The military left its mark on you. For these employers, that is the most important certification an engineer can earn.

For some companies, the nature of their work — engineering for military, national defense, intelligence, cyber security, aerospace — favors candidates with specialized military skillsets and experience. For others, engineers with military backgrounds bring an understanding of teamwork, protocol, hierarchy, and discipline they can’t find anywhere else.

If you have military engineering training, you are a sought-after asset. For many companies, a sufficient number of years in a relevant field is an acceptable substitution for a professional engineering license.

These companies dedicate significant resources to attracting veterans, then supporting their development and retention. Many even have veterans resource departments dedicated to this cause.

These employers earn a place on our list of best engineering companies for veterans by honoring military experience and making a determined, honest effort to recruit and welcome returning veterans into their ranks. Additionally, they demonstrate policy and culture which are veteran-, reservist-, and military family-friendly.

Verizon Communications

Verizon Communications, Inc. provides wireless, wireline, cloud networks and platforms. It operates 3G and 4G LTE networks and a fiber-optic network; it also offers communications, entertainment, and information services to individuals and businesses across the globe.

Accepts military experience in lieu of certification.

View Engineering Jobs At Verizon

Number of employees: 166,000, 7% vets

Percent of military hires in 2013: 7.4%

Employee ratings on Glassdoor:

3.1 out of 5 stars (2169 ratings)

60% approve of CEO Lowell McAdam (712 ratings)

Verizon National Average Software Engineer III $79,175 $91,601 Software Engineer IV $85,445 $106,371 Software Engineer V $97,533 $121,402 Network Engineer $72,591 $74,990 Senior Network Engineer $111,035 $101,457 Senior Net Security Engineer $105,601 $95,627 Senior Systems Engineer $108,248 $106,064 Principal Engineer $115,520 $116,494

CACI International, Inc.

Founded in 1962, CACI International provides information solutions in support of national security missions, the Armed Forces, and government transformation. CACI serves intelligence, defense, and federal civilian customers, often working alongside the Department of Defense.

Naturally, the company would find military personnel (both active and veteran) an attractive pool of candidates to draw from. It has garnered a reputation as one of the best employers for military veterans, earning spots on several lists of top veteran-friendly employers, including lists by Forbes, US Veterans Magazine, and Military Times.

About a quarter of its recruiting budget is reserved for hiring veterans.

CACI is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, with job opportunities nationwide.

Accepts military experience in lieu of certification.

View Engineering Jobs at CACI

Number of employees: Approx. 15,500, 19% vets

Percent of military hiresin 2013: 21.6%

Employee ratings on Glassdoor:

3.4 out of 5 stars (312 ratings)

67% approval of CEO Kenneth Asbury (73 ratings)

CACI National Average Software Engineer $93,500 $77,281 Lead Software Engineer $107,667 $93,936 Senior Systems Engineer $125,625 $106,064 Network Engineer $93,000 $74,990 Lead Network Engineer $99,000 $101,457 Test Engineer III $108,452 $85,703

Union Pacific

The history of Union Pacific (UP) Railroad started more than 150 years ago with Abraham Lincoln signing of the Pacific Railway Act of 1862. These days, the company provides “freight solutions and logistics expertise to the global supply chain”, serving markets in the western two-thirds of the U.S.

Forty percent of its recruiting budget is reserved for veterans.

Accepts military experience in lieu of certification.

View Engineering Jobs at Union Pacific

Number of employees: 46,000, 19.5% vets

Percent of military hires in 2013: 28.3

Employee ratings on Glassdoor:

3.3 out of 5 stars (224 ratings)

76% approve of the CEO John J. Koraleski

Union Pacific National Average Mechanical Engineer II $87,500 $90,014 Associate Systems Engineer $85,581 $76,348 Systems Engineer $90,001 $93,936 Senior System Engineer $100,000 $106,064

BAE Systems

BAE Systems is a global aerospace, defense, and security company. Its products and services support air, land, and naval forces; its advanced electronics, security, and information systems solutions serve various communities that include avionics, communications, intelligence, infrastructure, and financial.

Twenty percent of its recruiting budget is reserved for veterans.

BAE System headquarters are located in Arlington, Virginia, with offices across the globe.

Accepts military experience in lieu of certification.

View Engineering Jobs at BAE Systems

Number of employees: 34,000 (88,000 globally), 12% vets

Percent of military hires in 2013: 10.3%

Employee ratings on Glassdoor:

3.2 out of 5 stars (664 ratings)

61% approve of CEO Jerry DeMuro

BAE Systems National Average Cyber/Software Engineer I $66,780 $60,893 Cyber/Software Engineer II $74,875 $77,281 Senior Software Engineer $98,267 $91,601 Principal Software Engineer $118,498 $106,371 Senior Systems Engineer $96,588 $106,064 Principal Systems Engineer $116, 472 $118,202 Mechanical Engineer $71,848 $74,627 Senior Mechanical Engineer $87,787 $90,014 Principal Mechanical Engineer $108,402 $118,433 Electrical Engineer II $74,769 $75,856 Senior Electrical Engineer $87,875 $105,796 Principal Electrical Engineer $113,162 $116,632

Southern Company

Southern Company provides energy generation plants, transmission and distribution lines, and customer sales and service. It owns electric utilities in four states (Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, and Mississippi Power), a power generation company (Southern Power), operates three nuclear generation plants (Southern Nuclear), and is a provider of fiber optics and wireless communications (Southern Telecom, SouthernLINC Wireless).

Eighty-five percent of its recruiting budget is reserved for veterans.

Southern Company has been recognized as a top military employer by the U.S. Department of Defense, G.I. Jobs magazine, and Military Times.

View Engineering Jobs at Southern Company

Number of employees: 26,000, 10% vets

Percent of military hires in 2013: 11.9%

Employee ratings on Glassdoor:

3.7 out of 5 stars (101 ratings)

84% approve of CEO Thomas A. Fanning

Southern Company National Average Engineer I $54,938 $61,791 Engineer II $62,899 $71,475 Engineer III $58,633 $86,132 Principal Engineer $95,901 $118,999 Senior Mechanical Engineer $90,000 $90,014 Civil Engineer $68,000 $73,544 Systems Engineer $65,500 $76,348

Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation

Intuitive Research provides aerospace engineering and analysis services, “production support, systems engineering, programmatic support, product development, rapid prototyping, and technology management.”

Nearly half of its recruiting budget is reserved for veterans.

Corporate headquarters are in Huntsville, Alabama, with field offices throughout the US.

Accepts military experience in lieu of certification.

View Engineering Jobs at Intuitive Research

Number of employees: 282, 36% vets

Percent of military hires in 2013: 46.7%

Employee ratings on Glassdoor:

5 out of 5 stars (2 ratings)

100% approve of CEO Rey Almodóvar

Intuitive Research National Average Senior Software Engineer $86,000 $91,601 Senior Mechanical Engineer $96,500 $102,497

Concurrent Technologies Corporation

Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) is a nonprofit, applied scientific research and development federal contractor. Nonprofit status is based on CTC’s stated primary purpose: to conduct R&D, both theoretical and applied, in the public interest or for common good.

Advanced engineering and manufacturing solutions (materials, surfaces, robotics, process methods, etc.) serve the following communities: military product and development, logistics, intelligence, security, special missions, environment and sustainability, and more.

About a quarter of its recruiting budget is reserved for veterans, and the company shows a heavy preference for hiring from military backgrounds.

Ethisphere Institute named it one of its 2013 World’s Most Ethical Companies, and Military Times named it one of its Best for Vets companies.

Accepts military experience in lieu of certification.

View Engineering Jobs at Concurrent Technologies Corporation

Number of employees: 896, 22.5% vets

Percent of military hires in 2013: 54.5%

Employee ratings on Glassdoor:

2.6 out of 5 stars

37% approve of CEO Ed Sheehan

Concurrent Technologies National Average Software Engineer II $78,274 $77,281 Senior Software Engineer $88,000 $91,601 Principal Software Engineer $115,528 $121,402

CDW

CDW is a B2B customized technology solutions vendor—software and hardware—for business, governments, education, and healthcare in North America. The Fortune 500 company is headquartered in Vernon Hills, Illinois, with 25 locations in the US and Canada.

CDW is consistently recognized among the Top 100 Military-Friendly Employers by G.I. Jobs and has made the Best for Vets list by Military Times. It reserves 20 percent of its recruiting budget for veterans.

View Engineering Jobs at CDW

Number of employees: 6,900, 4% vets

Percent of military hires in 2013: 46.9%

Employee ratings on Glassdoor:

3.5 out of 5 stars (572 ratings)

91% approve of CEO Thomas E. Richards

CDW National Average Network Engineer $84,174 $74,990 Senior Network Engineer $101,867 $101,457 Systems Engineer $88,714 $76,348 Senior Systems Engineer $101,453 $106,064 Senior Consulting Engineer $124,000 $118,999

URS Corporation

Established in 1951, URS Corporation is a global design firm that offers a diverse range of engineering, construction, and technical services to both public and private sector markets around the world. This major U.S. contractor provides services to more than twenty federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and NASA.

Eighty percent of its recruiting budget is reserved for veterans, with a significant preference for vets.

URS has been recognized by G.I. Jobs magazine as one of the Top Military-Friendly Employers for five years in a row.

Accepts military experience in lieu of certification.

View Engineering Jobs at URS Corporation

Number of employees: 9,900 (50,000 globally), 40.5% vets

Percent of military hires in 2013: 42.7%

Employee ratings on Glassdoor:

3.1 out of 5 stars (517 ratings)

74% approve of CEO Martin M. Koffel

URS National Average Civil Engineer $60,681 $73,544 Environmental Engineer $59,016 $71,710 Senior Environmental Engineer $72,389 $92,259 Transportation Engineer $67,181 $66,301 Project Engineer $80,964 $79,602 Mechanical Engineer $71,894 $74,627 Electrical Engineer $73,000 $75,856 Geotechnical Engineer $73,158 $63,348 Network Engineer $74,667 $74,990 Process Engineer $72,333 $75,382 Principal Engineer $134,040 $118,999

ManTech International Corporation

ManTech International was founded in 1968 to develop war-game models for the U.S. Navy. These days, ManTech provides C4ISR, cyber security, systems engineering, and global logistics services to the private sector as well as public. It serves national security, healthcare, business, and 50 government agencies, including the intelligence community, the Armed Forces, NOAA, and the Departments of Defense, State, Homeland Security, Energy, and Justice (including the FBI).

ManTech reserves 75% of its recruiting budget for veterans.

ManTech has been recognized as a valuable military- and military spouse-friendly employer by G.I. Jobs, Military Times, and Civilianjobs.com. It also actively participates in federal and state initiatives that provide opportunities for service members.

Accepts military experience in lieu of certification.

View Engineering Jobs at ManTech International Corporation

Number of employees: 7,600, 44.5% vets

Percent of military hires in 2013: 50.3%

Employee ratings on Glassdoor:

3.2 out of 5 stars

71% approve of CEO George J. Pedersen

ManTech International National Average Systems Engineer $76,012 $76,348 Principal Systems Engineer $108,833 $118,202 Software Engineer $57,867 $77,281 Senior Software Engineer $92,700 $106,371 Principal Software Engineer $137,667 $121,402

Intel

In addition to making the chips and components that power billions of PCs and devices around the globe, Intel pushes the boundaries of computing through research and innovation.

Intel has been recognized as a top military- and veteran-friendly employer by Military Times magazine, MilitaryFriendly.com, U.S. Veterans magazine, and CivilianJobs.com. It reserves 6 percent of its recruiting budget for veterans.

Intel headquarters are in Santa Clara, CA. Intel facilities can be found all over the world.

Accepts military experience in lieu of certification.

View Engineering Jobs at Intel

Number of employees: 50,000, 9% vets

Percent of military hires in 2013: 2.5%

Employee ratings on Glassdoor:

3.8 out of 5 stars (3,496 ratings)

82% approve of CEO Brian M. Krzanich (605 ratings)

Intel National Average Software Engineer III $97,000 $91,601 Senior Software Engineer $106,691 $106,371 Electronics Engineer $85,560 $74,285 Senior Electrical Engineer $104,252 $105,796 Systems Engineer $101,842 $76,348 Senior Systems Engineer $104,939 $106,064 Mechanical Engineer $90,307 $90,014 Senior Mechanical Engineer $97,832 $102,497 Mechanical Engineer (packaging) $129,154 $118,433 Process Engineer $103,227 $89,786 Senior Process Engineer $99,699 $106,762 Hardware Engineer $107,007 $88,049 Senior Hardware Engineer $105,362 $104,725 Principal Design Engineer $145,000 N/A Principal Engineer $169,226 $118,999

LMI

LMI was established in 1961 as a not-for-profit consulting firm of specialists that tackle challenges faced by government managers. It serves the federal government and a broad range of public markets: defense, intelligence, homeland security, healthcare, energy, and environment.

LMI reserves 40 percent of its recruiting budget for veterans, much of it supporting Wounded Warrior career and development opportunities. It has been recognized as a “Best for Vets” employer by Military Times.

Accepts military experience in lieu of certification.

View Engineering Jobs at LMI

Number of employees: 1,000, 33% vets

Percent of military hires in 2013: 28.3%

Employee ratings on Glassdoor:

3.8 out of 5 stars (46 ratings)

78% approve of CEO Nelson M. Ford

No engineering-specific salary information available for this employer.



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Editor’s Note: This is a post-publication update from the author. We recognize that this now brings our list to 13, not 12, “Best Engineering Companies for Veterans.” But we think you’ll agree with the addition.

Tesla

July 3 — Tesla announced that it wants to become a leading employer of veterans. Currently, Tesla employs about 300 vets, with 600 in the hiring pipeline, according to Tesla’s VP of human resources, Arnnon Geshuri.

Some of the reasons sites in this article for the electric car manufacturer’s interest in veterans are:

Experience with close-knit teamwork

Advanced technical, electrical, and mechanical skills gained in military

Understands sense of mission

Ability to speak military lingo with teammates

Integrity, discipline, ethic

According to president and CEO of VetJobs, Ted Daywalt, already “Tesla has risen to the top” among vet-friendly companies.

Salary tables subject to regional variation, some numbers approximate.

Feature Image Credit US Army