Pros
I've been working at Moog Protokraft in Kingsport, TN for 12 years. The workplace culture is excellent and my coworkers are all highly skilled, self-driven engineers. We design and manufacture extremely sophisticated communications systems and embedded computing systems which are utilized on the most advanced defense and aerospace platforms. We are a small facility as compared to the other Moog sites but that just means we get the best of both worlds. We have all the backing and resources of a major prime defense contractor; however, our smaller facility makes me feels like I am part of a family and not just lost in the mix of a larger corporation. Being a part of a smaller facility also means I am more intimately involved in all aspects of the projects which gives me a huge sense of accomplishment when we are successful.
Cons
Working in the defense and aerospace industry is demanding. The products we design are used on our nations most advanced defense platforms which means failure is not an option. Designing products which can withstand the extreme environmental and EMI requirements of the defense market can be stressful. However, it is all worth it in the end when you see a product you designed operating on a state-of-the-art jet fighter!
