Let me add something to this discussion.
ALL defense companies did away with pensions a few years back and switched to 401k’s.
ALL defense companies have basically the same health coverage and co-pays...except for Boeing which if I recall still pays ALL of their medical coverage.
Geography has ZERO to do with what contracts a defense contractor has won. IT services is 90% inside the beltway for ALL defense contractors. All non-IT services related contracts are spread out all over the country.
If you are a software ADA guy you will find work within the defense industry with ANY employer. Take the best deal you can get but don’t expect the dividing line to be healthcare cost or retirement pensions. If you have a pension now, no matter what defense contractor you take a new job with, you will not have a pension at your new place of employment.
Remember, you are an employee but you work for a defense contractor. You are only of use to them on THAT speficic contract. Whne that contract is over you might find another job within that same company and stay with them....or you might continue working on the same contract but for the contractor that wins the re-bid. Point is you are working for a hired gun and that makes you a hired gun. Don’t expect loyalty or some long term job security. This isn’t like working for a mom and pop company that makes cupcakes....it is about slim profit margins....award fees and tremendous pressure to meet deadlines, manage contracts and programs and produce results. When that isn’t happening the company is loosing award fee $ and contracts are lost and PM’s are fired. The constant threat of layoff inside defense is what causes engineers to tell their kids to stay away from A&D.
Yes I work for one of the larger defense contractors.
Hm, I wish; as I said before I can't even seem to get a toe in the door. (Probably due to wanting X years of [professional] experience; I graduated in Dec 2010 and have had a total of 0 years professional experience.)