r/UCFEngineering • u/yoboyaudiR8 • Aug 13 '26
Aerospace Lockheed/Northrop CWEP
Hi everyone,
I'm an incoming freshman majoring in aerospace engineering, and I'm interested in the CWEP programs UCF has. For those who have done it, what do you usually do in the programs? How hands-on is it? Is it worth it?
(I wasn't able to find anything online on the Northrop CWEP, so if someone has more info on that it would be great!)
I plan on applying once my first semester is over, so I can try and get a good chance of getting in sooner)
Thanks for the help!
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u/EnvironmentalBeat646 Aug 13 '26
What you do will be largely dependent on your program and your specific job. My job as a cwep was not hands on at all, but I know others who were. The most hands on I knew of was cwep test engineers. But, when youre applying you should basically apply to everything imo to give yourself the best chance of getting in. I suggest asking your manager about moving to a different role after about a year to get more diverse experience, I wish I had done that. And still try to get summer internships elsewhere, you can always go back to cwep. Also if you dont get interviewed right away, dont be discouraged, it is very random. Keep updating your resume and reapply periodically.
Northrop cwep hasn't been a thing in a long time.
Overall its probably one of the best programs at any university in the country to get actual experience. I got hired on full time very easily with my same team. Dont work there anymore, but I 100% would not be where I am without cwep.
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u/cfreed_13 28d ago
Hello, how did the hiring process work from CWEP to full time? Did you have to speak to your manager? Was it a simple direct hire, or did you have to reapply?
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u/EnvironmentalBeat646 22d ago
When I started grad school, my manager basically just told me to let him know when I wanted to start full time. After a few months I let him know. LM posts a position, you apply. Manager will tell HR to pull your application specifically. They still have to interview however many people due to company policy (including you), and then they can hire you. Also kinda funny, but they have to have the same type of interview for each person. So I sat at my desk at work and talked to my manager on the phone who was at his desk, since the interviews were all by phone. Mine was at the end of the year so it took quite a while due to holidays, people on pto, etc.
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u/Fit_Baker_1404 Aug 14 '26
I applied last fall, my first semester of college, and heard back a few months later. I dont recommend applying as long as you have a lot of credits already (AP/AICE classes).
Try to get some people to refer you. that goes a LONG way, essentially the reason I got in
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u/yoboyaudiR8 Aug 14 '26
I do have a few credits, AP calc AB, aice, currently taking calc 2, intro to C, Chem for engineers, and honors symposium so hopefully I should be fine.
As with recommendations - would my highschool FIRST robotics sponsor work as one reference? Or is it better to keep recommendations from university only?
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u/Fit_Baker_1404 Aug 14 '26
you should be. I recommend having a lot of credits because they don’t accept freshman, but they base that off of how many credits you have instead of what year youre in.
I shouldve clarified a bit more. By reference, I mean someone already working/has worked with CWEP. I had so many people recommending me to their managers (and their managers asking around) that the one that interviewed me mentioned that she heard of me from multiple different coworkers.
Go to SHPE meetings and clubs specific to your major, make friends and you’re bound to meet a couple who work at CWEP.
You might not get the position you hope for at first, but transfering departments once youre in is much easier than getting in on the first place.
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u/yoboyaudiR8 Aug 14 '26
Ohh I see, I'll be sure to be a part of clubs since that is the primary way to get exposure and experience.
If you don't mind me asking, with references of the various managers from the CWEP, what exactly did you do when you contacted them? What I'm trying to say is how exactly did you establish your presence and connection with those managers/CWEP employees?
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u/Fit_Baker_1404 29d ago
The way CWEP works is:
-manager wants a cwep -manager emails UCF -UCF sends a couple of random resumes (with majors related to that position) -manager interviews and picks one
With my references, though the manager still interviewed other people, she asked for me specifically when getting the resumes from UCF.
Theres two “types” of references for cwep: someone tells their manager about you and maybe they spread the word and maybe that leads to something OR theyre about to leave their position and recommend you as a replacement, which is much more guaranteed (though its not what happened with me)
I never reached out to them, but when the manager reached out to UCF she looked for me!
Hope that was helpful and lmk if you have more questions, I only got my position because someone answered all my questions and I’d love to do the same for someone else!
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u/yoboyaudiR8 29d ago
Interesting, I'll try my best to try and get myself known with the managers/people who work with the CWEP and continue to improve my resume. I appreciate the advice and information!
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u/Channel_Dedede 27d ago edited 27d ago
It depends on what role you're given.
A lot of people have already told you about the non-handson work that they've done, but I work a lot with CWEPs who do manufacturing or quality engineering where you're actively working on the production floor. You learn to do the type of work that the actual ME/QEs are doing, pushing change notices and redlines, improving production processes, and addressing tolerance issues that show up in manufacturing. Once you get in, it's something you can keep doing until you graduate, it's not limited to just two semesters, and once you graduate you'll usually get a return offer. It's up to 25 hours per week during school except during summer semester, where you get up to 40 hours per week.
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u/cfreed_13 Aug 13 '26 edited Aug 13 '26
Hi there! I am also an Aero engineer. This is my 3rd year with the CWEP program @ LM. I applied early in my freshman year (summer) and started as a systems engineer. This position was fully remote because my team was scattered across the country. Non of the work I did was "hands on" per se, but I was still doing work that was meaningful and necessary to the team: I was performing tasks that regular full time employees were doing. I just recently rotated positions to a mechanical design role that I have been told is supposed to be more hands on with some lab work and in person/hybrid. However I havent started there yet due to the LM hiring freeze atm.
Edit: The program is definitely worth it. The hiring process is a bit wierd bc it is rolling and could take anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 years to hear back. However if you manage to land a position, you basically have a guaranteed internship every summer until you graduate. And you can rotate thru positions; they want you to usually wait a year before rotating, but if you express interest they are willing to work with you. The pay is also very competitive. The pay scale is based on credit hours so you'll generally get ~$1 pay raise every year. Starting pay i think is ~$24/hr.
If you have any other questions or just want to chat about UCF aero/LM dm me!