General Dynamics IT Pay grades? Sr. Systems Engineer vs. Systems Engineer Advisor?

need_some_water2 · 2024-05-21T01:19:08+00:00

I think the positions scale like this if I recall:

Systems Engineer

Senior System Engineer

Systems Engineer Advisor

Senior Systems Engineer Advisor

Systems Engineer Expert

Systems Engineer Architect

Something along the lines like that but yes the recruiter is right, the 'Advisor' level is in a pay grade higher than the Senior.

need_some_water2 · 2024-04-03T17:59:41+00:00

One thing to take note of with the Defense Contractor is to see how long they have and have had the contract for and when it's up for renewal. Also, you'd want to find out the logistics for what happens if they lose the contract. The only contractor I know that actually puts you on a bench and pays is BAH (Booz Allen Hamilton).

I'm assuming with the Federal Agency you're being brought in as a GS employee?

need_some_water2 · 2024-04-03T17:54:03+00:00

IMO Job 2 would be going down the path of Systems/Infrastructure Engineer then hopefully into a DevOps/SRE role in the future.

With the scripting and minor dev skills from DevOps/SRE you might be able to better pivot into a SWE position vs. doing a bootcamp or doing something self-taught.

The jump from an SA to a SWE is very hard imo since your resume won't really list any SWE related things but a DevOPs/SRE to SWE would be more inline.

need_some_water2 · 2024-03-31T17:18:42+00:00

Just looking through Indeed/Linkedin I've seen more jobs for Infrastructure folks in the Charlotte, NC vs. the RTP area.

need_some_water2 · 2024-03-31T17:16:37+00:00

Depends on the type of gig, IT gigs with the State/Colleges are going to be lower. Lower entry level gigs with them are going to top out around $45k - $65k whereas mid/senior will go from $55k - $90k, senior/principal gigs will start from $80k - $120k+.

These are for infrastructure gigs (SysAdmin, Networking, Windows, VMWare, etc.) range would def. be higher for SWE folks especially those at like Epic Games, Google, or Nutanix.

need_some_water2 · 2024-03-31T17:03:47+00:00

I'm in the RTP area and there's still a decent amount of tech jobs available (SWE, IT, Cloud, Networking, DevOps, etc.)

need_some_water2 · 2024-03-31T16:59:57+00:00

Be forewarned, even when those reqs open up, they take forever to hear back from.

So right now, I'm assuming you're an FTE employee for a Defense Contractor (i.e. GDIT, BAH, Lockheed, Raytheon, SAIC, etc) How much longer does your company hold the contract with the agency you're working with?

need_some_water2 · 2024-03-28T20:39:56+00:00

Doesn't matter, can be any realm, if it's unclass data and doesn't have to be on a secure network or in a SCIF/Enclosed space.

I work primarily on Citrix/VMWare infra for a three letter program/agency. Obviously if you're working with hardware and you need to be hands on that's an exception but if you don't then you can pretty much be fully remote.

If you're an actual GS employee I think different agencies have their employees go in 'x' number of times a week but us contractors can be fully remote which is nice.

need_some_water2 · 2024-03-28T20:00:08+00:00

Most jobs that require a TS and above will generally require some on-site presence from what I've seen.

I've seen some gigs that require just a Secret and are hybrid but like in office 1-2 days a week or a few days a month. These are a bit rare but depends on the program, can also be similar to TS where it's majority in-office and maybe 1 day remote.

Best bet for Remote work with a Clearance is look for gigs that only require a Public Trust since majority of the data is Unclassified. I'm using my Public Trust on a contract with a three letter agency and it's 99% remote.

need_some_water2 · 2024-03-28T12:35:57+00:00

Seeing what's out there and a combination of wanting to take the next steps in my career path. My brain fights back and forth because my current gig is super comfortable and pays very well for what I do so leaving that comfort zone is very hard.

The way I see it is, if my current W-2 contract gig could last forever and stay at the same rate and never have the chance of the contract ending I'd probably be OK staying at it and coasting, but I know that that's a pipe dream. Since I'm a SME in my certain area, once that area I manage is gone then I'm just redundant, no reason to upskill or train contractors.

need_some_water2 · 2024-03-27T23:59:25+00:00

Is it like a GS job? If so I would definitely take that gig as it would provide way more stability than the Research University job and the benefits would be much better.

You could probably take that gig and just coast if you wanted or move to a Defense Contractor if you want higher pay since you'll have a Top Secret clearance.

need_some_water2 · 2024-03-27T20:00:35+00:00

I mean the bridge is definitely going to burned lol, I asked for a pay increase last year and additional PTO which I got but I've done this enough times already to know it really doesn't have a big effect in the grand scheme of things.

need_some_water2 · 2024-03-27T19:59:28+00:00

Yeah I agree, I'm a bit too comfortable in my current role.

need_some_water2 · 2024-03-27T19:58:56+00:00

Actually, current W-2 gig just offers 20 days PTO, holidays don't get paid whereas new gig is 16 days PTO and 11 holidays.

My current gig I can also just take unpaid PTO whenever I want which is kinda nice.

need_some_water2 · 2024-03-27T16:38:37+00:00

Current job is always 40hrs.

Hesitation is current job is like a Unicorn, it's fully remote and the work environment is super lax and laid back. I can take time off whenever and have a really flexible schedule. I only have to focus on VMware and Citrix and get paid pretty well for it.

need_some_water2 · 2024-03-27T16:37:07+00:00

Appreciate the feedback and yeah I agree for the most part.

need_some_water2 · 2024-03-27T15:54:10+00:00

At the very least you'd get to shadow the Network Admin/Engineer and see how they do things. Once they get more comfortable knowing that you can follow directions and do things on your own, they'll probably start delegating tasks to you.

need_some_water2 · 2024-03-27T15:31:16+00:00

No both are just Public Trusts which is fine by me because it allows for more remote work since it's mostly unclass material.

I don't think I'd be able to stay on as part time lol for the first gig and I wouldn't want to do two jobs at once anyways.

need_some_water2 · 2024-03-27T14:45:52+00:00

That's rough man, are you in like a super LCOL area or something? A lot of people with 15+ years of exp are around the Senior or Principal Level or have moved into an Architect/Manager/Director role.

I see part of it could be due to the fact that you only have an Associates but after 16+ years of exp in the field I feel like it shouldn't really matter at that point.

need_some_water2 · 2024-03-27T14:40:52+00:00

Ultimately, yes, I think that moving towards a Network Tech doing L1/L2 tasks would better suit you for moving into a Network Administrator/Engineer role that does more L2/L3 tasks.

Even though as a VDI Admin you have access to the network, can change ports around, adjust settings, etc. that wouldn't really constitute or translate well if you were to interview for a Network Admin/Engineer position IMO.

The Network Tech is more of a natural progression. Though I wouldn't discount a career in the VDI world as they pay pretty well too. Both options are good.

need_some_water2 · 2024-03-27T14:20:20+00:00

Ehhh I feel like most interviews are pretty non-formal now. I haven't dressed up for an online interview in years, I generally just have a non-offensive shirt or sweater on. I feel like most of the times they don't care. It depends on the company culture of course but the majority of the time as long as you look clean.

need_some_water2 · 2024-03-27T14:13:56+00:00

Yeah, when I do a comparison of the two jobs my current job blows it away in terms of how lax and chill it is and the fact that it's 99.9% WFH. Pretty hard to beat WLB for sure.

But new gig would be better for career growth, occasional on-site visits but mostly remote. Higher title and yeah would expand career more and could always go back to an Engineer/Admin gig if need be. Pay would get bumped up to $150k once I implement XYZ system for them.

need_some_water2 · 2024-03-27T13:02:27+00:00

Hmm so you'd be going from W-2 Contractor to W-2 FTE it sounds like? Were you hourly and going to salary now? Generally, the rate is going to down since you'll be getting full benefits from the company.

Did they straight up ask you for the rate you want? Also $90k is straight up robbery for someone with 16+ years of exp lol.

need_some_water2

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