DoD contractor?

[TeeJayHoward]

Has anyone here ever worked in an IT position for a Department of Defense contractor? (Lockheed-Martin, Northrop-Grumman, Raytheon, Boeing, etc) I just got a college internship position (in information security) for the summer, and I'm wondering what it's going to be like. This is my first internship for a big organization, and I'm curious as to what exactly an intern DOES. Am I going to be writing feasability reports? Getting coffee for the CISSPs? Sitting in front of the [H] all day long?

What's the dress code? Am I going to share a cubicle, get my own, or not be sitting in front of a desk long enough to need one? If this turns into a full-time job, at what point in time will the company pay for my certifications? Or is that a perk long-since gone?

And how about clearances? I'll have Top Secret clearance as a result of this position, but I'm not exactly certain how clearances work - Is it still need-to-know? Can I request information from another section of the company unrelated to my job? (Example, if I wanted to build a 3D model of an F-22 for a video game, could I request blueprints from the aeronautics division?) Also, I was told that clearance takes months to get - But my internship starts in a matter of weeks. How does that work?

To all of you who have (or are) held a career in a field like this: What do you wish you had of known before starting your job?

I'm curious, but also a little ranty, so I'll just end this post here. This was as much for me to boast about getting a new job as it is to ask some questions.

 

[k1pp3r]

All of your questions can best be answered by your recruiter.

As far as this

(Example, if I wanted to build a 3D model of an F-22 for a video game, could I request blueprints from the aeronautics division?)

No you can't do that, all security related information must be relevant to your job (at least in my experience)

 

[SilenceGold]

That's why it is an internship job position.

You will learn all those answers to your question while working.

 

[BobSutan]

Basically what they all said before. You'll most likely end up being the gopher, among other things, of the team you're assigned to.

This position is going to be one of learning, learning, learning. And we're not just talking about techie stuff. Timecards, dress-codes, what you can and cannot do for lunch; basically all the intangibles they don't put on a job listing.

 

[Bookmage]

at our office for a private big corporation, our intern grabs drinks at our whim, learns to operate the fax machine, printer, and stapler, picks up and delivers mail and sorts thru various cables. he also washes our car and ensures the softness quality and comfort of the carpet by removing dust particles and various foreign matter from it. did i mention the KwikE marts runs for soda and snacks?

oh yeah and he also files mail in their appropriate wastebaskets...

he shares half a cubicle w/the wall and the new guy and sits by the trashcan. he gets a temporary sec clearance pass until the real one is approved and he has a pink uniform with a reverse funnel hat that has "nretni" backwards on it.

he does have access to other parts of the building/department, but he does get to meet other interns from other departments and they get to grab our sodas together...
our interns not allowed to eat in our presence. he has to sneak food in between tasks...

and um... those blueprints are already out in the latest flight sim game :-P
for all other job functions of an intern, go watch dilbert...

 

[smizack]

All of your questions can best be answered by your recruiter.

As far as this



No you can't do that, all security related information must be relevant to your job (at least in my experience)

True. Need To Know only. Then only with the correct clearance.

 

[O2Flow]

People don't talk about these things on the internet. Stay meek and don't try to hide your past.

 

[Axeldoomeyer]

I was a contractor for Lockheed Martin Information Technology working for the USAF. I was never an intern but some of the people that were in the same area were interns for the Civilian side of operations (GS employees). They basically were given the same tasks that we were given to complete. They trained and worked under someone who had been there a while.

Basically you get all the knowledge and training and experience.

Hope this helps.

-Axel

 

[xphil3]

Has anyone here ever worked in an IT position for a Department of Defense contractor? (Lockheed-Martin, Northrop-Grumman, Raytheon, Boeing, etc) I just got a college internship position (in information security) for the summer, and I'm wondering what it's going to be like. This is my first internship for a big organization, and I'm curious as to what exactly an intern DOES. Am I going to be writing feasability reports? Getting coffee for the CISSPs? Sitting in front of the [H] all day long?

What's the dress code? Am I going to share a cubicle, get my own, or not be sitting in front of a desk long enough to need one? If this turns into a full-time job, at what point in time will the company pay for my certifications? Or is that a perk long-since gone?

And how about clearances? I'll have Top Secret clearance as a result of this position, but I'm not exactly certain how clearances work - Is it still need-to-know? Can I request information from another section of the company unrelated to my job? (Example, if I wanted to build a 3D model of an F-22 for a video game, could I request blueprints from the aeronautics division?) Also, I was told that clearance takes months to get - But my internship starts in a matter of weeks. How does that work?

To all of you who have (or are) held a career in a field like this: What do you wish you had of known before starting your job?

I'm curious, but also a little ranty, so I'll just end this post here. This was as much for me to boast about getting a new job as it is to ask some questions.

I have a DoD position, working for a sub to a sub contractor(CSC, largest for IT related positions). Involved with military network security and product test management. I know a few people that had left Mitre(who are probably the second largest in regards to IT related projects, involvement.. though they are non profit.. riiiiiight).

If you are interning, it ALL depends on what kind of contracts your company has.. if you're going to be getting a TS clearance(no offence, I find INCREDIBLY hard to believe... I only have a S clearance and I work with firewall and router policies, lol) you will by NO means be a gopher. The intern for our company tests internal software development for a contract that we have, so he doesn't get people coffee. etc. Then again, the company I work for is relatively small.

I would be shocked if you don't get your own cubicle in your office, don't expect a desk. Are you going to be working on a military base? If so you will get a nice cubicle im sure(i know I do ). Dress code is different from company to company, it will never be the same answer. My dress is always business casual(some people consider is casual) which is khakis and a polo or button down.

Getting back to the clearance, it is sill a "need to know", you will never get anything classified that you aren't specifically contracted for, nor should you want to. Also, I hope that you're aware that with a TS clearance they will really DIG into your personal life.. no records are off limits..... yes this means records that your ISP would normally keep private( I have been told this BY NUMEROUS PEOPLE!)

All in all, You will have fun working for the DoD... come back in a few months and we can rant about it

 

[BobSutan]

I have a DoD position, working for a sub to a sub contractor(CSC, largest for IT related positions). Involved with military network security and product test management. I know a few people that had left Mitre(who are probably the second largest in regards to IT related projects, involvement.. though they are non profit.. riiiiiight).

If you are interning, it ALL depends on what kind of contracts your company has.. if you're going to be getting a TS clearance(no offence, I find INCREDIBLY hard to believe... I only have a S clearance and I work with firewall and router policies, lol) you will by NO means be a gopher. The intern for our company tests internal software development for a contract that we have, so he doesn't get people coffee. etc. Then again, the company I work for is relatively small.

I would be shocked if you don't get your own cubicle in your office, don't expect a desk. Are you going to be working on a military base? If so you will get a nice cubicle im sure(i know I do ). Dress code is different from company to company, it will never be the same answer. My dress is always business casual(some people consider is casual) which is khakis and a polo or button down.

Getting back to the clearance, it is sill a "need to know", you will never get anything classified that you aren't specifically contracted for, nor should you want to. Also, I hope that you're aware that with a TS clearance they will really DIG into your personal life.. no records are off limits..... yes this means records that your ISP would normally keep private( I have been told this BY NUMEROUS PEOPLE!)

All in all, You will have fun working for the DoD... come back in a few months and we can rant about it

TS clerances for interns are a dime a dozen if they're interning for the gov. If they're interning for a contractor it could just be a provisional clearance.

 

[djnes]

I worked for 2 years as a DoD contractor while I worked for HP, through a company called DLA, Defense Logistics. You probably won't be told much until you're already there.

Do be sure to print out the AV thread and bring it with you to your first day, to show the DoD how anti-virus software isn't necessary.

 

[jvlazzar]

dress code will depend on the office. you probobly wont get your own cubicale...maybe a dark corner somewhere

Lockheed pays for all my certs / training, but i think one of the requirements is you have to be there for a year prior, and after them paying for it you need to stay for another year. after all, whats stopping them from paying $10k for school and you just quitting? this should all be in your companies tuition reimbursement plan.

all information is need-to-know. just because you have a TS doesnt mean your entitled to everything classified as TS. and whoever said that clearance takes months has to be joking. that division that handles that sort of stuff is backlogged like you wouldnt believe...expect it to take years. they will grant interim status while your request is being processed.

as for the actual job, most of our interns do day to day stuff. shredding paper, doing peoples dirty work, handing out mail, etc. dont expect to have any real projects, and if you do you will be given small tasks while being heavily supervised.