Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring System Engineers At Raytheon Technologies
Entry-level aerospace and defense roles, such as "associate level" positions in structures or systems engineering, are accessible to undergraduate engineering students; the interviewee emphasizes that career mobility is possible—"there's a lot of opportunity for you to move"—and that current high demand means "opportunities definitely exist."
Entry-Level Positions, Career Development, Aerospace and Defense, Systems Engineering, Job Search
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Cesar Cabrera
System Engineer
Raytheon Technologies
California State University, Long Beach
N/A
Engineering - Mechanical
Aerospace, Aviation & Defense, Government & Public Sector
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Honors Student, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Many entry-level positions in aerospace and defense are available for mechanical engineering graduates, including associate-level roles in areas like structures or systems engineering.
2. Even if your initial role isn't your ideal path, there's significant opportunity for internal mobility within the company. Expressing career goals early can facilitate advancement.
3. Currently, there's a high demand for entry-level engineers due to increased funding, creating ample opportunities for recent graduates. After about a year, excelling in an associate-level role can lead to promotion to a level 2 engineer.
Transcript
Cool, what entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
I think it really depends on where you want to go. My undergraduate background is in mechanical engineering, and that opens the door for a lot in aerospace and defense. You can go into structures or systems engineering; these are all associate-level roles.
There are a lot of different options you can pursue, so you can choose your path. One of the most critical things is if you get hired into an aerospace and defense job at the beginning, and maybe it's not something you're super thrilled about.
For example, maybe you want to do structural design, but you get hired in manufacturing. There are many opportunities for you to move. They won't hand it to you, but if you really push for it and show your interest early on, letting them know how you envision your career path, it will help you get where you need to be.
There are many associate roles, especially nowadays. A lot of hiring is going on because we're getting a lot of funding, so the opportunities definitely exist. I think after you're there for about a year, you can become a level two engineer if you really excel. But there are a lot of associate roles you can go into.