Boeing

Challenging jobs with good engineering content. Contact with the Air Force customer. Good inter-group working relations. Fairly stable employment. Good benefits package. More often than not, good co-operation with other groups on joint knowledge, ventures, and ideas. Good internal systems. Engineering group that seeks out new concepts, has contact lists of experts or groups to assist in design or research. Phantom Works is outstanding.

Larger groups within IDS get more of the good jobs, recognition, and research and development money. Posted jobs for possible transfers are often for an already selected candidate. There is a "not invented here" syndrome with certain groups, locations, and individuals, which means you don't get an honest chance for new concepts or later work.

Be open-minded to all employees, not just those you see all the time. Seek out the mavericks so you can get out-of-the-box ideas for pursuits in new business. Have a long-term approach to what engineering means, and do not outsource the intellectual design content of products.