Life after the defence industry?

[dnb]

I've worked in the defence industry for a few years as a systems engineer, and I think I've been reasonably successful - although I can't talk too much about a lot of it other than in handwaving terms. Needless to say, my CV makes for interesting writing but not reading. (In case you are wondering what systems engineers do, it's seemed to me to be a combination of algorithm development and lots of data analysis - usually involving hard sums )

However, it seems to me that (whoever wins the next election) the defence review next year will kill off a lot of my future opportunities. The part of company I work in also seems to be taking steps to distance themselves from building sensor systems in favour of systems integration (time will tell whether this is right or wrong), so I can't see me wanting to stay with them for much more than another year assuming continued funding for what I am working on at the moment. Hopefully it will continue after that, but nothing is certain at this stage, so it begs the question:

What do systems engineers do when they leave the defence industry? Is there a desire for us in the "outside world"? All I really want from work is to be paid to do something different tomorrow to what I did today. Any ideas?

Thanks

[dudleybloke]

build the big hi tech toy for next xmas.

think robosapian crossed with stephen hawking with full net connectivity and working death ray.

or start a pasty shop!

[dilbert]

dnb said:

I've worked in the defence industry for a few years as a systems engineer, and I think I've been reasonably successful - although I can't talk too much about a lot of it other than in handwaving terms. Needless to say, my CV makes for interesting writing but not reading. (In case you are wondering what systems engineers do, it's seemed to me to be a combination of algorithm development and lots of data analysis - usually involving hard sums )

However, it seems to me that (whoever wins the next election) the defence review next year will kill off a lot of my future opportunities. The part of company I work in also seems to be taking steps to distance themselves from building sensor systems in favour of systems integration (time will tell whether this is right or wrong), so I can't see me wanting to stay with them for much more than another year assuming continued funding for what I am working on at the moment. Hopefully it will continue after that, but nothing is certain at this stage, so it begs the question:

What do systems engineers do when they leave the defence industry? Is there a desire for us in the "outside world"? All I really want from work is to be paid to do something different tomorrow to what I did today. Any ideas?

Thanks

There can't be too many employers on the Isle of Wight looking for people to do VHDL, and I'm fairly sure that I've see one advertising such a position recently (again).

It's, perhaps, a stretch from Systems, but if you're happy with the number crunching, it's a way to make manifest the ideas you're already throwing around with just a little retraining.

I don't live on the IoW, but if I did, it'd be a great opportunity. I'm not a systems engineer, but I'd bet I could have a pretty good guess at what you do!

What if not? I worked with the best person I've ever worked for, and he came from Plessey IoW. He moved to Sussex and MEL.

These days? I don't know what you're supposed to do. Emigrate I think. If you figure it out, do let me know!

ETA;
If you're already doing VHDL and the like, then there is a job in Tewkesbury that's been around for ages and might be right.

Edited by dilbert on Tuesday 15th December 02:53

[texasjohn]

Aerospace; avionics, EEC (ECU) software.

Try Goodrich ISR (Malvern), Aero Engine Controls (Birmingham).

Not IOW but BAE have a couple of places nearby, Christchurch. Nortel in Poole I believe.

Honeywell, Smiths, Thales. RR civil and marine. Lots of non-military opportunities around really.

[dnb]

Dilbert - I started out in hardware and I'm sure I could pick it up again without too much trouble. I got out of hardware into systems when it looked like the world was moving away from bespoke hardware to software and COTS equipment. Going back is not my heart's desire, but it seems I can't have that anyway...

Without mentioning names, you seem to have me pegged. It's not Plessy now, but we still do the same things (at the moment).

I think you're right about emigrating. I wonder what LM are like to work for? They seem to have R&D money at the moment. The trouble is that for all the problems in GB, I still like it here.

TexasJohn - thanks! Some useful ideas there.