Good Jobs in STEM Take Care of You and Make You Want to Take Care of Others
No matter who you are, you spend a big portion of your waking hours doing things related to surviving. We may have gotten spoiled as a species—it seems that remaining alive is not usually quite enough to generate gratitude daily. Fortunately, there are jobs that can enrich our lives beyond survival. Good jobs give you a chance to express mastery, grow your knowledge and advance, interact with supportive colleagues, and find meaning in the bigger picture of your contribution. If you have a job like this, it should be high on your thankful list; and if not, maybe you should look toward Huntsville’s booming aerospace engineering market for jobs created to make employees thankful.
In November, Huntsville became Alabama’s second largest city. The momentum kicked off long ago when Wernher Von Braun established Marshall Space Flight Center here and was reaffirmed on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing this year. America’s second largest research park, situated near Redstone Arsenal, generates nearly half of Huntsville’s GDP. There are more aerospace engineers in Huntsville than anywhere else in America— yet we need more still. In March, Blue Origin will finish a rocket-building facility to advance private space flight; the FBI recently announced a facility here that will employ thousands; and a new branch of the military, Space Force, will surely find the 300-plus businesses here convenient for contract fulfillment. That is not to mention the major advances in technology that will change the scope of missile defense and military weapons.
The high demand for STEM employees means businesses in Huntsville are thoughtful to cultivate competitive work environments that speak to the needs of the best recruits. What does a STEM job at a top aerospace engineering firm offer? Here is some insight from Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation (INTUITIVE) about what kind of job makes employees grateful. Established 20 years ago by two defense and engineering veterans, INTUITIVE has grown from two employees to 439 on the strength of its vision of technical prowess and employee satisfaction. For the fourth year, INTUITIVE has been ranked #1 among the Best Small & Medium Workplaces by Fortune’s Great Place to Work, as well as the Best Workplace for millennials.
1. Growth & Mastery Opportunities
“I am in a definite minority amongst my age group because of the fact that I have stuck with the same company for almost 10 years,” said Paul Collins, INTUITIVE Engineering Technical Lead. “I know many companies utilize STEM majors for only a few strengths they identify and then place that person in a position where they exercise only that strength; here, however, you continually build new strengths.”
Founders Rey Almodòvar and Harold Brewer saw competitive advantage in hiring employees that would fit a larger vision for how to do good business—selecting those who demonstrated integrity, honesty, and quality work. “They hired people to be part of the company, in a larger sense, expecting they would likely do different jobs over time,” said Juanita Phillips, INTUITIVE’s Vice President of Employee Experience. At INTUITIVE, this is known as the “Swiss Army Knife approach” to hiring.
The “Swiss Army Knife approach” has allowed employees to become industry experts in fields that have multiple paths of previous experience such as additive manufacturing, hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and cyber security. “To be successful in cyber security requires attention to detail, the ability to work in teams, and the ability to be self-driven. You cannot wait around for someone to tell you what to do. You have to be able to identify what needs to be done and do it.” said Daniel Miller, Senior Systems Engineer at INTUITIVE. “You’re encouraged to plot your own growth and to learn to communicate effectively about areas of expertise.”
A good job means not stagnating or feeling stuck in one role. “Our ‘Who We Are’ document declares that we expect to hold open the door of opportunity, without discrimination, to those who will prepare themselves for increasing levels of responsibility,” said Phillips. Familiar faces with positive track records help inspire new business as well. Phillips noted, “Employees at INTUITIVE can look all around and see examples of individuals who have been promoted within the company, whether in leadership roles, management areas, or technical paths. We greatly value employee credentials and are flexible in supporting education, training, and certifications.”
2. Teamwork & Mentoring
You can only hope to grow if your co-workers have special knowledge and are apt to share it. Many of the employees at INTUITIVE have been with the company 10 years or more, while many others are military veterans with unique insights. Corporate bureaucracy can lead to employees who jealously guard their knowledge. INTUITIVE, however thrives on cooperation and mutual enrichment.
“Despite being qualified, I don’t think anyone right out of college will feel prepared for the challenges of their first role. These include meeting the customer’s requirements, keeping systems and information secure, and ensuring fast continuous delivery of a high-quality product,” said Thuy Pham, Software Engineer at INTUITIVE. “Along with having confidence in your capacity to learn, it is also important to recognize that teamwork is a major part of your role; I think it’s important to feel that sense of camaraderie because your team members are the ones who can help you when you’re learning something new.”
Paul Collins said, “There is a familial feel to our work environment—I know it sounds cliché, but we all get along so well here that it feels like I’m working with a bunch of my brothers and sisters.” The sense of togetherness at INTUITIVE is fostered by an open-door policy of executive, yearly progress plans that encourage feedback, and frequent “coffee chats” with the CEO.
3. Compensation & Security
What about the money? It is definitely a big piece of gratitude for any good job. In 2018, U.S. News and World Report found that salary was the most important factor in making career decisions for those between ages 20 and 34. A Business Insider report analyzed the best-salaried careers for millennials with just a bachelor’s degree: #5 Mechanical Engineer; #4 Computer Systems Analyst; and #3 Software Developer—INTUITIVE hires these roles regularly. The average STEM pay in Huntsville is $83,870. And the cost of living of a pittance compared with similar cities.
But a high salary means little without job security. The “Swiss Army Knife approach” at INTUITIVE is part of a larger strategy of remaining viable for the future shifts in funding and emerging lucrative technologies in public and private markets. Although the income of an aerospace and defense engineering firm depends on winning contracts, employees shouldn’t be victims of congressional budget changes or re-conceived projects from the government level. In 20 years, with employees at 11 field offices, INTUITIVE has never laid-off employees due to a lack of work. The defense community relies on INTUITIVE for an increasing variety of ballistics defense, training, virtual reality, and aerospace needs. A high starting salary with executive loyalty is certainly something to be thankful for.
4. Big Picture Meaning
The job as a means of survival and demonstrated competence still isn’t enough to separate us from leaner times in humanity. It must mean something beyond the day-to-day. One might think there is not much glamour in defense contracting, but it does truly offer clear impact. A software engineer in Silicon Valley may have the ultimate impact of helping someone play a Tetris-like app. A software engineer in Huntsville may be developing software that identifies missile threats to us or our allies, helps a soldier identify civilians in a hostile environment, or guide a drone that offers support to a surrounded team of Rangers. “I work on systems used by the soldier,” said Miller. “These individuals put their lives in harm’s way and many times are separated from their families for long periods of time; I get to provide them cyber-resilient systems that help them do their job, hopefully easier and safer.”
Finally, there is the meaning outside one’s door at work—the community. Huntsville’s aerospace and defense industry is part of a vibrant community in North Alabama. Part of finding meaning at work is knowing that you are creating a place where you and your neighbors will thrive. “One of the things I admired about INTUITIVE is their active involvement in the community,” said Thuy Pham. “They are supporters of several local programs, such as Urban Engine, which holds free innovation events, networking opportunities, and educational resources.” Pham also mentioned INTUITIVE’s “Opportunities to Serve” program, wherein employees provide information about community service projects they are involved with, and how others can also participate. “I always seek opportunities to give back to my community, so I really appreciate that INTUITIVE encourages the same,” she said.
This time of year, INTUITIVE works with the Children’s Advocacy Center and CASA of Madison County for major giving events of Thanksgiving staples and Christmas toys.
The ultimate payoff of a good job is that it makes you a better, more aware person. A high-tech community with a heart for doing good, such as ours, is something for us all to be grateful for. If you’re interested in discovering a meaningful career you can be grateful for at INTUITIVE, please click here today.