experience, you’re stepping into a world of opportunity, growth, and real-world impact.

Get ahead while still studying

Start building your career now. Learn real-world skills related to your studies. You’ll develop practical, hands-on skills that directly relate to what you're learning at university, giving you a clear advantage and the confidence to realise your goals early. 

Work on real projects with real impact

Rotating through various departments, you'll contribute to the outcomes of multiple diverse projects. Every placement is tailored to your stage of study, helping you connect classroom theory with practical experience.

Your growth matters to us

Our development programs aim to invest in you and your personal growth, your goals, and your future. From technical training to personal development, we’ll support you in becoming an engineer who stands out, both personally and professionally. 

Earn while you learn

As a paid Cadet, you’ll earn a competitive salary while receiving financial support for your studies. We’ll also give you dedicated time during the week to attend university classes and sit exams.

Strong support network

You’ll be mentored by experienced leaders and professionals who want to see you succeed. You’ll be guided, encouraged, and empowered every step of the way by a team who believes in your potential. 

Since its inception almost 50 years ago, hundreds of Cadets have been guided through their journey alongside seasoned professionals, growing into the BlueScope leaders making a difference today. We’re not just building careers, we’re building the future, and that future could start with you.

Applications for our 2027 intake now open (closes Sunday, 30 August 2026) - click here to apply 

Applying for a BlueScope Cadetship is more than just submitting a form. It could mark the start of a career built on purpose, innovation, and real-world experience. Here’s a quick look at the process:

1.Submit your application

You can apply via our careers page, or by following the links on this page. You’ll need to include your resume and academic results (Year 11/12, or university transcripts and WAM).

2027 applications open now (closing: Sunday 30 August 2026) - Click here to apply 

2. Complete an interview

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to complete a face-to-face interview with an experienced panel. This will be a behavioural based interview - helping us to understand how you approach situations relevant to the position. This is also an opportunity for you to share your passion and learn more about how we work.

Interview timeline: 7 September - 11 September  (note: these dates are subject to change) 

3. Attend a site tour

Visit and experience our Port Kembla Steelworks in an area relevant to your discipline with key leaders and other aspiring Cadets. 

4. Complete pre-employment checks

Complete required pre-employment medical and reference checks.

5. Receive an offer

Successful applicants will receive an offer to begin in January 2027. We’ll support you with everything you need to transition into the role, including induction, mentoring, and flexible study arrangements.

Meet our current Cadets Emily Spence (Materials Engineering Cadet), Ollie Burnett (Electrical Engineering Cadet) and Poppy Pollock (Mechanical Engineering Cadet), along with their People Business Partner, Carina Cuda, as they discuss the work-life balance and educational benefits of working and studying as Cadets with us and the University of Wollongong.

BlueScope is an Australian-born, global success story, spanning 15 countries, with a team of over 16,500 people. We’re inspired by innovation, from the coating expertise that has made COLORBOND® steel such an enduring success, to the robotics that drive efficiencies into our manufacturing and systems. We’re proud that the technologies in our brands shape, support and protect everything from homes, hospitals and schools, to bridges, stadiums and state-of-the-art commercial buildings. We are creating opportunity, creating strength.

A career with us provides the opportunity to grow and make a difference. You will achieve the following:

• make an enduring impact both within the organisation and in the broader community
• create and deliver innovative technical solutions that shape the world we live in 
• grow on a path of continuous learning and development—in Australia and overseas
• enjoy the sense of belonging that comes from working with people who genuinely look out for one another