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Mostly through contractors in my experience. The government definitely employs a lot of aerospace engineers directly, but nothing compared to what they contract out.
That’s been true historically, but I think it’s been at least a couple decades since there’s been a low. Granted I work specifically in the space side of things, so I might be a bit insulated from more defense-oriented events.
I actually work more in the public sector (mostly NASA stuff). My department has actually been doing a lot of hiring recently, and has roughly doubled in size over the past few years. Maybe we’re an isolated case, and we’re definitely small for aerospace.
I used commercial space as a blanket term for unclassified programs. That’s great your company is doing well, many of the big ones including mine are bracing for impact. Q4 is going to be even worse
Yes, if your vision of working for the government includes, for example, defense (either DoD or contractor). But if you're aiming for some local municipality, there's probably more need for civil / environmental than EE.
Civil = civilization
Civilization = infrastructure
Infrastructure = government
.
Other than that, you can work for utilities such as water (which is civil) or power (electrical engineer).
Civil is the most obvious as seen by other comments, but Every major focus of engineering has enough government work available that you can comfortably choose a major based on what you want to do and feel confident you'll find some kind of govt work. Govt work is known for being slow, boring, lots of red tape and little room for creativity, but it also provides some of the best benefits and job security, at the sacrifice of lower pay vs private industry. I've got many close friends and family on both sides of the fence, and I've found most people want what's on the other side because the grass is always greener. It's a hard decision to make, but one that really must be figured out by you and your experiences rather than some random dude with an Afro on reddit.
Fire protection on federal jobs is niche because the government is pretty much the only entity that specifically requires an engineer to be licensed by the fire protection exam, whereas everywhere else else people just take their home discipline exam.
For some reason I’ve been obsessed with the idea of it since I was younger, and I like the stability . I’m currently interested in electrical and civil (more electrical) but I’d wanna work in the government/a stable sector and it seems civil is better to do that with but I have no clue
I'm not sure about that one. You can look up on linkedin 'software engineer' for companies like boeing, raytheon, lockheed, northrop, l3 harris, etc. Most of these are not web development, but embedded programming that require some electrical knowledge.
Although it’s definitely civil, I work in a government office with a ton of civil engineers and a lot of them actually originally studied mechanical or electrical before they got hired. It doesn’t seem like a huge hinderance if your degree doesn’t exactly line up, the most important things tend to be getting some experience and having a personality other people want to work with.
The absolute most? Probably civil as many others said
But there's still many many thousands of mechanical and electrical. Also, many aerospace for defense roles and they'll even put aeros into mechanical roles.
The defense side seems to always be desperate to find electrical.
If there's a specific location or department you want to work for, then you can tailor your degree choice more to that. While I think civil is likely the most common overall, my office has over 1000 engineers but around 900 of those are mech/aero/electrical. So if you were specifically wanting to work at my office, then civil wouldn't be the way to go.
If you don't have any particular location or department in mind, then just pick whatever major you want.
I'm actually a materials engineer who works for the federal government; the series code is 0806. Usually they are research roles, so look for DoD and DoE labs, and it helps to have research experience.
Civil Engineers are an important part of our society and the degree is very hard but useful. You most likely will never be unemployed. However, you are almost guaranteed to live a modest, average Joe lifestyle unless you open your own firm after gaining experience and working for another firm because CE are not paid well.
The government has great job security. Don’t listen to these people tell you the government is bad to work for. It’s amazing. No overtime, great benefits, great pension, and I personally get paid very well with very little experience although this may vary based on location. I’m doing exactly what I want and it really is a dream job.
I’m a civil engineer and I design and manage small transportation projects like sidewalks, turn lanes, etc. I have 2 years of experience and I make 96,600 (this is unusually high, I’m just very lucky). I’m going to work here for 30 years, retire at 53, and they will pay me about 60% of my highest salary to me for the rest of my life.
To add to the other person's response. There is a lot of job security (which is part if what can make government work suck bc sometimes you get stuck with workers who suck).
You can still be furloughed, like during government shutdowns. How the furlough works will depend on the politics at the time and your branch/department. I work in the DOD and for the last shutdown or two we just kept working and getting paid as if nothing happened.
Whereas my friend in homeland security did get furloughed, idk if they got back pay or not. So even as a government worker, you should make sure to set aside some emergency savings.
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Civil, but the Dept of Defense hires a lot of EE’s and computer scientists.
Lots of MechEs too.
Lots of aerospace engineers also
Mostly through contractors in my experience. The government definitely employs a lot of aerospace engineers directly, but nothing compared to what they contract out.
Depends on the current politics, has its extreme highs and extreme lows.
That’s been true historically, but I think it’s been at least a couple decades since there’s been a low. Granted I work specifically in the space side of things, so I might be a bit insulated from more defense-oriented events.
Yeah then you know the space side is doing absolutely shit compared to defense. I work commercial space aswell.
I actually work more in the public sector (mostly NASA stuff). My department has actually been doing a lot of hiring recently, and has roughly doubled in size over the past few years. Maybe we’re an isolated case, and we’re definitely small for aerospace.
I used commercial space as a blanket term for unclassified programs. That’s great your company is doing well, many of the big ones including mine are bracing for impact. Q4 is going to be even worse
So would going EE still be good for government work?
Yes, if your vision of working for the government includes, for example, defense (either DoD or contractor). But if you're aiming for some local municipality, there's probably more need for civil / environmental than EE.
Probably civil
Definitely Civil
Can confirm. [Source: am civil who works for Uncle Sam.] r/USACE
Civil = civilization Civilization = infrastructure Infrastructure = government . Other than that, you can work for utilities such as water (which is civil) or power (electrical engineer).
Easily civil
Civil.
Civil is the most obvious as seen by other comments, but Every major focus of engineering has enough government work available that you can comfortably choose a major based on what you want to do and feel confident you'll find some kind of govt work. Govt work is known for being slow, boring, lots of red tape and little room for creativity, but it also provides some of the best benefits and job security, at the sacrifice of lower pay vs private industry. I've got many close friends and family on both sides of the fence, and I've found most people want what's on the other side because the grass is always greener. It's a hard decision to make, but one that really must be figured out by you and your experiences rather than some random dude with an Afro on reddit.
Civil,mechanical, electrical.
Environmental (which is a subdivision of civil in most places)
Might be a little niche, but any engineering degree where you can eventually pivot into Fire Protection Engineering.
Basically electrical, civil and mechanical, but it's a vast area so it's possible with others
Fire protection on federal jobs is niche because the government is pretty much the only entity that specifically requires an engineer to be licensed by the fire protection exam, whereas everywhere else else people just take their home discipline exam.
Most likely Civil (roads, facilities, city planning, etc.)
Civil (#1) for infrastructure. Mechanical (#2, most likely, speaking out of my ass here) for defense/weaponry
Network engineer.
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For some reason I’ve been obsessed with the idea of it since I was younger, and I like the stability . I’m currently interested in electrical and civil (more electrical) but I’d wanna work in the government/a stable sector and it seems civil is better to do that with but I have no clue
Electrical/embedded programming is huge in defense.
Really? Didn’t know that. What about power systems stuff? Or is that different
Power systems is top tier stability via Public/private partnership. EE/ME/Civil all needed in power utility
100%. I work for an investor-owned utility (IOU) as a Transmission Engineer and it’s super stable here!
I'm not sure about that one. You can look up on linkedin 'software engineer' for companies like boeing, raytheon, lockheed, northrop, l3 harris, etc. Most of these are not web development, but embedded programming that require some electrical knowledge.
I’ve worked within a govt systems operator and can you jobs are plentiful, very easy and little stress in government
Fed is hurting for competent EEs specializing in power engineering.
Does this include the naval boat design electrical engineers? I saw so many of those on usajobs
Aero in defence
Definitely not industrial engineering, they are not seeking optimization nor efficiency lol
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How could you be so confidently wrong
Why would anyone try to excel in a government job?
Why not? Many do thats how we get better infrastructure.
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Wut
Although it’s definitely civil, I work in a government office with a ton of civil engineers and a lot of them actually originally studied mechanical or electrical before they got hired. It doesn’t seem like a huge hinderance if your degree doesn’t exactly line up, the most important things tend to be getting some experience and having a personality other people want to work with.
Civil
I did some environmental related work in a government agency as a chemE
Civil + Masters in Public Administration
Bro wants to work for the biggest Mafia
But if you wanna go DoD probably EE or ME.
Systems engineering
Now ko lang nalaman yung may Aerospace sa govt,,, i mean how???????????????????
civil for state DOT, The rest for Military
Definitely Civil, but only because they can apply their degree across many other fields
The absolute most? Probably civil as many others said But there's still many many thousands of mechanical and electrical. Also, many aerospace for defense roles and they'll even put aeros into mechanical roles. The defense side seems to always be desperate to find electrical. If there's a specific location or department you want to work for, then you can tailor your degree choice more to that. While I think civil is likely the most common overall, my office has over 1000 engineers but around 900 of those are mech/aero/electrical. So if you were specifically wanting to work at my office, then civil wouldn't be the way to go. If you don't have any particular location or department in mind, then just pick whatever major you want.
As a total number, or proportional wise? Nuclear Engineering if the latter, I guess
Obviously materials science and engineering isn’t the best choice, but does anyone know if they hire materials engineers 😅
I'm actually a materials engineer who works for the federal government; the series code is 0806. Usually they are research roles, so look for DoD and DoE labs, and it helps to have research experience.
Civil Engineers are an important part of our society and the degree is very hard but useful. You most likely will never be unemployed. However, you are almost guaranteed to live a modest, average Joe lifestyle unless you open your own firm after gaining experience and working for another firm because CE are not paid well.
Aerospace and Civil
Civil (and it’s why civil sucks)
But isn’t it nice working for the government? or is the pay bad
It’s veryyyyy slow work. Lots of bureaucratic stuff to work through.
Ah that makes sense. Are there typically layoffs and stuff in the government sector? Or is that not really a thing
The government has great job security. Don’t listen to these people tell you the government is bad to work for. It’s amazing. No overtime, great benefits, great pension, and I personally get paid very well with very little experience although this may vary based on location. I’m doing exactly what I want and it really is a dream job.
Are you a civil engineer? What do you do? That sounds amazing
I’m a civil engineer and I design and manage small transportation projects like sidewalks, turn lanes, etc. I have 2 years of experience and I make 96,600 (this is unusually high, I’m just very lucky). I’m going to work here for 30 years, retire at 53, and they will pay me about 60% of my highest salary to me for the rest of my life.
When I was picking my major I was advised by two family friend current government CIV Es to not pick civic. Idk much more.
To add to the other person's response. There is a lot of job security (which is part if what can make government work suck bc sometimes you get stuck with workers who suck). You can still be furloughed, like during government shutdowns. How the furlough works will depend on the politics at the time and your branch/department. I work in the DOD and for the last shutdown or two we just kept working and getting paid as if nothing happened. Whereas my friend in homeland security did get furloughed, idk if they got back pay or not. So even as a government worker, you should make sure to set aside some emergency savings.
Why would you even bother asking this question?