working at a defense contractor

Pay is usually good. My best offer came from a defense contractor...I didn't accept due to location.

I wouldn't take the job. Im with one; been here since I graduated college. The work isn't as interesting unless you're working on new technologies or research. A lot of the contracts with the government are old,massive and complex. So you'll most likely be continuing work on a highly specific part of a project that was started a while ago, that someone else was working on. This means not too much original development, although you become an expert in a very specific area.

Unless you are really into the military or military technologies, I would go with a smaller company where you can learn more and make an overall better contribution.

Pm me if you want to know more.

Quote from omghaxcode : I'll be able to pass a poly and any drug tests so I'll be able to get clearance. I've already been told I will need at least interim secret. Lockheed was missile defense radar stuff. Northrup was torpedo systems engineering.

You won't take a poly for a Secret, and in the DC area, a Secret while good to have, won't give you a premium. If you can get in and get them to get you in for a higher level clearance, that would give you more value. While your current company most likely won't give you a raise once you get your final clearance, it makes you more valuable to others. You will most likely get your biggest pay increases going to another company. It's just the way the game works.

Things to ask during your interviews:
How long is the current contract for? What year are they in? Are they in an option year phase? What is their "bench" process?

Some of these are questions you don't think about until you've been through your first contract re-compete.

Like any big company, a lot of it has to do with the group/contract you work in/for. And it can vary vastly from one group to another within the same company.

I am an electrical engineer at a major defense company. There is absolutely no truth to what you heard about pay grades... I don't know where you would have heard that. That sounds like if you are working directly for the government. Government pay grades are not very good. Working at any large defense contractor is like working for any other large company. The pay for defense companies in engineering is very good. In the larger companies, once you are in, if you don't like your area it is pretty easy to move around to different programs.

Also EE worked at a major defense company for 10 years. As others have said pay grades can be quite large and overlap multiple pay grades. New hire college grads with BS start in the first pay grade. A MS will usually start in the 2nd pay grade. Most of these companies have programs for new college grads to work in multiple positions over the course of 2 to 3 years. They often call these leadership programs. This gives you the opportunity to experience more of the company and hopefully find what you prefer to do. Most of these are fast track positions to management if you are into that.

As for pay grades think of a bell curve. New hires are generally placed at the 80 - 90% mark of the bell. So if the average pay for the scale is 65k you might get an offer of 55-60k. You may be able to get a small increase 5% if you try to negotiate.

Most have an annual review policy that is separate from their employee ranking for "Merit" raises. Annual merit raises are generally around 3%. Top ranked individuals may see as high as 5% bottom ranked as low as 2%. Non Performers get 0% - generally reserved for those that have serious work issues.

Where I worked it generally took 2+ rankings to move up a pay grade. BS new hires can often move up after their first ranking if they are perceived to be a high performer. Pay grade changes generally come with a 7 to 15% pay raise.

After the first couple pay grades it begins to get more difficult to move up. ie once you hit the first Senior Engineer grade. Generally moving up then requires taking on leadership roles. Pay grades are no longer given for performance but rather at job changes.

Some companies require a minimum of 2 years in any position to change jobs. Ask about this during interviews. Where I worked moving around was looked down on by the older generation but praised by the younger leadership.

The way to get ahead where I worked was to be on good terms with the manager responsible for rankings. Your work supervisor will have input but the department head is who ultimately makes the decisions.

Also mentioned was what happens if the contract dies project is canceled etc. Where I worked new hires generally had 2 year amnesty from reductions in force but may get stuck sitting on their thumbs for weeks or months till moved to another project. More senior workers were always weary of jobs that had short duration's as sitting on overhead was seen as putting your name at the top of the RIF list. I found it was really how valuable you are to your department manager than anything else.

So what to expect for first assignment. Like already mentioned an older project where its all about keeping production running or repairs moving. Here you learn the basics of the company - drawing systems, change management, quality systems etc. Once you've learned the basics the job is a grind. You keep an eye out on the internal job postings and talk to your department head about new opportunities.

Something to keep in mind is that most of these large companies are the result of acquisition of various companies over time. Where I worked going from one division to another was the equivalent to job hopping when it came to pay. You interviewed for the job and could negotiate pay even on lateral moves.

Overall there are plenty of opportunities to find what you prefer to do though if you aren't motivated it is easy to get pigeon holed into one type of role and get stuck there.

I'm also an engineer at a defense related company. Besides just the pay, you should also think about your preferred working style. If you like being able to move fast and spend your time developing and shipping things that work, you might want to rethink a career in defense - or at least be really careful of what position you take. 80% of my time is spent on following procedures and paperwork, 10% is spent getting other people to do their job so I can do mine, 10% of actual engineering.

I retired from a missile company in 2010. My advice, look for a commercial company rather than a defense contractor. For many reasons, but especially in light of shinking govt budgets.
The post internship job they had for my daughter evaporated, along with 170 other current employee's jobs when a contract award did not come through. I advised her to look commercial, she now makes a bit over $100K, with some experiance and a bobo JC degree.
Just my opinion.

I've been working for a large defense contractor in DC since I graduated undergrad (2008). I love it, pay is good benefits are GREAT (10% into 401k regardless of how much you put in).

Pay is not structured like the government, but we are still broken down into categories based on your level/years of experience. I have no complaints.. I make great money, live in an awesome area, get to travel around the globe for work, support military acquisitions, and I work from home!