What A System Engineer At Raytheon Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Defense Industry
The work in the aerospace and defense industry is "cyclical," requiring patience, as security clearances often delay entry-level engineers from performing "what they were hired to do." This initial wait, filled with "busy work," can be unexpectedly discouraging for new graduates eager to apply their recently acquired skills, a fact that career services and recruiters should more proactively address.
Industry Realities, Workplace Challenges, Security Clearance Process, Patience and Persistence, Cybersecurity
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. The work in the aerospace and defense industry is cyclical, requiring patience. Entry-level engineers may experience a delay in performing their desired tasks due to security clearance processes.
2. Security clearances are a significant factor impacting the start of work. Newly hired engineers may find themselves performing busy work, such as writing procedures, while awaiting clearance.
3. Recruiting materials should be upfront about the cyclical nature of the work and the potential for delays due to security clearances to better manage expectations for new hires, particularly recent graduates who might feel their skills are underutilized while waiting for clearance
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
I think the work is pretty cyclical, and you need to be patient as a defense contractor. You don't necessarily go straight into doing what you want.
For example, I was hired as a systems engineer at Raytheon. I didn't immediately get to do what I was hired for. I had to wait for security clearances.
I think this deters a lot of people at the beginning. You finish undergrad and your senior design project where you applied thermodynamics, software, design, and structures analysis. Then you go work for an aerospace and defense company and you're just sitting there.
You can't do anything without the proper clearances, and I think that can deter a lot of people. It certainly did for me at the very beginning, especially at Northrop. I just wasn't enjoying what I was doing because I was doing busy work.
I was reading and writing procedures on stuff I didn't really know. I think if recruiting and workshops and networking events were more upfront about expectations, it would be easier for people to accept it once they're there.
You feel like you're wasting your time, thinking, "I just finished my engineering undergrad. I'm wasting all these skills. I'm going to forget all this stuff." You'll eventually use it, but not right away.