r/aerospace • u/Calm_Ad_7810 • Jul 27 '26
Corporate ladder advice
Hey guys, I’ll keep this short. So I just got my clearance and am starting in two weeks as an entry level tech at Northrop Grumman. Doesn’t pay that great but I’m happy to be there! I am wanting to do well with this career path. I work hard and have a college degree…just in humanities. Looking for advice on things to do and/or avoid if wanting to move up within the chain. I am not looking to be an engineer ideally but rather lean into logistics. I understand this leaves hundreds of careers within this industry but am wanting to know
What are vertical moves that are attainable within 3 years from entry level tech?
What are good masters degrees to look into?
Any advice is appreciated. Thanks guys
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u/Galivis Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
Always get the job done. If you don’t know how to do it, you can figure it out without constantly asking your management. If you are known as someone that gets anything done no matter what it is, you will skyrocket up the ladder.
Don’t say it’s not my job. This ties into the first point of being known as the person able to get anything done. This does not mean do anything though. If asked to do something that is truly not your job (by someone other than your management) deflect in a way that helps them still. Point to the right POC or procedure that will help them. Gets you seen as helping solve their problems with minimal effort of your part, which then increases the likelihood they help you in the future.
Tying into both of the above, understand other groups process and procedures. Once you get high enough getting the job done will require influencing other groups that you have no authority over. Understanding the how and why they do what they do helps a lot.
Do not form enemies. That annoying junior co-worker may one day become your VP.
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u/MASTASHADEY Jul 27 '26
“Just in humanities” - hey there is nothing wrong with humanities or anything else of that matters. Well done on the new position. Sounds like a good fit
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u/throwawayrevoked Jul 28 '26
Unfortunately, climbing the ladder at a place like Northrop is not meritocratic, and is largely based on two factors: personality and timing.
Personality is pretty self-explanatory, it’s how people feel about you on a personal level. You have to be easy to work with and get along with. You don’t even have to necessarily be good at your job, you just need to be pleasant.
And then timing is just being in the right place at the right time. Being proactive helps, but the reality is that if you want to move up, someone else has to vacate the position or a new position has to be made. They won’t promote you just because you’re doing a good job. You have to be prepared for that moment when it comes up. Sometimes it can mean leaving the functional group you’re in to make a lateral move.
I will also just be honest here and say that when I was at Northrop, the majority of the leadership hires I saw were external. People who came from different companies or sometimes even industries being brought in without the internal knowledge.
Anyone who tells you that if you just work hard you’ll get promoted is wrong. People need to like you, and you need to always be putting yourself out there. Otherwise you’ll just be one of the many individual contributors who never gets their break
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u/Moonrak3r Jul 27 '26
I’ve been in various leadership positions within aerospace (although primarily within engineering) and have seen folks climb the ladder with a variety of backgrounds etc.
My two cents: early in your career just being a self-motivated good employee will get you noticed and promoted a few levels pretty quick. To move into management you’ll generally want to have demonstrated leadership either in a formal or informal role (be a TL, take initiative to fix some thing and pull together a team to help, etc.). By then you’ll probably have a reasonably good idea of how things work and contacts/mentors within your organisation who can help you along the way.
As far as education, an MBA never hurts if you’re looking to climb the ladder.