Bureaucracy: Big company, big red tape. Decisions can be slow and processes overly complex.
Clearance Pressure: Many roles require and are limited by security clearance — can delay projects and cause job limitations.
Rigid Culture: Can feel old-school and slow to adopt change in some departments. Not as nimble as startups or smaller firms.
Ethical Concerns: Some people take issue with working in the defense industry — not a con for everyone, but worth noting.
Heavy Compliance: Strict ITAR/export controls and internal audits — necessary but adds to the stress and workload.