How to Become a satellite engineer? 1

[adroit1]

All,
I used to work in satellie ops while working on my degree. Got my degree in electrical engineering, and moved. In construction design now (yek!) and trying to get back to the birds. Tried to get a reserve job at one of the space labs, but was redirected to facilities. What do I need to do, who to talk to, to get OUT of government work in BACK into the defense contractor sector full time?

 

[johnwiss]

Well -- do you have a specialty that you studied in college related to SAT stuff (communications, control theory, general electronics)? Where did you go to school and what exactly do you want to do? You know the companies that deal with satellites: Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing, Northrup Grumman--do some job searching online and get your resume together!!

 

[adroit1]

You know how undergraduate degrees are - a smattering of everything. About half of my classes I did really well in; and I (sick one that I am) really enjoyed electro-magnetics. I ended up taking every EM class they offered.

I went to the University of Colorado.

I have been looking on and off. In late 2001, NG called to tell me my resume was excellent, not to lose faith, and try again in a year or two. They had no extra money to bring on new employees. Nice gesture.

Since then, I got employment with gov't that didn't complement what I aimed for (construction industry design engineer) and I thought maybe with all the power calcs it could complement my ultimate goals. However, I received only one reply to my last round of resumes, and it was another career tangent that came after I formally accepted a transfer.

It seems that folks are seeing the design engineering and contracting, but none of the prior knowledge and skills or how they could meld together. It's frustrating.

Where I am, there's kind of a prestige to work in the facilities like this. One man told me his hiring authority makes its very difficult to hire. Tons of disqualifying restrictions designed to allow only the most prestigious applicants through. For example, although you may be a published PhD, you must have had 3.8+ GPA on your undergraduate degree.

I do find humor in it - when you have that many highly intelligent folks in one place there's typically less common sense floating around. Do they hire people with common sense to take care of the scientists?

I'll keep trying, although I've never gotten employment cold with only a resume.

 

[Heckler]

Zocate - Can I suggest Networking within the Satellite Industry. For example, subscribe to Space.com, or Launch Space....or visit them online. They are always having technical symposiums. Also, another suggestion with your resume' is to develope a functional resume' verses a chronological resume'. The functional resume' will allow you to focus on skills and qualifications verses job tasks. ANyway, that's my take on getting back to a first love. I use to work for Lockheed Martin at the Sunnyvale, CA campus where I worked on SBIRS High. I still track the satellite industry both commerical and military, but see that industry currently in a deployment slump. Okay best of luck

Vince