I didn't apply through the front door, so I can't comment on how that works.

I got the phone number of a hiring manager, called and emailed him a cover letter and resume, and HR set up an in-person interview with the whole team of 8-10 engineers.

I met them all in a conference room and gave a 20-minute presentation covering a past design project that demonstrated my expertise. They grilled me with tough questions to assess my critical thinking and design analysis. Then they gave me a tour, let me ask questions, and called me a day later with an offer letter.

Very professional and tight, but also laid back. Most people there are young professionals in Southern California and show up in shorts and flip-flops.

Make sure you know your stuff cold. They are all top performers and will drill down into the tough details to get a sense for how you will fit their culture. You will have meetings like this on a weekly basis and have your designs and analysis ripped apart by aerospace experts who will come down hard on you for mistakes (tough love).

A 20-minute presentation covering a past design project that demonstrated my expertise for the position.