Noob questions about moving from defense to tech
About me. Currently t3 at ngc. 136k Tc (including overtime) 6-7 yoe, ALL IN DEFENSE/AEROSPACE. Currently in early 30s, living in socal (not willing to relocate due to family reasons). My yoe has been all based on designing test systems, with 95% coding exp. all done in labview. I did a bit of c++ and python during internship, but if I try leetcoding, may even not do well on easier problems atm. Some electrical work I have done were likewise all done in visio, no orcad/autocad exp. Labview wise, i am pretty confident. Same with my hw exp. However c++/python, ill be sol wo stack overflow lol... With this in mind, I am finally realizing my career is being pigeonholed into a labview monkey. Not to mention i am getting sick and tired of bureaucracy bs of defense too. So far, i did move couple times within defense, but tbh, its the same. Only benefits reaped from moving jobs were some meager increase in salary and better commute. Thus I wanted to see if there were any of you that went from defense to tech and wanted to get your two cents on following questions. 1. Realistically, should i expect to start drom entry level? If so, are the tcs posted for entry levels at levels.fyi the most accurate figures, compared to blind, glassdoor, etc.? 2. Which coding bootcamp do you recommend the most? Was it worth it to pay for any of them? So far, i have been delving into leet code a bit, though i have not used their pay service... 3. Would it be a serious disadvantage for me, if I was not intending to relocate out of so cal.? 4. For those who left defense for tech: even if i was to have a career cleansheet, was it worth it? Or do you sometimes want to move back to defense? Do bare w/ me if these questions seem very noobish...lets just say i have been living under the rocks for eons. Thanks!
Levels.fyi
After 14 years in defense, I went to a saas company knowing nothing except simple Linux. It took about two years of sporadic interviewing. I took a pay cut from my already small salary, but it has been the greatest adventure. Tech values your voice, unlike the very hierarchical defense industry. I love both industries, but I’m staying in tech for now.
Leave while you still can. Don’t get siloed in defense
Jesus Christ, labview, do you even know how to code?
Not in a professional level. Otherwise, I would have already left defense, now knowing how defense engrs are underappreciated. Sadly, you are not the only one that does not consider labview a "real coding", and for viable reasons as well. Otherwise, labview engineers and ni engineers would also find themselves w/ better paid jobs outside of aerospace and automotive.
I don't know what Labview is, guessing similar to Matlab? Anyway if I were you, I would start from scratch again, go through FreeCodeCamp curriculum or similar and then apply for a good coding bootcamp such as Hack Reactor, Lambda School etc. Plan for 6 month job search afterwards and make sure to LC during it. Other option is to do self-study + LC, cheaper, but harder path.
Is similar to simulink, rather than labview. But basically, not a text based code and non-used in the world except for mech es, so even if i had some exposure to c++/python, i said assume i should start as soon as possible, in a clean sheet. Ty for the tips btw.
learn some basics through the odin project to understand how web technologies work, do some DSA, try applying to startups, learn one or two years there then make another jump. People here will advice you to just learn leetcode but that’s not for everyone tbh.