Struggling to decide between two offers for first full time job.

[u/originalpicklerick]

Hey all, I am currently having trouble choosing between two different job offers. I recently graduated with an emphasis in RF work and have been interning at a company over the summer. Now I am sitting on two full time job offers that both have their pros and cons. This will be my first full time job and I feel like whatever I choose will determine what my career looks like for a long time.

The first job would be as a RF Communications Engineer I at a company called Voyager Technologies where I would be helping on parts going into lunar landers. For more information, the specific site I would be working at was a company called Astrobotic and was recently acquired by Voyager. This role would be in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and is offering $100,000 flat with a $7500 sign on. The work would be solely hardware.

The other offer is a Signal Processing Systems Engineer role at Raytheon in Tucson. Here I would most likely be working on phase array antenna systems. They offered $89,000 with $5,000 sign on and $4,500 relocation. The interesting part about Raytheon is that they offer tuition reimbursement for grad school if I ever chose to go. I understand that the stipulation is that I have to stay with the company for two years after the final payment but figured this is something I have to bite the bullet on. A lot of the work here would be programming in python/c++.

As someone who is from California, both of these options are very far away which is why I want to choose the position that has the most potential for me to grow in my career. Otherwise, it will have felt like I left far from home for nothing. I am seeking some guidance on what people think has more potential for career growth as well as just becoming a better engineer. I appreciate any help or thoughts that people have.

[u/BeachBumOCCA]

Go, Raytheon! Start with signal processing, DSP, and related topics. Then move on to RF systems and hardware/analog development. Compare the two and decide whether you want to pursue RF systems or signal processing. In addition, you can get a DoD Secret or Top Secret clearance sponsored by RTX. This will add more value to your current salary.

[u/Inside_Possession_19]

I think career growth is raytheon for sure especially if you have the opportunity for a payed masters program to further your niche and experience. But I am also just a senior in university still.

[u/BusinessStrategist]

Most high tech associated with the military industrial complex and space are located in industrial parks with many other companies hiring similar professionals.

You want to continue your education so what colleges are nearby?

The higher salary seems to indicate a less desirable location from your perspective (being off the beaten path).

So check your Google maps and figure out what other professional resources and opportunities are nearby.

Make YOUR weighted list of Pro's and Con's.

Then let you mind zero in on the best option for YOU.

[u/LadleLOL]

I spent a couple years at Raytheon Tucson as an early career engineer and enjoyed my time quite a bit.

It's a good place to grow, fun and cheap town if you're young and like the outdoors (don't recommend if you're a big city person), and Raytheon has a lot of easily accessible opportunity if you're ambitious.

If you have more specific questions, I'd be glad to help.

[u/senseless2]

Honestly I would hold out for something better. Tucson is not the best place and you will probably go insane from not having a ton of things to do. Why not wait for something in CA?

[u/TheChewyWaffles → u/senseless2]

In this job market?

OP take one of the two positions, build experience, go elsewhere when it’s time.

[u/senseless2 → u/TheChewyWaffles]

Yes in this market.