By day, employees work on modeling and simulation, military GPS systems, and anti-spoofing software that stops hackers from attacking U.S. troops, sending them unknowingly into danger. The team collaborates in an open-plan office, makes critical decisions in high-tech labs, and hashes out solutions on walks to the nearby beach.
By night, employees are usually at home relaxing, reflecting, and rejuvenating. Work-life balance is part of the office DNA, says recruiter Danielle Blum, a philosophy that’s driven by leadership. “They want us to refresh our minds.”
But the LA team also craves thorny problems to solve, new challenges, and professional opportunities. “Leadership keeps the office energized with different contracts. We also rotate people to different assignments as their skillsets change,” Danielle says.
Ernesto Vera, who manages the systems engineering team, agrees. “At other large companies, you get pigeon holed and your learning opportunities slow down,” he says. “But here, I’m always refreshing my skills and staying mentally agile. We’re doing all kinds of systems engineering and integration, testing, software development—this is hardcore engineering. We’re working on a capability for the government that’s never been done before. We make decisions that affect millions of people.”
With work-life balance and a roster of mission-critical challenges, the LA office attracts people who stay for years. But they never get stale thanks to constant opportunities and leaders who know that retaining the best people means helping them move forward.
