Elaine Richardson of the JED interviews Warfare Solutions LLC regarding HIring climate in EW

1. EW Careers.
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By Elaine Richardson
*# n the vear since JfD tast took a ionger. 0n the good news side, compa-
ffi toot .t .ur.., prospects for elec- nies unabie to find the specific tatent
ffi! tronic warfare (EW) professionals, they want for certain positions are in-
ffi ti. market has undergone a drastic creasing compensation and other fac-
tors to lure those candidates. 0n the flip
ffi change. In the August 2011 issue,
ffi when Senior Editor John HaYstead side, Katelhut notes that a position that
wrote about defining an EW career path, might have been hired in six months
the overriding sense iltas one of opti- iast year can no$t take 10 months or
mism. XW finalty had achieved high-level more, as companies have to hurrY uP
visibility and was in line for resources and then wait for approvals or run into
that would keep the industry vibrant fol- delays in moving forward.
towing the end of operations in iraq and This also means there's much less
Afghanistan - avoiding the historica mobitity for current EW professionats edge that things in EW witt eventually
down times for the industry foll'owing shopping around for new positions, pick up, enabling a shift back to their
conflicts. But then came sequestration and that those who are should be care- core strength. But for those just leaving
and the threat of across-the-board cuts. ful about the moves they make in this the military looking for a position, the
Today, the EWjob market reflects the environment. "If you have a good job, changes of the last year create a much
you're going to want to stay in thatjob more challenging market.
hesitation plaguing the larger defense
industry. With uncertainty about exact- unless you have a guaranteed seam-
ly what programs will actually receive less move to another position," Katel- A CHALLEI,IGE FOR FRESH-0UTS
hut says. The take care message is also As a former Marine, Katelhut knows
funding that once seemed more secure,
the level of the anxiety felt by compa- true for his corporate clients as they first-hand that leaving,the military is a
nies has become measurable in a number vet possible candidates. "The last thing stressful process. "It's scary, it really is'
N
ct I want to do is move someone from a when you're six months to a year before
N of ways, not the least of which is fewer
6 company they've been at 10 Years to you get out and You don't know what
available jobs.
Et you're supposed to do," Katelhut says.
Robert Katelhut, director ofthe execu- another company that laYs them off
tive recruiting firm, Warfare Solutions, within two." lhose just transitioning from the
o
a>
LLC, in Portland, 0R, says that at this Amidst the uncertainty is some posi- military and looking for positions in
industry, the "fresh-outs," are ex-
rD
ql
o point tast year he had eight jobs he was tive news. Katelhut says he is seeing re-
C' quests for hires in specific areas, such as pected to find their own positions'
recruiting for in EW, including positions
o The clients who engage recruiters like
at the director tevel, in business develop- long-range electronic attack (EA), bor-
o
o
g ment and at the vice president ievet. "This der security, shoreline surveitlance and Katelhut are usually seeking candi-
o year. I'm closing fivejobs in advanced ma- international business development, dates who have alreadY Proven theY
G
tr "Companies are starting to look at lever- can make the transition and have some
terials and one job in EW," Katelhut says.
o aging technology for other areas. What industry experience.
"Companies are focusing on an overall as-
a,
pect of taking a deeP breath." do we have that we can use for commer- Getting that first job is keY and
I
In the US, this wait-and-see mode is cial applications - advanced materials, Katelhut offers some tips to fresh-outs
aerostructures. Those are coming back who are considering how to go about
tikety to last until after the November
election, and perhaps even tonger, until with a vengeance." finding a position. "First is to pick an
Though there are other growth areas, area where they want to tive," he says.
the politicat situation evens out enough
in terms of the markets Katelhut repre- 'A lot of guys forget to do that because
to allow Congress to actually deal with
sents, the trend he sees is when a market theyve never had a choice. But balance
the realities of sequestration. In Europe'
tikeEW goes down, there's growth in oth- oflife is very important. A lot of people
continuing economic woes and govern-
er areas - his current fast-riser for hiring say 'I'tt work anYwhere.' No, You don't
ment austerity are forcing companies
being advanced materiats. 0f course, for want to do that. Pick somewhere where
to pull back sharply in anticipation of
those currently working in EW or even in your family is going to be haPPY."
a multi-year contraction of once-stable
defense, taking a short sojourn in a more list of saY Your top three ar-
Make a
domestic business.
profitabte area can offer a way to ride out eas and then research them, Katelhut
for those companies that are hiring,
the current environment with the knowl- recommends. Get a feel for the market
that process is now taking much, much

2. in that area. see what types of jobs are also recommends online networking it'sa major concern for industry because
available. "If itt not the types of jobs through places like "tinkedln." It can when the industry picks up and starts
you're looking for, then go to your sec- be a tough change for guys who aren't hiring again, we will have lost those
ond choice," he says. used to having to market themselves in people who have fallen off into other
For the next step, applying for jobs, that way. "They have to change their areas due to iack ofjobs.
people generally send their r6sum6 in mindset and understand that it's okay "0nce people get out of pocket there's
electronically, forgetting that the first to go out and talk to folks." not a lot of hope of keeping them in the
person they need to get past is from industry," Katelhut says. 'And there wilt
human resources - who is usually over- LONG.TERM CONSEQUENCES come a time that we need them."
whelmed with r6sum6s. '?nd a lot of In the current defense market, how- So for job hunting fresh-outs, Kate-
new guys don't understand how to write ever, it's possible that fresh-out EW hut recommends looking for an entry
a r6sum6. They're usually too iong and officers could have enough trouble find- position, even if it's not the one they
use a lot of jargon. A lot of HR peopie ing industry positions in EW that they really want. "Try to get your foot in the
don't have that type of detailed knowl- might take positions doing something door with a company, hopefully as close
edge," Katelhut says. eise. This is a major concern, because to EW aspossible. even if it means being
The better way is through network- the continuing influx of EWOs who a subject matter expert or another type
ing. Through the people you know and bring updated operational experience is ofjob," he says.
the industry people they know. Through key to ensuring that the industry can Spending a couple of years in that
attending events such as the AOC An- maintain detailed knowledge of what's position before moving to something
nual Symposium and Convention and lo- going on in the fietd today. closer to your EW expertise allows you
cat AOC Chapter events and getting to "I would hate to lose a generation of to get experience in the marketplace,
know people who work in industry who EW0s to Home Depot," Katelhut says, re- shows you can make the transition and
can talk to you about positions in their ferring to the fact that he knows a for- puts you ciose to where you want to be,
companies and make an HR connection mer Navy EWO who has taken a position even if you have to work longer to get
for you or pass a r6sum6 through so it's far off-industry in retail. Unfortunately. there. 'And you can get your foot in the
at the top of a pile. if he ever ,wants to return to working door anywhere," he saYs. "There are a
'?nd they need to start about a Year in EW, it witl be more difficul.t with un- lot of new companies and smaller com-
before they get out," Katethut says, who related experience on his r6sum6. And panies where you can do that." r
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N Network Centric SYstems
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Raytheon seeks Senior EW Systems Engineer
Position: SL Principal Systems Engineer {EW}
o Raytheon (Aberdeen. APG) seeks a high-caliber systems engineer with Electronic
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Warfare t€W), networking and Communications system knowledge The candidate
o will be involved in new btsiness capture, requlrement management and product
o
trt specification development as well as system architecture and design.
.9 The success{ul candidate will proYide technical leadership for the design and
o development of complex electronic warfare systems for airborne, fixed ground.
o
g mounted, and man portable variants. Responsibilities include analysis of the system
ur concept of operations, requirements development, architectuae deYelopment, and
o performing trade studies and mathemafical analysis in support of systems desiSn'
6 The successful candidate has a breadth of knowledge in Military Specifications,
Development of software and hardware architectures, 5pecification generatjor,
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c Signals in sFace Analysis, Digital Signal Processing, Modeling and Simulation
? Please apply to: lgb5.&ylhrqg.o,€gE Req f: 262528R
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Required Skills:
- Experience in the Electronic support and Electronic Attack
- Active knowledge of modern communications systems and associated Electronic
Countermeasures (ECM) techniques.
The EW/S|G|NT CommunitY's OnlY - Active knowledge of RF subsynems te'g. receivers, exciters, techniques generators,
power amplifiers and antennasl and RF performance characteristiG (e.g sensitivity,
Specialized Executive Recruiter dynamic range, and EiRP) - Demonstrate knowledge of system development, ability
to develop a moderately complex military system, and knowledge ofthe DOD
Targeting Business DeveloPmentl acquisition and logistics process.
- Experience with the design of Open Systems Architectures, including
Capture Management Executives commercialfgovernment open standards
- strong system englneering/analytical/problem solving skills in a team environment
And Their Teams - Active DOD Secret clearance (requires US Citizenship) with the ability to obtain
DOD Top Secr€t
Raytheon is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants
for employment without regard to race, colot creed, national origin, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, or Vietnam era, or other
eligible veteran status, other protected factor.