If you have obtained a security clearance and work in manufacturing, engineering, software development, or information technology, the opportunities to work on interesting projects are endless.
While you have the choice of many career paths, one industry that’s skyrocketing past others when it comes to both mission and opportunity is aerospace and defense (A&D). Those who work in this industry are creating a new reality – from designing the next great aircraft to leading a mission to Mars – that many of us have only dreamed in our wildest imaginations. Read below to discover some of the top reasons to join this exciting sector.
An industry built for the future
The rapid pace of technology in the 21st century has disrupted many sectors, ranging from energy to media. While some industries have struggled to find success in this new economic landscape, the A&D industry has thrived. A big reason is the product demand that comes with this career.
For those entering the A&D industry, a typical day includes designing, developing, testing, and supervising the manufacture of aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles, or developing new aviation, defense systems, and space exploration technologies that aviation companies and governments need.
The demand for developing these technologies is only growing.
According to the Aerospace Industries Association’s (AIA) 2019 Facts & Figures: U.S. Aerospace & Defense report, the A&D sector saw an excess of $929 billion in sales for 2019 that increased 4.7% from the previous year; over $375 billion was contributed to the U.S. GDP.
The A&D sector also saw a similar 4% growth in total output, reaching more than $459 billion in 2018.
The industry has shown no signs of slowing and continues to be a great option for those looking for an exciting career with nowhere to go but up.
A lucrative opportunity
Choosing employment in the A&D industry means that you’ll be in good company.
With over 2.5 million people making up the A&D workforce and an estimated 55,000-75,000 new hires in 2019, there hasn’t been a better time to get your foot in the door.
Even during times of economic decline and recession, the A&D industry has remained a fundamental driver in the U.S. and global economy.
Besides the high number of opportunities and diversity in career choices, you’ll also have a chance for a nice payday.
In the AIA’s 2019 Facts and Figures report, the average wage for an A&D worker totaled $92,742, a significantly higher number than the average American worker salary of $49,389.
Benefits from this sector even go beyond salary. Many companies like Ball Aerospace support their employees to be lifelong learners, both creatively and professionally, by providing financial support to earn a new degree. Competitive benefits packages at Ball help with retention rates and hiring by allowing employees to feel financially secure and find meaning in their work.
An opportunity to go farther
A successful career in the A&D industry isn’t just about the cutting edge work you will be doing – it also means joining a company that will support your entrepreneurial spirit and provide the best opportunities for your success.
Ball Aerospace, one of the leaders in the A&D industry, commits to provide work that matters combined with a strong culture based on collaboration, transparency, and integrity.
“I think my favorite thing about people that work here is the integrity that everybody brings to work. Everybody wants to do the best. Everybody’s dedicated to getting the right answer, providing the best products to our customers, and collaborating to do that,” shared Casey Waggy, Senior Thermal Engineer at Ball Aerospace.
Although the A&D industry is collectively working to increase diversity and inclusion amongst its employees, Ball Corporation has been a proven champion for equal opportunity. They were named by Forbes Magazine the 2019 top company among America’s Best Employers for Diversity – citing Ball’s leadership-driven commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Another standout quality for Ball is its ability to foster an entrepreneurial spirit among its staff. For Dennis Hu, Environmental Health and Safety Manager at Ball Aerospace, this includes giving people opportunities to exercise their ideas and, more importantly, creating an environment where employees are not afraid to fail.
“If you work at Ball, you have a lot of autonomy to try new ideas, to try new solutions. And because of our size, and the resources we have available to us, we’re able to do those kinds of things,” said Hu.
For others, working at Ball gives them an opportunity to create new things that will help shape our planet.
“Ball is a place where you’re going to be able to make an impact,” says Brandon Boese, Production Project Engineer at Ball Aerospace. “At the end of the day, you’re building hardware, you’re testing hardware, you’re delivering hardware that’s going to make a significant impact in the world, at large.”
Ready to make today’s dreams become tomorrow’s reality? Check out Ball Aerospace’s current open positions.
SPONSORED CONTENT: This article is written on or behalf of our Sponsor.
