Diversity In Action

Telephonics, in a growth mode, is looking for forty engineers

Some 90 percent of the company's work is for the military, so many of the jobs involved require both security clearance and U.S. citizenship.

Janet Perinelli: futuristic visions come to life through engineering.

Engineers looking for jobs that are close to 100 percent technical should consider Telephonics Corp, says HR VP Janet Perinelli. "This is where futuristic visions come to life through classic engineering design," she says. "Many consider it techie heaven!"

Telephonics, a Griffon company, started in 1933 as a defense contractor making audio headsets for military aircraft. Today the company's scope has expanded to radar, IFF (identification - friend or foe) devices, wired and wireless secure intercommunications, and transportation information and security systems for military and commercial markets worldwide. Most of the jobs are at company HQ in Farmingdale and company facilities in Huntington, Long Island, NY.

The Radar Systems Division (RSD) supplies high-tech electronic systems to the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, and to most major domestic and international prime defense contractors. Telephonics' advanced radar/IFF technology is used on airborne surveillance platforms, which can be fixed and rotary wing aircraft, unmanned vehicles and lighter-than-air craft, as well as shipboard and ground-based applications.

Perinelli notes that Telephonics is in a growth mode. "We hired more than 170 people last year, fifty of them engineers," she says. "We currently have forty engineering positions open, and we're looking for both new grads and engineers with three to fifteen years of experience in systems, RF, software, hardware and mechanical engineering."

John Kopf, engineering VP: translating concepts into hardware requirements.

John Kopf, VP of engineering for the RSD, explains that "For MEs, we look for resumes with thermal and structural analysis, airborne electrical equipment and electronic packaging. Then we look to see if their skill sets also include AutoCAD or 3-D CAD experience."

The company has four operating divisions: Systems Engineering Group, Communication Systems, Electronic Systems and Kopf's RSD, where "We translate top-level concepts and specs into systems, software, electrical and mechanical hardware requirements." The RSD design staff handles design, integration and testing of the systems.

Projects typically involve RF technology, mechanical systems, software and digital hardware. Engineers who can bridge these disciplines are in high demand. MEs or computer scientists who understand aspects of EE are particularly valuable, as are those who understand radar design and amplifiers.

For recruiting help, Telephonics turns to organizations like IEEE and the Association of Old Crows for professionals in electronic warfare and information operations, as well as NSBE, SHPE, SWE and more. It also attends "secret clearance" expos and Military Stars career events.

About 90 percent of Telephonics' work is for the military, and most jobs involved with that work require security clearance. An intern program lets college students and the company get to know each other; security clearance is not needed here because students are not placed on classified projects.

All new employees must take the company's ethics and diversity training. "Everyone here respects everyone else's position and responsibility," Perinelli says. "It's part of what makes Telephonics such a good place to work."

Employees get excellent benefits and perks including a workweek that ends at noon on Friday.

Time off gives employees the opportunity to enjoy the Long Island beaches, the relaxing countryside an hour's car ride to the east and exciting New York City just an hour away to the west.

Employees can also take advantage of the Telephonics tuition reimbursement program when they take courses at the area's many colleges and world-class universities.

D/C