How to become a Cyber Security Engineer

Also called: ICT Security Engineer, Information Security Engineer

Designs, develops, modifies, documents, tests, implements, installs and supports cyber security software applications and systems to ensure they are fully integrated.

Main tasks

• Develops, implements and integrates secure coding practices, and conducts security testing and vulnerability assessments for software and systems
• Collaborates with developers to identify and remediate security issues
• Develops and implements secure software development lifecycle processes and methodologies
• Integrates security controls into development processes
• Participates in code reviews and provides security guidance
• Assesses security of third-party software components and libraries used in software and applications
• Develops and implements secure application programming interfaces and libraries for use in software and applications
• Performs code analysis scan on software binaries

Ways in

• University: Computing & IT degrees, Offered by 39 universities in Australia
• University: Engineering degrees, Offered by 34 universities in Australia

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $131,924 a year
• About 186,100 people work in this job group now, and about 235,700 are projected by 2035. (+26.7%)
• Many tasks in this job could be automated by AI. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as high.

Related jobs

• Cyber Governance Risk and Compliance Specialist
• Cyber Security Advice and Assessment Specialist
• Cyber Security Analyst
• Cyber Security Architect
• Cyber Security Operations Coordinator
• Penetration Tester

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Cyber Security Engineer?

Ways in include: Computing & IT degrees; Engineering degrees.

How much does a Cyber Security Engineer earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $131,924 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Cyber Security Engineer a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 27% by 2035, from about 186,100 to about 235,700 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Cyber Security Engineer?

Usually. 87% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Cyber Security Engineer?

Many tasks in this job could be automated by AI. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as high.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04