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Ask HN: Is it worth it working for the defense industry as an entry-level job?
Have you worked for the defense industry (be it DoD or contractor)? If so, what have your experiences have been? How is the pay? And as someone that suffers from multiple medical conditions, how are the benefits typically?
- giantg2 6y agoI know people in that industry. I worked in an office and warehouse for that industry, but not in IT. Some of the policies and stuff are the same across the industry due to restrictions in the government contracts. You will likely encounter a more bureaucratic and strict environment compared to other companies. Pay and benefits are generally reasonable from what I've heard. I think they are falling behind on benefits compared to the PTO, student loan repayment, free food/perks, and paternal leave offered by others. Top secret SCI clearance can take time due to the investigation, so expect some delay.
- ena01 6y agoI'm not keen on having kids, so paternal leave isn't much of a concern for me! Hah. I've been reflecting on the ethical considerations of being part of such an industry. On one end, I'm enamored with the huge and interesting problem space that defense entails, and I do believe that the industry is pretty necessary. I see it as meaningful work, something that can be pretty fulfilling in the long run. But squaring up with the possibility that the projects involved on can harm other human beings with great efficiency bothers me somewhat.
- bradknowles 6y agoI worked in what was the Defense Communications Agency as my first real job after college. Most of that time was spent working in the basement of the Pentagon. I lasted five years, before I had to leave. It was a long time ago, but I think it was one of the most formative periods of my career, and gave me a jumping off point to greater things. And I met some of my best lifelong friends there. Of all the things I might have changed about my career, that period is probably the one I would change the least about.
- ena01 6y agoWhat are some of the lessons that you learned while working there? Did you enjoy the work there? I know government work tends to be on the slow side. Do you also feel like the skills you learned while at the DCA carried over to your next job?
- probinso 6y agoI've only ever worked in defense research, but the community is great the problems are hard the hours are good and the pay is fine.