Future MDA, NASA, and military job loss (Huntsville: moving to, design)

[macwell]

Ares chief leaving to rejoin ex-boss - al.com


The man overseeing the Ares program at Marshall Space Flight Center is leaving for a job with Dynetics, the latest plot twist in the saga of the controversial rocket program.

[DvlsAdvc8]

Originally Posted by HB2HSV

Computer programming is one of those that's difficult to put a consistent salary value. If you are in a "hot" field, say java, you can demand a lot of money. But if you're still using COBOL and/or BASIC ....

This is 100% true. It also depends on the extent of one's experience - "programming" is a huge catch all term. I'm normally considered a programmer by most people, my title is "application designer", and I spend as much time on domain models and databases as I do actually coding.

That said, 80k is pretty low for a 51 year old programmer, unless he really hasn't been in the field long or has a narrow skill set IMO.

[HB2HSV]

Hey Dvls,

Is it difficult for someone who has software (programming C/C++, C#, .NET, PL/ SQL) and database (MS visual studio/ Oracle) background in the commercial (telecom) sector to transition into aerospace/ defense sector? I have a friend from church who's looking to make such change.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by HB2HSV

Hey Dvls,

Is it difficult for someone who has software (programming C/C++, C#, .NET, PL/ SQL) and database (MS visual studio/ Oracle) background in the commercial (telecom) sector to transition into aerospace/ defense sector? I have a friend from church who's looking to make such change.

Also, I wonder how many of the Continental people would be able to transition to the defense/aerospace jobs in Huntsville.

[djmaxwell]

Originally Posted by HB2HSV

Hey Dvls,

Is it difficult for someone who has software (programming C/C++, C#, .NET, PL/ SQL) and database (MS visual studio/ Oracle) background in the commercial (telecom) sector to transition into aerospace/ defense sector? I have a friend from church who's looking to make such change.

I've worked in both. I stared in aerospace, moved to telecom, and am now back in aerospace. Much of the work is similar in many respects. Of the skillsets listed above C++, PL/SQL, and Oracle will probably be most applicable. The real difference is in the culture and the mindset. If somebody's cable goes out or they can't send a text message, it generally isn't the end of the world. When a weapon leaves the rail, it has potentially greater ramifications. The other real discriminator is the security clearance. It is probably harder to break into the industry without having it.

[friday13]

Originally Posted by djmaxwell

The other real discriminator is the security clearance. It is probably harder to break into the industry without having it.

Good timing. I wanted just this morning to start a thread about the security clearance.

Is there a tell-tale verbiage in the job announcement that would indicate SC is required prior to the start of job?

For example, I have seen job postings where they say "SC: able to obtain", or "SC: required" or just "job requirements: blabla, security clearance"

How should I read the two:
** "able to obtain" = make sure you are clean and you will check out when we run the SC on you/for you, or "you will need to start the SC process on your own once we give you a job. I have a family friend that the contractor company obtain a SC for him at their expense.

** "required" in which way: "do not even apply if you don't have it"?

Since the SC has to be renewed periodically, does it make any sense to just obtain it on my own just to have it ready when (who knows?) requested, can I even run a SC on myself with no valid reason to do so, except for a "potential" job opportunity? Thanks.

[djmaxwell]

Originally Posted by friday13

Good timing. I wanted just this morning to start a thread about the security clearance.

Is there a tell-tale verbiage in the job announcement that would indicate SC is required prior to the start of job?

For example, I have seen job postings where they say "SC: able to obtain", or "SC: required" or just "job requirements: blabla, security clearance"

How should I read the two:
** "able to obtain" = make sure you are clean and you will check out when we run the SC on you/for you, or "you will need to start the SC process on your own once we give you a job. I have a family friend that the contractor company obtain a SC for him at their expense.

** "required" in which way: "do not even apply if you don't have it"?

Since the SC has to be renewed periodically, does it make any sense to just obtain it on my own just to have it ready when (who knows?) requested, can I even run a SC on myself with no valid reason to do so, except for a "potential" job opportunity? Thanks.

You cannot obtain a security clearance on your own.

Reasons for requiring an existing clearance vary. It could be that the timelines on the project don't make it possible to wait for someone to obtain a clearance or it could be a budget issue. Clearances aren't cheap.

If a posting requires an existing security clearance, it would seem fairly futile in applying as it would get weeded out from the start.

"Able to obtain" would be that you meet the qualifications. If you are unsure of what those are, you could contact the HR department of the company you are pursuing.

[HB2HSV]

Originally Posted by djmaxwell

You cannot obtain a security clearance on your own.

Reasons for requiring an existing clearance vary. It could be that the timelines on the project don't make it possible to wait for someone to obtain a clearance or it could be a budget issue. Clearances aren't cheap.

If a posting requires an existing security clearance, it would seem fairly futile in applying as it would get weeded out from the start.

"Able to obtain" would be that you meet the qualifications. If you are unsure of what those are, you could contact the HR department of the company you are pursuing.

Yes, a clearance is based on need. Your 'need' so you can get a job is not a valid "need".

Another reason firms want existing clearance is the length of time it takes to obtain a clearance. Since 9/11, it is estimate to take a minimum of 18 months to get a clearance. Most project simply can not wait that long.

Some maybe able to obtain an 'interim' clearance that means, based on initial findings, you don't have anything obvious that will be a cause to deny you of a clearance.

Factors that will preclude you of a clearance include bad credit history, high debt, drug and/or criminal history, and a person not of 'high moral character'. It is also not looked upon favorably if you have direct relatives (spouse, parents, children, etc.) that lives or travel frequently to overseas. You'll also need to explain any traffic violation tickets you have had in the last 10 yrs.

Once you get a clearance, your life will only get more restricted and more 'transparent'. You will notify your security office if you do go out of country for either personal pleasure (including visiting young girls in Thailand) or for legitimate business trips, and will file a report when you get back. You'll also file a report when there's an unusual contact with a non-US citizen. Sometime you'll receive a 'counter-intelligence' briefing, advising you how to handle situation such as a tall blonde Russian woman wanting to seduce you (ask me how I know this! ).

Should you meet a significant other along the way and, depending on your level of clearance, you may want to have him/ her investigated to make sure they can 'clear' him/ her before you decide to take the plunge. On some jobs, it maybe required of you to change your appearance, go on indefinite business trips with destination and contact info not available. Avoid conversation with spouse that starts with "how was your day?" "what's going on at work?" etc. Then when the unfortunate day comes when you are going through a divorce, your clearance may be at risk of being canceled because of your financial setback from your divorce.

Still want to get a clearance? Will here are some reason why you shouldn't.

If you find yourself talk in your sleep, or you share everything with your spouse, you may not be a good candidate to apply for a security clearance.

If your spouse can not stand the fact of not knowing where you are on a business trip, nor can he/she get a hold of you, you may not be a good candidate to apply for a security clearance.

If you find yourself sympathetic to a [non-US governement] socialist and/or communist regime, you may not be a good candidate to apply for a security clearance.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by HB2HSV

Yes, a clearance is based on need. Your 'need' so you can get a job is not a valid "need".

Another reason firms want existing clearance is the length of time it takes to obtain a clearance. Since 9/11, it is estimate to take a minimum of 18 months to get a clearance. Most project simply can not wait that long.

Some maybe able to obtain an 'interim' clearance that means, based on initial findings, you don't have anything obvious that will be a cause to deny you of a clearance.

Factors that will preclude you of a clearance include bad credit history, high debt, drug and/or criminal history, and a person not of 'high moral character'. It is also not looked upon favorably if you have direct relatives (spouse, parents, children, etc.) that lives or travel frequently to overseas. You'll also need to explain any traffic violation tickets you have had in the last 10 yrs.

Once you get a clearance, your life will only get more restricted and more 'transparent'. You will notify your security office if you do go out of country for either personal pleasure (including visiting young girls in Thailand) or for legitimate business trips, and will file a report when you get back. You'll also file a report when there's an unusual contact with a non-US citizen. Sometime you'll receive a 'counter-intelligence' briefing, advising you how to handle situation such as a tall blonde Russian woman wanting to seduce you (ask me how I know this! ).

Should you meet a significant other along the way and, depending on your level of clearance, you may want to have him/ her investigated to make sure they can 'clear' him/ her before you decide to take the plunge. On some jobs, it maybe required of you to change your appearance, go on indefinite business trips with destination and contact info not available. Avoid conversation with spouse that starts with "how was your day?" "what's going on at work?" etc. Then when the unfortunate day comes when you are going through a divorce, your clearance may be at risk of being canceled because of your financial setback from your divorce.

Still want to get a clearance? Will here are some reason why you shouldn't.

If you find yourself talk in your sleep, or you share everything with your spouse, you may not be a good candidate to apply for a security clearance.

If your spouse can not stand the fact of not knowing where you are on a business trip, nor can he/she get a hold of you, you may not be a good candidate to apply for a security clearance.

If you find yourself sympathetic to a [non-US governement] socialist and/or communist regime, you may not be a good candidate to apply for a security clearance.

That was a pretty good post. Another thing I'll add is, if a person has a clearance and they change jobs to one that doesn't require a clearance, they may lose their clearance. He might want to only apply to jobs which require clearances. Having a clearance is an employment asset. A cleared job can't easily be offshored to India for example.

[jkratze1]

U.S. to shelve Europe missile shield plans: report | Reuters

Another Bush initiative shot down.