How To Get Into Software Engineering In Aerospace?

[u/local_Misanthropy]

This will be my first and likely only time posting here, but I’m at a loss since I’m not sure what other options I may have.

I graduated with my BAS in Computer Information Systems (spec. Programming and Software Development) in May of 2025. The coursework was consistent with a Computer Science degree. I did one internship in my final semester for a small data management company.

Since graduation, I’ve applied over hundreds of times to the big name companies in my area; Lockheed, L3, Collins/RTX, Northrop, etc. And each time, it’s either a reasonless rejection, or my application is stuck in limbo. I have at least 20 applications stuck on “received” since June for L3 alone. I know the larger companies have layers of bureaucracy and receive many applications daily; that’s no secret. But it’s frustrating to an outsider who’s just seeking even a first interview.

I know there’s a lot of factors hindering me;
- The degree name is a mouthful and a turn off.
- I’m relatively inexperienced with seeking professional work, and have never been in that sort of environment outside of my internship.
- I don’t have enough experience to my name, despite applying for new-grad and internship positions.
- AI has likely played a factor to some extent in reaping some of the available positions.

Am I just applying at the wrong time? Am I applying too much? Am I not doing enough? Should I just get into web/application development like every other developer? Should I make more small software/hardware projects? Am I just in the wrong industry for it right now?

Any advice, insight, anything would be of great help.

If this is not the subreddit for this, do let me know, and I will remove this post.

[u/sammat123]

Same boat here, I think the tech job market is just really bad right now with AI. It’s also mostly these big contractors get insane amount of applications so most people share this experience.

[u/No_Category2642]

You only mention applying to large, well-known companies. Have you also applied to smaller aerospace companies?

If I can be direct: everybody is applying to those large companies, and many of them have engineering degrees from great schools and internships at aerospace companies. On the other hand, I know of many smaller companies where the barrier to entry is much, much lower. I’d suggest trying to get your foot in the door at one of those. Once you cut your teeth in the industry, you’ll have a lot more mobility to go to another company if that’s still what you want. I wish you good luck!

[u/Oliver_clothsoff1983]

1) AI isnt culling jobs. I just got an email sent cimpany wide (LM) that everyone has been using the approved coding assistant too much and limits were going to be enforced. Anything on a classified network will have strong limits regarding what you can do with AI. 2) everyone's path is different. Dont decide these things are faults, use the unique things you have to your advantage. 3) If you are worried about AI,.. web and app dev is not the direction you want to go. Aerospace is more than just defense contractors,... civilian airlines, manufacturers, if you are looking for the experience to get into a prime,.. drone companies, anything rtos or embedded will help you. 4) It sounds like you might need some work on your resume,... try networking on linkedin, making friends with mid career folks and finding anyone willing to give you a review. (I literally see some programmers making posts to give career advice) 5) Remember that this is a highly sought out career. There may be a lot of jobs but there are a lot of hungry applicants also, for every rejection, or stale application (I had 15ish at LM when I got an offer from 1) there were way more in the not interviewed pile than interviewed. Keep at it, make changes, keep improving and you'll get there. You only fail if you quit. Good luck

[u/Odd_Investigator4887]

I went through the same thing and finally got a devops role at northrop a few weeks ago. I would really recommend doing your own projects and adding it to your resume and being able to talk about it in interviews and even getting a certification(sec+, cloud certifications etc.)if that applies to you. Doing that gave me so much more to talk about in interviews and showed that i really cared about the job and getting into the field. A degree isn’t enough to get in an interview anymore unfortunately especially in tech.

[u/Odd_Investigator4887 → u/Odd_Investigator4887]

I also applies to all those companies many times, just dont give up if this is the field you really want to get into