The mission of national security remains the same, but the kind of talent needed to fulfill it is changing. Arms races are muddled with algorithm solutions, hacking, social media influencing, and other consequences of the digital age. This shifting focus presents new opportunities for young coders and the software savvy of America to make a difference, make more money, and obtain stable careers in defense.
In the future, the code (read “pen”) will be as powerful as the warhead (read “sword”); there are many instances of software (malware and the like) that can replicate and be used for coordinated attacks, both in cyberspace as well as in physical space (such as attacks on utility infrastructure). This is an example of what the Department of Defense has been calling “multi-domain operations,” characterized by constant competition, integration, and advantage seeking in many different arenas that prefigure combat dominance. Cyber security, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality are all areas where software will determine battlefield results (and conversely security). Here is a key summary from a February SWAP report commissioned by the Department of Defense:
Software is everywhere and is in almost everything that the Department operates and uses.
Software drives our weapon systems; command, control, and communications systems; intelligence systems; logistics; and infrastructure, and it drives much of the backroom enterprise processes that make the Department function. If cyber is the new domain in which we are fighting, then our ability to maintain situational awareness and our ability to fight, defend, and counter threats will be based on the capabilities of our software. In this new domain, software is both an enabler as well as a target of the fight.
A key conclusion of the report is software is never “done.” We need innovators updating, integrating, testing, and protecting the software behind our most important processes. Around 60% of aerospace and defense employees are over age 45 vs. 44% in the overall US workforce. Defense contractors need young professional coders, and this need is likely to increase. For those who can rise to the seriousness of projects entailed, it is definitely an employee’s market. Look no further than the Huntsville market for opportunities to be part of the military’s modernized software focus. But what is a typical path to becoming a software engineer in aerospace and defense? And what does it take to thrive as a young professional in the field? Here is a brief case study.
Chung-Thuy “Thuy” Pham is an Entry-Level Software Engineer with Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation (INTUITIVE), a Huntsville-headquartered aerospace and defense firm with internationally recognized expertise in aerospace engineering, virtual reality, and related software engineering as well as traditional system approaches. INTUITIVE was recently named the #1 Best Workplace for Millennials in the country among small and midsized companies by Great Place to Work. Thuy said, “I was drawn to apply to INTUITIVE because of the company’s reputation. I learned throughout the interview process that there are a lot of opportunities to learn different areas of your field, to continue to learn and grow within the company.” Although she has only been on the job for a short time, she demonstrates the key ingredients of a successful software engineer in the aerospace and defense space.
The Inspiration to Succeed
For someone with a four year-degree, software engineering is among the best starting salaries: According to the University of Wisconsin, Computer Science graduates with a B.S. can expect starting salaries approximately three times that of fast-food wages. But to be successful long-term you need to have a reason to succeed. Who do you want to make proud? How do you want to impact the world?
Thuy said, “My mom and I immigrated to the U.S. when I was 8. My mom left behind her life and career as a nurse and worked laborious jobs once we came here. She has always worked hard for our sake and motivated me to get a degree so I wouldn’t be relegated to physical labor, and so that I would be upwardly mobile.” Thuy paid her own way through school and looks forward to making her family proud and adding stability.
“One of the things I admired about INTUITIVE is their active involvement in the community,” said Thuy. “They are supporters of several local programs, such as Urban Engine, which holds free innovation events, networking opportunities, and educational resources.” She noted the company’s “Opportunities to Serve” program, wherein employees provide information about community service projects they are involved with and how others can also participate. “I always seek opportunities to give back to my community, so I really appreciate that INTUITIVE encourages the same,” she said.
Skill and Confidence
Of course, you need the requisite skills to get started as a software engineer. You don’t have to start coding in middle school, but you need the drive to learn what is necessary. Although she had excelled in biology and tutoring, Thuy took her first computer science course in programming at Calhoun Community College in 2015 (she later completed her B.A. at Athens State University). She said, “I started seeing myself as a potential Software Engineer once I got past a couple of the notoriously tough classes in my curriculum. The classes were a challenge, but at the same time I enjoyed the material I was learning!”
“While in school, I sought out opportunities to share my skills through tutoring or teaching whenever I could—teaching is also a passion of mine. I think knowledge once learned should be shared and accessible! Two local organizations have been invaluable to me: Urban Engine and Women Who Code! Along with support for skill building, they offer a great representation of women who are highly successful and who are always extending an open hand to those who are new and are looking for guidance.”
Thuy added, “In my career now, I am rapidly learning so much from my teammates and I love that INTUITIVE fosters a culture of mentoring.”
Constant Learning
Just as military software is never really “done,” neither is the growth of a software professional.
“Although qualified, new challenges in your first job may make one feel unprepared. There are many lessons and skills that must be learned when starting a new career,” said Thuy. She noted that trust in team-leads and open communication is paramount.
“You may worry about being able to keep up with the rest of the team, like I did,” she explained. “You will be exposed to tools and processes that you’ve never used before. I think it’s important to be humble, yet it is also important to remind yourself that you have great ability to learn and adapt! The people-centric leadership style at INTUITIVE makes it easy to obtain the knowledge you need.”
Thuy noted that she sees graduate school in her future, as INTUITIVE is flexible in helping team members work and advance their education.
Teamwork
Although the perception of someone coding software does not include much interaction with others, for complex contracts it is a constant. Defense contractors must translate customer expectations to their teams. According to Thuy, “INTUITIVE values feedback and ideas about project details, but also other peripheral concerns. . . they even asked me where I wanted to position my desk.”
“Along with having confidence in your capacity to learn, it is also important to recognize that teamwork is a major part of your role,” said Thuy. “The most important aspect for me the first few days on the job was getting integrated with my team. I made it a priority on my first day to remember all my teammates’ names and learn at least one thing about them. And by the third day, I felt like I could go to any of my teammates if I had questions.”
Thuy said, “I think it’s important to feel that sense of camaraderie because your team members are the ones who can help you overcome obstacles and discover new solutions.”
Camaraderie and morale go beyond just getting the job done. She noted that sometimes individual teams will need to work overtime for a time period, but that the leaders are sensitive to the potential for burnout and they balance the intensity load over time.
Millennial Leaders
Thuy immigrated to the United States from Vietnam and learned English at 8 years old. She is also stepping into what is perceived to be a male-dominated field. The landscape is changing because of people like her, and companies who are recruiting them—the next generation of software experts. If you are considering a career in software engineering, rest assured you will benefit from working with such well-rounded peers as Thuy. If you cultivate these traits, you’ll have what it takes to have a stable career with an upward trajectory.
If you’re interested in joining the next generation of innovative workforce at INTUITIVE, check out their list of open positions here today.