Considering a Career Change

I got some terrible news on Friday, my position at the hospital has been deemed unnecessary and I was asked to leave at the end of October.

Good news, I've unhappy there for years and the 3 hour commute is hell. So I'm looking for a change. I've applied at places like Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Stratolaunch but I'm really only qualified to provide legal counsel and write contracts; slim pickings when it comes to available positions.

It was suggested to me that I consider grad school but I have no clue where to start or if I'd even be qualified to apply to programs outside of the legal field. I'm 32 and have a BS in Paralegal Studies. I would love to physically assemble space vehicles (whether those be rockets or satellites or spacecraft) or otherwise be hands on with the hardware. But again, I don't know where to start.

If you work in the aerospace industry, I'd like to get your input on my options (if any).

Checkout Northrop Grumman whike you're at it. They try to keep a low profile, but do some cool stuff too (especially since acquiring Orbital-ATK's launch vehicle systems)

Looked into an MBA or Systems engineering? Someone has to look after money and programs after all.
If you want hands-on with flight hardware, but dont want to start engineering degree programs, there are technician and manufacturing skills needed that are more trade-level

Thank you @Nytrunner

If you have that passion then you need to pursue it at any cost or you will be unhappy again. I would take any job aerospace can offer you. Get your foot in the door. They will recognize your passion in time and great things will happen for you. It won't be easy in fact it will be very hard but absolutely worth it. Dare to dream, dare to realize your dreams. My two cents.

Boeing in South Carolina seems to be hiring every time I spend a week in Myrtle Beach. Last time I was there the job was soldering wiring harnesses. All you had to do was pass their soldering test and have a HS deploma or GED. The job started at $18 and change an hour. I'm a dropout and too old to bother so I didn't try.

Find networking groups that deal with your profession in law, the aerospace industry and/or general professionals. People know people and it's one of the best ways to find out about opportunities. Try to be a "giver" and not just a "taker" at these meetings; you've got experience and information others will find valuable. Polish up your Linked In account and figure out good keywords that will get your profile looked at by the right companies.

Also, look at the smaller companies in your area (or whatever area you are interested in) that support the larger companies; it's a great way to get experience in the industry without being just a cipher in a huge corporation.

I wish you well on your journey.

Spacex is also here in Puget Sound I have been told, and don't forget Aerojet-Rocketdyne over in Redmond (you turn in front of their facility every time you go to Sixty Acres to fly).

Also, I would be surprised if there aren't needs for folks who can do contracts in Supplier Management and in Customer Services at Boeing but getting through the bureaucracy I expect is rather challenging. Of course that's doing what you've already been doing, not building stuff directly.

I have a few thoughts:

If you want to be o the building end, look at the job requirements for Blue Origin, SpaceX, Aerojet, etc. and see what certifications/skills they want for that job. You may be able to get similar certs/skills locally for not too much money. I would especially look at stir-friction welding, NC machining, and NC tube cutting/bending. Those are fairly high-demand skills. With a couple of yeas of work after getting the certification, you might well be able to jump over to one of the space companies. They might even take you right away if they're desperate for people with those skills. I found that Blue Origin was pretty good about replying to applications, even if they didn't accept someone. That gives you a name and email address of someone you can ask for info like what skills/certs people should have to work the manufacturing floor at their company. Aerojet is also small enough in Seattle that they might have an HR person who's willing to talk to you right away.

BEC said:

Spacex is also here in Puget Sound I have been told

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I have also heard rumors that SpaceX will be manufacturing the Starlink Constellation in Seattle but I haven't seen an official announcement yet.

SpaceX's Redmond office was definitely working on Starlink design. I don't see anything about manufacturing, but it would be reasonable to have it close to the design office.

@boatgeek and @BEC are either of you attending the WAC meeting tonight? Not sure if you're members, just making an assumption based on location.

I am not.....I am not a member (but run the Boeing Employees' Model Rocket Club, such as it is), though I fly at Sixty Acres events put on by WAC and work with several WAC members on TARC.

I'm also not feeling too well today and shouldn't share whatever contagion is bothering me

Totally understand @BEC , sounds like we'll probably cross paths at 60 Acres at some point

To "physically assemble" devices, go visit your nearest engineering schools or tech colleges. Look at local career fairs too. Colleges also have set up booths there. They'll answer questions about their own programs, which will give you ideas as for directions to pursue. Seems like a significant change from legal services, so schooling might well be a good idea.

No ideas, but best of luck to you.

JCRL said:

@boatgeek and @BEC are either of you attending the WAC meeting tonight? Not sure if you're members, just making an assumption based on location.

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I wasn't there, but I'd be glad to answer any more questions you might have via DM.

JCRL, I can't offer any Aerospace industry experience. I do know that Utah has some Aerospace manufacturing, including a large Orbital-ATK (or whoever they are this week) solid rocket motor facility that shares a mountain with one of my employer's facilities. Should you head out this way for interviews or a new job, pm me. I can buy you lunch and tell you about model rocketry in Utah.

Best of luck with your search.