GlobalData jobs analytic tool reports a rise in robotics jobs in the aerospace and defense sector, noting a 9% increase in month over month reports. While 3D printing jobs bumped up 4%, other fields like artificial intelligence (AI) remained virtually unchanged. With 6,119 active jobs, Raytheon came in as the biggest recruiter. Second place for active job listings was Leidos with 3,421 jobs overall and 1,061 in cybersecurity. Northrup Grumman was close on Leidos heels with 3,157 jobs posted. GlobalData uses web crawlers to capture data from publicly available sources.
Layoffs Impacting the Defense Industry
| VMWare | As VMWare CEO gets set to leave the organization and head to Intel and Dell offloads its 81% stake this year, the company announces a less than 1% reduction of employees. With over 31,000 employees at VMWare, thats just a few hundred impacted by the workforce rebalancing effort.
“This is a part of regular workforce rebalancing that ensures resources across VMware’s global businesses and geographies are aligned with strategic objectives and customer needs,” said VMware. “We continue to recruit in areas of strategic importance for the company.” |
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| Collins Aerospace | The bleeding began back in the summer for Collins Aerospace, and it continues with an unidentified number of layoffs again. Collins Aerospace sites the declining aviation industry in the face of COVID-19 struggles, and wants 2021 to be the year for $85 million in cost reductions. Raytheon CEO envisions dips in sales but is still keeping merit-based pay increases and a recovery in 2021.
From Collins Aerospace: “Our company continues to experience lower than expected commercial aviation business due to COVID-19. As a result, on Jan. 25, 2021, we announced a second Involuntary Separation Program for U.S. employees. Impacted employees will receive a comprehensive separation package, including outplacement services. These are difficult but necessary decisions to assure that our company is well-positioned for success when the industry recovers.” |
Recently, the DoD issued guidance “simplifying, centralizing, and unifying” the administrative process for appealing unfavorable security clearances. While changes won’t happen overnight for DoD employees, many herald the move away from the Personnel Security Appeals Boards (PSABs) to a consistent process for contractors and employees with the Defense Offense of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) to be a favorable move.
According to Security Clearance Attorney Sean Bigley, “The security clearance process requires transparency, consistency, and accountability in decision-making if it is to be trusted,” he says. “The process that previously existed for military and civilian clearance-holders—and the process for clearance-holders at DoD-IC components—had none of those characteristics.” The old system led to questionable decisions and occasional abuses. “This is a great day for all security clearance-holders and applicants at the Department of Defense.”
Hiring impacting the Defense Industry
| Tabet Manufacturing Company, Inc. | The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is actively searching for about 2,000 next generation nuclear security professionals. NNSA has their eye on the lookout in 10 locations across the U.S. The virtual hiring event is scheduled for January 27. |
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| ECS | ECS is currently looking to fill almost 200 cleared positions in MD, VA, and AL. However, ECS also has remote openings for cyber professionals (active security clearance still required), as well as options in Hawaii or Germany.
ECS is headquartered in Fairfax, VA, and they have over 3,000 employees around the U.S. ECS is committed to providing advanced technology, science, and engineering solutions. |
Opportunity to Watch
Competition in the IT federal government market just got steeper with Herndon-based Peraton sealing the deal on the $7.1 billion Chantilly-based Perspecta acquisition. Peraton has agreed to pay $29.35 per share to Perspecta shareholders in their all-cash deal. With the recent acquisition, Peraton’s stock bumps up accordingly last week. The deal is slated to close by the middle of 2021.
Despite trying to squash acquisition rumors recently, Perspecta Chairman and CEO Mac Curtis said that after a strategic review of everything, the sale was the right move.
“This announcement is the culmination of a comprehensive review process. Having considered all opportunities available, the Perspecta board of directors is confident this transaction offers the most compelling value creation for shareholders,” Curtis said in a statement.
Peraton Chairman and CEO Stu Shea said “Perspecta brings highly skilled talent and differentiated technology expertise across a broad range of customers in the government markets which will complement our offerings and enhance our ability to drive innovation,” Shea said.
