Well, it so happens that I am an Air Force engineer-- Department of the Air Force (DAF) that is.
There are two kinds of Air Force engineers. DAF and USAF (Active Duty).
If you want to stay a civilian, go DAF. DAF engineers are civil servants (just like NASA or the IRS), and work on USAF...
The new kid on the block is looking for old hats who know -337s and STCs.
What is the quickest & easiest way to get FAA approval for mods and repairs?
I have done some side jobs for friends with Warbirds, designing repairs for cracked spars and mods for avionics boxes...but I have kept it to...
Painting Antennas and Radomes is like speeding on interstate--you shouldn't but most people do.
I have never known any operator to notice a reduction in antenna gain or radar accuracy due to paint, but in a lab you can usually see a definite reduction in capability from a field -painted antenna...