Should I get out of DoD work? DSS? Microsoft? Meta?
I’ve been wanting to get out of the DoD industry because I feel like as a SWE, I’m underpaid and not being challenged. I also don’t have a particular passion for the Space Industry and the program I am on is more focused on hardware functionality over software technology. Don’t get me wrong WLB is great but I’m 23 and want to take advantage of my ambition. So I started casting my net and got a couple offers and some interviews. Disney Streaming Service: Entertainment industry has always interested me but I fear I will be running into the same problem here where I, as a SWE, will be supporting an external product and not be working directly on the technology. This position interests me, however, because I am getting hired as a Mid-Level Engineer and I will be working on a team of 3. I believe smaller teams allows for more growth and leadership opportunities. Base - 110k Sign on - 10k RSU - 60k Frontier Technically: This is a small private DoD company that reached out to me and what interests me here is that they are mainly focused on software. They seem more up to date with technology and smaller company = faster environment. They also have high interest in me and are willing to up my compensation. Base - 120k Microsoft: I interviewed for the closed side of work here and got feedback that my coding was on the weaker side (I’ve only been prepping for ~3 weeks while juggling full time work and full time school, so this was expected), but they liked me as a candidate and are trying to find a team who’d be a good fit for me. - no official offer yet Meta: I have my coding interview this coming Monday and am not too confident but willing to learn. The position is of high interest to me, being in a role that deals with both the business and engineering side. Google: A recruiter reached out to me so I am in the beginning phases of talking to the hiring manager. Overall, I’m just trying to get some opinions on what peoples thoughts are on these companies, my offers, and what people working in the DoD think. Should I stick around at NG for a little longer, study up on LC and then interview again at these bigger tech companies? Current TC - 96k YOE - 1
Keep interviewing until you get >= 200k TC, don’t leave for a penny less tbh
I started my career in DoD contracting. Learned a lot more after jumping to Tech. If you’re not interested in the defense industry it’s prob not worth the lower pay (unless you have TS/SCI as positions requiring it can pay much more). See what the Microsoft offer is, if good could be worth taking. Otherwise keep LC and aim for a higher offer. Need to be able to make time commitment for LC for multiple weeks though to have a shot.
Hey thanks for the advice! would love to hear about your work experience and how you got into Tech
Does “DoD” stand for “Department of Defense”?
Yes. Op works for a well known defense contractor.
Also means "Dreams often Die"
You can stay working on the DoD side of the house while working in big tech and making 200k+, especially with a TS/SCI. Microsoft, Splunk, AWS etc. all have public sector teams. Not that I recommend it but they’re not mutually exclusive
Don’t do it. It’s bitc work
Come over to AWS https://www.amazon.jobs/en/teams/awsintelligence#jobs
This. You can pick a team outside of the cleared space and do SWE work, and go on call every quater to get the cleared bonus. Here and there you might need to assist your team with work in the cleared regions. Only need to say schedule a day out of the week for this kind of things. You can use your clearance for promos and salary negotiation. You can easily make 300k with the clearance bonus added.
Do you work on the cleared side of Amazon? I’d like to hear more about how this works.
Come to Microsoft, you’ll be thrown back into DoD work if you have clearance. (And by that I mean don’t.)
Don’t walk, run from the DoD environment if you want true career growth, high compensation, and to work on new technology with smart people. I left DoD and my clearance behind around the same age and it was the best decision I ever made.
Looking to do the same thing
Hey, thanks for the advice! Do you mind sharing more of your experience in DoD and the shift to tech?
If you enjoy the space, checkout some of the new gen defense companies with lots of growth like Anduril, Shield AI, Rebellion, etc
Currently, not enjoying the Space Industry mostly because I don’t have an aerospace background and SV work isn’t my forte, but am open to exploring different aspects of DoD.
Naive question- what’s DoD?
Department of Defense. Government contractor work.
Ok. Thanks.
Leave dod. Your career will be stagnant if you stay, same as your pay