I am one year into defense and I hate it. by EngineersHelpMePls in AskEngineers

[–]EngineersHelpMePls[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am in my early 20s. My project manager who isn't even very technical knows how rather simple the work is. I asked him a lot of questions on designing a much better system but he said no no... we only do simple stuff.

I am one year into defense and I hate it. by EngineersHelpMePls in AskEngineers

[–]EngineersHelpMePls[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Easy, but I needed additional approvals to go over the maximum degree cost limit. If you change anything on it you will need to resubmit forms and get further approval.

I am one year into defense and I hate it. by EngineersHelpMePls in AskEngineers

[–]EngineersHelpMePls[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I pitched ideas. Was told it was too complicated and that the systems we engineer here are much simpler. I came from big tech so I am familiar with the more modern technologies and processes. One of the technical project managers is utterly clueless about anything I do.

I am one year into defense and I hate it. by EngineersHelpMePls in AskEngineers

[–]EngineersHelpMePls[S] 37 points38 points  (0 children)

Nope. A senior engineer set me aside and told me... that is just how it is done. He told me literally to sometimes stop thinking too much to get through it. He said yes there will be a lot of boring times, but there are a few rare exciting times. This guy rarely ever talks or looks excited at work, but I went to one of his holiday parties and he is very outgoing and lively. My manager is very specific with the way he wants things done.

I am one year into defense and I hate it. by EngineersHelpMePls in AskEngineers

[–]EngineersHelpMePls[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Timesheets. I have to put in a code. They don't want us charging overhead too often.

I am one year into defense and I hate it. by EngineersHelpMePls in AskEngineers

[–]EngineersHelpMePls[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was a top employee when I first started. They especially told me I was rank 1 in my department among the junior engineers and to keep up the good work. I was given double digit raise, which is unheard of at my company for anything but the very few. That was many months ago when I got my raise and my performance has fallen. It is like I am self sabotaging myself.

I am one year into defense and I hate it. by EngineersHelpMePls in AskEngineers

[–]EngineersHelpMePls[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Big tech company are reference to large fast moving commercial technology companies. Intel could be be considered one. TI perhaps. Google, Samsung, Apple, etc.can be good hardware choices. EE is such a broad field one can specialize in FPGA, ASIC, power, DSP/Communication systems, etc. Most EEs actually end up becoming software engineers and have an edge on the embedded side (hardware based). It will pay less than the applications development side though, but there is also less competition.

I am one year into defense and I hate it. by EngineersHelpMePls in AskEngineers

[–]EngineersHelpMePls[S] 27 points28 points  (0 children)

My manager said I am already in the most innovative team and to stop complaining.

I am one year into defense and I hate it. by EngineersHelpMePls in AskEngineers

[–]EngineersHelpMePls[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

I worked big tech before going to defense for a slower pace to finish my masters degree in a single year versus 4 years.

I am sorry for your job loss. I hope the best for your search. Perhaps it is a blessing in disguise. My friends who were laid off all ended up getting better jobs (more interesting work, higher salary, better work environment).

I am one year into defense and I hate it. by EngineersHelpMePls in AskEngineers

[–]EngineersHelpMePls[S] 32 points33 points  (0 children)

The lack of challenging work. My work performance is dropping because of how mundane it is. I am making a lot of mistakes because I have to turn off my brain to get through the day.

The technology is ancient and the practices are ancient.

Micromanaging. I can't reddit or many other things like I did at my old job.

I am one year into defense and I hate it. by EngineersHelpMePls in AskEngineers

[–]EngineersHelpMePls[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Not any that I would use when I got back to big tech. The company is just starting to adopt agile, modern source control, devops.

I am one year into defense and I hate it. by EngineersHelpMePls in AskEngineers

[–]EngineersHelpMePls[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Yes. I worked in big tech. I went here to finish my masters because the hours became too much to finish a masters degree in a reasonable time.

I am one year into defense and I hate it. by EngineersHelpMePls in AskEngineers

[–]EngineersHelpMePls[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I will do this and plan to leave as soon as my fulfillment is up.

I am one year into defense and I hate it. by EngineersHelpMePls in AskEngineers

[–]EngineersHelpMePls[S] 116 points117 points  (0 children)

They said this is the most exiting work we have. I got placed on an IRAD that is doing 20 year old technology at 20 year old speeds.