Is it wrong to work at Lockheed Martin?

[dazeconf]

I just got a job offer from them... I'd be working on stuff for NASA and maybe air traffic control, but I still don't feel right working for Lockheed. I initailly took them up on the interview for a freee trip to DC and pretty much blew it off, but somehow I still got a job offer. It pays more than my other options (im coming out of college) but Lockheed just sucks for making missiles. What should I do?

[frylock]

1. take the job and continue with your search..

take it from someone whose 26 weeks of UI just ran out; you have to eat. Sometimes you have to compromise your beliefs just to get by. My last job was with IBM in support of a large financial institution. I didn't particularly like what I was doing, but I liked being paid. I've been trying to find some work as a sys_admin for a charitible or environmental organization, and it just ain't happening.

[dazeconf]

5. i have other options....

which is why I blew off the Lockheed interview. They just happen to pay less, but I won't starve or anything.

[intheflow]

12. If you have other offers, then I say yes.

I worked for a military contractor even though it went against my personal beliefs. I did it because they had a full tuition reimbursement program, and I wanted a degree. But if the only reason you're thinking of going there is because it's more money, then, no, don't do it. It's one thing when you use them, it's another thing when they use you. You still have to look at yourself in the mirror every morning.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. No, it isn't

"The perfect is the enemy of the good."

[GCP]

3. Taking money out of the heart of darkness

can't be all bad

[brendan120678]

4. I asked myself that question as well...

before I decided to take their offer. Currently I am working as a Subcontracts Administrator on the US101 helicopter program, which is not only bidding to make new Marine One helicopters, but also Search and Rescue choppers for the Air Force and Coast Guard. I figure as long as I am not contributing directly to the building of missiles or other weapons, I have not compromised my beliefs. Besides, the pay is great! I work in upstate NY where the cost-of-living is minimal, but my offer was for $47,000, and that was as a new college hire, without any experience!

[Placebo]

9. Go VH-92!

www.vh92.com

Sorry, I just think that our President should keep flying in a Sikorsky bird, as has been tradition. :hi:

[Pirate Smile]

10. Hey, our military needs helicopters. There is nothing wrong with being

part of that.

[Placebo]

6. They're a great company!

Please! Work for them! You're lucky, I'd love a job like that. :)

[Dr.Phool]

7. I made the mistake 32 years ago

by not taking a job at NASA for reasons similar to yours. I was laid off at a good paying job for 6 months, and had the offer at NASA. Turned it down. I got recalled to my old job, but aver the years, I was laid off sometimes for 2 years at a crack.

Take it.

[dazeconf]

8. why would you turn down a NASA job?

NASA isn't evil and doesn't make weapons, as far as I can tell. Was the pay very low?

[haele]

11. It would be difficult to find a major engineering company that doesn't

have some ties to the military industrial community - even ones that are in fields that do good, such as environmental and medical research and development.

The plus side of working with a large engineering company, especially right out of college, is that you have options on the divisions you will be working at; you can be "doing good" instead of participating in evil. You also have more options to move within the company should something happen to the job you're working at, which is not an option at a small company that might have dedicated itself to progressive projects.

The minus side of working with a large engineering is that you have to take the good side of your work with the bad. Any profits you are making at your "good" work on the progressive side - in your case, with NASA or air traffic control - gets spread throughout the company into the dark side, the side that may fund shady activities, that gives money to lobbyists and crooked politicos, that pays the wages of fatcats and war profiteers.

I face your dilemma every day. I work for the MI complex, to upgrade systems that should keep the troops safe and keep civilian casualties down to a minimum. It's my choice because I'm over 45, I have a family to feed, house, and keep on health insurance and I don't have enough on my resume, don't have enough contacts outside the field, nor enough money in our savings account to quit it all and start over doing something else. I am also slowly working my way into a position where I can affect Management to some degree, to affect the culture, to change the Beast from within.

You have to choose what's best for you in the long run. And good luck, whatever you choose.

Haele

[Deja Q]

13. Go for it. A job is a job and it ain't over until the balloon deflates.

:hug:

[Historic NY]

14. NASA needs new young blood........go for it..........

I grew up in the time was NASA was in the news constantly, our efforts in space, the race to the moon, the mission given by a young President John F. Kennedy. He gave them a vision, a vision to the future. We have all benefited from NASA's quest over the years with many wonderful things, from Tang to Velcro. You don't have to compromise yourself. Take the job get some experience. L/M does lots of things besides missile making. They are involved in some cutting edge stuff.

[lenidog]

15. If it makes you feel bad then I would say no

because you have to live with yourself. Though you could also think of it this way. If you want to go historical there probably isn't a damm company out there even if you restrict yourself to their 20th actions that isn't dirty or still is.

[The Backlash Cometh]

16. Among the techies you'll find a great deal of racism and arrogance.

Not a good combination for that kind of job.