MS in Electrical Engineering job search (Huntsville: transplants, co-op, job market)

[averymaie]

We've kept the Huntsville area on our radar for the past few years and wanted to check in and see how the job market was fairing.
My husband will have his MS at the end of the year and we are planning to move from Las Vegas, NV in the next 2 years or so. He will have just a little over 5 years work experience when we get to that point.
Is there still job growth in the public and private sectors? What is a fair salary to look for with the above qualifications.

Thank you in advance for any advice

[HB2HSV]

You are looking for a job for you husband ".. In the next two year or so..."?

What type of work does he do currently?

[averymaie]

He is a electrical design engineer and works in the public sector. I'd love to move now but everywhere I look seems to want 5 years experience. So I just want to have a direction to look forward too.

[HB2HSV]

If he works in the "public sector", and I am assuming that means the utility companies, changing to predominately aerospace & defense sector will mean a new start.

Is he a U.S. citizen?

[brianjb]

Originally Posted by averymaie

He is a electrical design engineer and works in the public sector. I'd love to move now but everywhere I look seems to want 5 years experience. So I just want to have a direction to look forward too.

That whole 5 years experience thing is a guide really. I have found that if you meet half of the requirements, then go ahead and apply. If they like everything else, they won't care if you have 5 years experience or 3 years experience, right?

[CoreLysium]

Since it's way in the future, my answer would be "yes, plenty of people have similar jobs here. In fact, there are tons of EE jobs here."

Boeing, Adtran, SAIC, etc. Use google maps to look at the big buildings west of Research Park Blvd. All hire EEs. And pretty much the stuff on Bradford leading east out of there, and where Bradford spills onto Wynn Dr. And there's the Arsenal.

Tons of jobs. If he can co-op there and get specialized, that'd be even better.

[averymaie]

Originally Posted by HB2HSV

If he works in the "public sector", and I am assuming that means the utility companies, changing to predominately aerospace & defense sector will mean a new start.

Is he a U.S. citizen?

He is a U.S. citizen and he works for a govt contractor. So he is familiar with the ins & outs of govt work. Sorry I was always under the impression that public was govt work and private was nearly everything else.

[averymaie]

With the above qualifications what is an average salary for this area?

Thank you again for all of the help!

[HB2HSV]

Salary around here is competitive with the rest of country. Most of us are transplants from all over the country. I myself moved here from California and I received a pay increase by accepting this job offer. It is all part of the negotiation. Some will Try to convince you to take a lower pay because the lower cost of living, but you don't have to agree to it. That is why the best time to apply for a job is while you still have a job. You will not feel pressured to take that first offer.

I will encourage your husband to start looking now. A rule of thumb is that it will take 30 days to find a job for every $10K of your salary, so it will take 8 months if you are looking for a $80K/yr job, for example. These days most companies post professional jobs on their websites. If your husband works in the space & dedense industry, he should know who those companies are. Of course nothing beats knowing someone on the inside, but applying online is a good start.

[HB2HSV]

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