Dsta vs dso
 

Hi,

Approaching my final year of studies in mech engineering and considering a career path in DSO or DSTA. Can anyone enlighten me on the difference between the 2 stat boards? I know both are closely related but can't really find any info online regarding the difference between them.

Dso is not a stat board...

Anyway DSO does more R&D while dsta is more project management

DSO is more technical and engineering....DSTA is on project management....both are serving the national defence work.

I see, thanks all for the input!

There is one thread here that is dedicated to DSTA. Check it out.

Like the others said, DSO is more technical focused. I would strongly recommend you to join DSO if possible as you really learn little transferable skills in DSTA doing project management. Do note it is also harder to enter DSO. I easily got a job at DSTA from their invitation to interview, whereas I didn't even get a reply after multiple applications to DSO.

Thanks for your insight. How is/was it like working for dsta besides the fact that the little skills obtained there are transferable to the private sectoe?

Working for DSO sounds really interesting, I would definitely keep a lookout for future job postings.

However, I heard that most fresh graduates that enter DSO are mainly from computer science. As for me, my major is mechanical engineering and I am not from the robotics/mechatronics stream, do I still have a chance of entering DSO?

Thank you, will definitely take a look at that thread!

It's really a farmer job, every day 9-6 and collect your paycheck and bonuses. I must warn that there's quite a lot of self-imposed OT depending on your department due to the sheer workload, mostly due to red tape and paperwork. Many departments are full of boomers as young ppl who are driven will leave early. The people who stay are usually those who get trapped by the relatively decent starting pay and they become soulless after a few years. Wouldn't really say it is very meaningful work unless you really have a thing for defence acquisition, and serving the SAF as the customer. Since you mentioned you're from mech engineering, you have 2 paths. The easy one is to limit your career choices to your major, whereby you have very poor options, and dsta/dso is probably one of the better ones. If you choose to pivot, go to banking/ tech/ consulting.

Thanks for the information!

Yes, I'm currently exploring my options in pivoting to a different career path which has limited relation to my major but I cant seem to find much info regarding this.

What about other stat boards like LTA, PUB and HDB? Do you think the prospects there are better than dsta/dso? I am positively considering stat boards as I think my results are decent, if nothing goes terribly wrong I should be able to grad with a fch. I think my major is not really sought after in the priv sector compared to majors like comp science/ data analyst. Do you have any advice regarding this?

I would say those you mentioned are better on the basis that society as we know it would breakdown without them, so their work is essential and there would at least be some meaning to your every day work. Defence in sg is basically a huge budget blackhole where as the years go by you start wondering why we are spending so much.

hahaha true that. Thanks for your advice, really appreciate it!

养兵千日，用兵一时

Similar to how police is there in case there are crimes, military is there in case there are wars.

How is the career progression for DSO? Is it comparable to the private sector since its not a stat board?

not from dso but I would say its similar to other stat boards. Since technically dso is the research arm for mindef, full of scholars inside.

Dso, dsta, govtech IT role.
Which more attractive and for youngster progression?

Govtech is the obvious choice