Diversity In Action

Applied Signal Technology, Inc is looking for engineers

There are system integration, software and hardware development jobs to fill; an active security clearance is a big career booster

Todd Penns anticipates bringing in at least seventy-five engineers this year.

'Our orders for new signal processing capabilities are up," says Todd Penns, senior technical recruiter.

Applied Signal products are designed to respond to the most advanced telecom signals as well as current and future security threats. The company specializes in software, hardware and systems solutions for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance for global security.

Right now Penns is actively recruiting engineers; he anticipates adding seventy-five or more this year. The company currently has techies in ten offices across the U.S. that focus on technology development and customer service.

What will the new techies do? "Our recruiting motto is 'We could tell you what we do, but then we'd have to hire you!' says Penns. "It's a great icebreaker," he adds with a smile.

Seriously, government contracts mean strict clearance requirements for all employees, Penns explains. "Both the employees and all members of their immediate households must be U.S. citizens.

"Because of our classified technology development, we look for people with clearances at the top secret and extended background investigation level." There are, however, Penns adds, unclassified positions where new hires can get their feet wet while their security applications are being processed.

Some 500 of the company's staff members have the top-level clearances. Some are members of government and industrial committees and panels that support Applied Signal customers and the scientific and engineering communities.

Applied Signal invests heavily in internal R&D, anticipating customer requirements and keeping the company at the cutting edge of scientific and engineering advances. Some 15 to 20 percent of tech staff devotes full time to these projects.

But all the company's work is essentially cutting edge, Penns notes. "Our engineers work with other team members, bringing the integration together. Engineers tell me they really like being involved with the full development cycle."

Since the start of the global war on terror, Applied Signal's business has changed. The company has been reorganized into five divisions: wireless communications, multi-channel systems, electronic systems, national security systems and ocean systems.

There has been an increased demand for the company's products. "More government organizations are trying to incorporate our technology into their defense spending. As a result of our joint efforts with other organizations, the U.S. government is now allowing certain nations to purchase our technology. That translates into wider applications than before," Penns explains.

Proactive diversity recruitment is part of Penns' mandate. "We host an open house every January for college students, work with societies like NSBE, SHPE and SWE and bring our staff engineers to career fairs. We're looking for the good engineers we need and focusing on maintaining a diversity balance."

Applied Signal has a "strong mentoring culture," Penns says. Teams and individual mentors are available for new recruits.

Addressing community needs, the company has adopted underprivileged schools in its area, donating time, money and computer equipment. During career days at the company campus, high school and college students are invited to tour the facilities and talk to engineers. "Our network operation center resembles something right out of NASA with big screens and all those technical bells and whistles. The kids are wowed by the technology," Penns notes.

Applied Signal is also concerned with providing work/life balance for its employees. Benefits include full tuition reimbursement, matching retirement contributions and domestic partner benefits. There are also refreshing perks like on-site massage therapy and "nutrition rejuvenation lounges," showers in every building, and yoga, tennis and bowling clubs along with barbeques, pizza parties and breakfasts.

"Applied Signal Technology isn't just about technology," Penns says. "It's an organization that understands the importance of its employees. Gary Yancey, our CEO, says, 'Give me a strong forty,' meaning that it's important to do your forty hours of good work at the company, but then you should spend the same amount of time with your family relaxing and enjoying life."

D/C