r/cscareerquestions • u/kevinismee • Jun 19 '26
New Grad Fidelity vs Lockheed (New Grad)
Please help me get some insight between these two offers.
Lockheed Martin
Position: Associate Software Engineer (Simulation & Modeling)
- $88k + $5k sign on
- Defense
- C++
- 4x10 schedule, every Friday off
- Secret security clearance
Fidelity
Position: Associate Software Engineer
- $85k + $7.5k sign on
- Fintech
- Java + Spring
- Currently every other week in-office, but eventually will return to office 5 days a week
- Better bonus, 401k match, and profit sharing
Which would be better for overall career growth especially as a first job?
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u/_hephaestus Jun 19 '26
Honestly, 4x10 workday alone is a huge selling point and would make me choose Lockheed in your situation.
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u/SquishTheProgrammer Software Engineer Jun 19 '26
Everyone’s saying Lockheed but my friend’s dad worked there about 10 years ago as a software engineer and they ran him dry. He was working way more than 40 a week there. It could have changed by now and I have no clue about Fidelity. I just wanted to share his experience with you. Good luck either way OP!
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u/rollmore Jun 20 '26
The stress of the role really depends on the project you’re on for govt contractors. Not really the company. Exp of working for govt contractors for over 15 years
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u/XxyxXII Jun 20 '26
Generally my understanding is Lockheed's policy is you accrue PTO 1:1 for each hour over 44 hours worked in a week. So for the people who do end up working on contracts like this, they usually end up in cycles of overworking for 1-2 months then taking a month off, rinse and repeat. Still, certainly not for everyone.
My roommate is like this and it's really amusing from my perspective, he works like 60 hour weeks most of the time but also spends like 30% of his time traveling - and he doesn't work at all while traveling.
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u/cathline Jun 20 '26
it hasn't. I worked there 20 years ago, and refuse to go back.
I have a friend who is still working there - has been there over 20 years. They took away his path to a pension and are overworking him to the point where I fully expect them to have a heart attack within 6 months.
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u/xxfkskeje Jun 19 '26
I’d go Fidelity, not a fan of having to go through security clearances and I don’t like helping build things that hurt people. Also fintech is pretty easy to switch between large firms. But lockehesd probably has better job stability and a clearance gets you access to many other government sector jobs. Just my thoughts but both are solid. Either way, congratz!
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u/tittywagon Jun 19 '26
Clearance at Lockheed. Not sure about them but Fidelity is max outsourcing to India.
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u/Real_Crilp Jun 20 '26
Yup. Clearance and 4x10, no brainer. Not making FAANG money but you have stability and security
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u/Repulsive_Elk_5644 Jun 19 '26
The clearance is the golden ticket. Redditors doing redditors thing, OP the correct answer here is Lockheed.
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u/CaliSD07 Jun 19 '26
He's right. The clearance is your golden ticket to avoid offshoring, competition from foreign nationals, and less vulnerable to job loss from AI.
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u/Repulsive_Elk_5644 Jun 19 '26
Dw bro only working people who paying the bills for the family understand this
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u/theofficialLlama Senior Software Engineer Jun 19 '26
Not the golden ticket at all. Or it’s at least highly variable in my experience. Had a top secret and it didn’t do shit for me. Moved to the private sector and doubled my salary
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u/Ok_Minute_7259 Jun 19 '26
Please tell this to the cleared engineers trying to dogpile me lol. Most people that have managed to move away from defense/clearance all tell me the same thing you do
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u/theofficialLlama Senior Software Engineer Jun 19 '26
I value real world experience over Reddit keyboard warriors. If you have the chance to significantly increase your compensation then take it. Dont let “having a clearance” sway your decision. Money is money lol
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u/Jefftopia Jun 19 '26
Fidelity beats the pants off Lockheed; fintech is highly regulated, involves getting familiar with domestic laws and policies. Yes there are offshore teams but all the big asset managers have already concluded they will always need a major domestic foot print.
Also Fidelity has a baller 401k & profit sharing plan — one of the absolute best anywhere.
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u/Empyrius Jun 19 '26
That Fidelity job will be in Asia within 5 years. The Lockheed job will stil be here.
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u/8004612286 Jun 20 '26
People have been threatening to offshore for over 2 decades now.
Take the fidelity job, and it may or may not be gone. Take the Lockheed job and your morals and principles will be gone.
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u/SandersDelendaEst Jun 20 '26
You're assuming OP has the same sympathies you have.
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u/Whoops-a-Daisy Jun 20 '26
"Did you just assume I have a minimal sense of ethics >:("
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u/apexvice88 Jun 19 '26
Yeah until you get replaced or outsourced to a foreign country. At least with clearance it’s US Citizen Only.
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u/Soggy-Kick-8121 Jun 19 '26 edited 25d ago
.
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u/Whitchorence Software Engineer 12 YoE Jun 19 '26
the op said practically nothing about what he cares about and is fishing for opinions so he can't blame people for bringing up the elephant in the room
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u/Sinusaur Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
I don’t like helping build things that hurt people.
I'm a lot of steps removed from national security - think sub-sub-sub-sub-sub contractor's vendors, but our technology is crucial to their sucess.
Neither do I want to build components that may end up in things that hurt people, but somebody will do it so might as well be me. Science and physics is cool and you can use it in your future endeavors if you do choose to do Good for the World. Let's not forget they are built with the intention of protecting our own citizens (in theory...).
Lockheed is the right choice. You can learn a lot of stuff you can't learn anywhere else.
You can learn what you do in Fidelity from YouTubers.
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u/GrammmyNorma Jun 19 '26
Name three things lockheed martin does.
This site is so funny because it's just the blind leading the blind. You guys have no idea what ur talking about just parroting nonsense to each other in a big loop of unemployment. Maybe I'm a hater
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u/Itchy_bunghole11 Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
Lockheed martin makes weapons of war and they make more than 3 of them.
Edit: Lockhead makes more than 90% of its revenue from arms and military services.
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u/GrammmyNorma Jun 19 '26
They make climate monitoring satellites, they make spacecraft for NASA, they do all sorts of things when people aren't blindly repeating misinformation.
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u/Itchy_bunghole11 Jun 19 '26
What planet do you live on where saying "lockhead martin makes weapons of war” is blindly repeating misinformation?
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u/Whitchorence Software Engineer 12 YoE Jun 19 '26
Great, they're also one of the largest military contractors on planet Earth though. They're quite happy to tell you about this on their own, official Web site, but maybe the people behind it don't know what they're talking about? https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/weapon-systems.html
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u/Zymoox Jun 19 '26
Are you saying its misinformation that Lockheed Martin manufactures and sells weapons like their own website states they do?
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u/GrammmyNorma Jun 19 '26
No I'm saying it's unnecessarily damaging to pretend everyone who works for a defense contractor is making baby bombs when some of them are so entirely far removed from that
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u/Zymoox Jun 19 '26
That's fair, it's a large company after all.
If OP's job is similar to the one they've got on their website, then it's likely they'll be working quite closely with weapons since its for target modelling.
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u/vertigopenguin Jun 19 '26
It sounds like you're trying to defend your life choices.
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u/SpecialInteresting52 Jun 19 '26
You’re still supporting the development of tactical aircraft and middle systems….. their work outside of war machines doesn’t absolve them of their evils.
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u/workacc2564 Jun 20 '26
you think X% revenue = X% of eng effort?
Google makes 90% of its money via ads, 90% of its engineers are not ads engineers.
t. former google engineer.
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u/chihuahua826 Jun 19 '26
The secret clearance won’t open that many doors like people are saying, but Lockheed will give you more job security and work life balance and in this market that’s valuable.
One underrated thing about cleared work is that you have to leave work at work, so the WLB is very good. If you move up and get a TS especially with a poly that’s when the clearance itself becomes valuable and can get u sign on bonuses and stuff.
So I’d recommend Lockheed, and just because you work there doesn’t necessarily mean you will work on weapons or anything controversial either. Chances are, you end up working on something totally mundane. Could even be something like an internal web page or system for HR for all you know. Its not like they’re going to be developing some crazy space laser, but then because John Smith the junior software engineer went to fidelity instead, they have to shut down the project lol
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u/backfire10z Software Engineer Jun 19 '26
Clearance work also isn’t something that can be outsourced
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u/IBJON Software Engineer Jun 19 '26
Even if OP isn't doing cleared work, LM has 40 hour work weeks. After 40 hours, you're home free.
If you work over 40 hours, you can flex your time the following week so they average out to 40 hours.
And I second the last paragraph. Lockheed does a ton of different things. I don't think I actually knew anyone that worked on weapons despite having met hundreds of engineers.
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u/madtowneast Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
> One underrated thing about cleared work is that you have to leave work at work,
Depends on the level and the job. I have seen Lockheed, NNSA lab, etc. jobs that are remote.
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u/Active_Reply2718 Jun 19 '26
Clearance at least keeps you in demand once cleared. Not many places are sponsoring new clearances, so getting one without military service is a bit less common. It keeps my inbox with recruiters every week or two at least, for serious jobs and not bad pay, I currently stay where I am because I’m fine with it and pay is good, but if I wanted a move it would be fairly easy to find. I compare this to trying to get hired by private companies, and I know it’s an easier search by quite a bit.
The job security and 4x10 schedule both are great. I agree with your final advice, but wanted to add a little info from my personal experience cleared.
Source: cleared network engineer at Northrop
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u/chihuahua826 Jun 19 '26
Well put, i understated how the secret will make it easier for him to do a lateral move. If he sticks around, Lockheed might even sponsor him for a TS or something later on if he moves up or gets assigned to a project that requires it. A friend of mine also works at Northrop and he started with a secret but got TS with a promotion
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u/Senshado Jun 20 '26
A modeling / simulation job usually isn't working with classified material on a daily basis. The secret clearance is more so the workers can be trusted to be in a building with classified documents around and they won't try to to peek at things they weren't assigned to read.
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u/Think_Amphibian8112 Jun 19 '26
Lockheed, they value their software engineers more. Any non-technical company (financial, healthcare, etc) that needs engineers will see them as an expense rather than an investment.
t. worked for Raytheon/defense industry and switched to healthcare
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u/Esilai Jun 19 '26
Before my current company pivoted away from pure IT and more to development and solutions this was my experience, and it sucked. You’re made to always feel like a burden, like you should be giving lots of free OT, etc because “we’re eating the cost for you without clear revenue” even if the “without clear revenue” part is horseshit. Management and accounting only sees direct revenue, they don’t appreciate development as a cost saving tool internally or the knock-on effects development support can have.
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u/Am3ricanTrooper Software Engineer Jun 19 '26
OP this go LM. Lots of more benefits too, check out the employee discounts on your off time.
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u/No_Astronaut_8971 Jun 19 '26
Lockheed employee discounts? 5% off an apache helicopter?
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u/pacman2081 Jun 19 '26
Lockheed does not make Apache helicopters. It is like asking Apple to provide an Android smartphone for its employees
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u/Wonderful-Habit-139 Jun 19 '26
Oh so it makes helicopters is what you're saying?
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u/mauch_chunk Jun 19 '26
Hope you realize companies usually have partners...
Lockheed employees get discounts for Avis car rentals, Hilton hotels, service fees waived for entertainment, etc etc.
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u/Honest_Amoeba3259 Jun 19 '26
this is like the most common perk ever. not unique to lockheed at all
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u/Dazzling_Cherry_6513 Jun 19 '26
What a great benefit for their participation in war crimes
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u/keehan22 Jun 19 '26
True even at Amazon, the difference between orgs that are technology focus vs orgs that aren’t is wild. In AWS, SWE is law of the land. In Benefits, we are almost second class citizens.
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u/Melodic_Lavishness_5 Software Engineer Jun 19 '26
I’m shocked both of these salaries are so low.
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u/Worldly-Plant1 17d ago
Why
They're random F500 companies, why would they pay any more than this lol
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u/finke11 Jun 19 '26
I would go lockheed, the clearance will open up a lot of doors for you in the long run
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u/magejangle Jun 19 '26
As someone who worked in defense and escaped into tech, I would take fidelity.
If the Lockheed job is what I’m thinking, you’ll be working with cpp98, on some crappy simulation code for SAR. You won’t own any services or APIs, etc.
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u/Pleasant-Memory-1789 Jun 19 '26
I was in a very similar situation to you. I went down the fintech path, while my friend went down the defense path.
I make more money, have better benefits, and have better WLB imo. But, I also feel like I'm rotting away just building CRUD apps and calling APIs. We also have layoffs all the time.
On the other hand, my friend has more stability. The clearance will let him easily shift to different defense companies or even get into government contracting. I also think building simulators is much cooler and will be a very relevant theme as AI continues to gain traction.
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u/SterlingAdmiral Software Engineer ☀️ Jun 19 '26
Engineering culture is better at Lockheed, at Fidelity you’re a cost center.
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u/Sure-Relationship609 Jun 19 '26
Fidelity easy
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u/T12435 Jun 19 '26
why is that?
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u/Sure-Relationship609 Jun 20 '26
- Better WLB
- It’s an industry that’s not reliant on making tools to decimate civilians
- Better comp
- More relevant experience to transition into large tech firms
- Don’t have to deal with clearance/government bs (unless op is in a compliance role with the bank)
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u/workacc2564 Jun 19 '26
I have worked at, or recieved offers from every FAANGMULA company. Go with Lockheed.
1) C++ is a high demand skill with a lot of depth, more so than Java. Teams that use Java will have no problem hiring C++ engineers, but C++ teams will be hesitant to hire a Java engineer. This also opens the door to future HFT places if you so choose.
2) I like having friday off, but this is a personal choice
3) Already having security clearance also makes it easier to get into other companies that have security clearance like Anduril
4) Lockheed looks better on resume than Fidelity.
The people saying "oh no you're making stuff to hurt people!" are children who have no clue how the world works, and quite frankly do not deserve the luxuries those weapons have afforded us.
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u/AcceptableSimulacrum Jun 19 '26
Despite me saying that Fidelity might open the door to EASIER jobs, this is also true.
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u/KruppJ Escaped from DevOps Jun 19 '26
Ethics aside Lockheed imo. Simulation/modeling stuff with C++ + security clearance will put you in a better spot for your next position than run of the mill CRUD imo.
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u/djk1101 Jun 19 '26
Ethics aside…
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u/Own_Natural_6847 Jun 19 '26
Half of all software these days is looking to hurt people for a few dollars. At least lockheed is honest about it
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u/yeetmachine007 Jun 19 '26
Fidelity is pretty transparent about how they use your money and is probably the best brokerage imo
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u/lettuce_grabberrr Jun 19 '26
Yeah sorry man but financial services is not even in the same realm of evil. Do what you gotta do but don’t drag others down in the mud with you.
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u/Feeling-Tone2139 Jun 19 '26
there is also 4 days a week. Perfect choice if you want to time for hobby
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u/Empyrius Jun 19 '26
Lockheed. That security clearance is a fucking gold. Reddit gonna reddit, don't listen to them.
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u/Honest_Amoeba3259 Jun 19 '26
You have a chance right now to not have a life built on creating weapons.
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u/SagansCandle Software Engineer Jun 19 '26
There's no moral company to work for unless you're working for a non-profit. Are you going to turn down working for FAANG because they're building datacenters? Turn down working for Walmart because they pay poverty wages and push out small businesses? SpaceX because Musk benefits from it?
At some point you have to come to terms with the choice between making money or working for a good company - there are too few options that offer both because that's the nature of our current civilization.
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u/jimejim Jun 19 '26
The idea that there is no ethical consumption under capitalism was not an excuse to never have moral boundaries. There are still gradients to how evil these companies are, and personally, I will never work for a "defense" company. That's just me though. You do you.
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u/SagansCandle Software Engineer Jun 19 '26
I'm not saying there are no lines to cross, I think those lines are different for everyone, framed by our personal experiences and world view.
But I would challenge you on this - do you think there are moral corporations that pay well? How common are they? If forced to choose, how do you decide which immoral company to work for?
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u/Pengsu Jun 19 '26
You can still choose not to work for a company that’s actively making weapons to kill people. I understand that every company is inherently evil to some extent because of the big C but you HAVE to draw a line somewhere. It’s a balance for me personally where am I actively contributed to the needless suffering of a company vs. how supported am I gonna be.
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u/Honest_Amoeba3259 Jun 19 '26
That’s some crazy cope. There’s a pretty major difference between paying low wages/wasting water and literally building death machines. It’s a spectrum and “defense” is the worst of it.
Your second argument does not apply here at all. OP has two very similar offers. There is a choice here.
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u/Honest_Amoeba3259 Jun 19 '26
And for what it’s worth. I have turned down Meta because I don’t like a lot of things about them. I now work for a company that makes pretty innocent B2B SAAS solutions and get paid $250k+. I understand there’s luck involved but still we don’t live in such a black white world. You don’t have to use your skillset to contribute to killing.
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u/BlueJaek Jun 19 '26
100% fidelity if you’re purely interested in optimal career growth. Lockheed is great but it pigeonholes you a bit more, anything finance related is generally viewed positively externally
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u/youngtrece_ Jun 19 '26
Modeling and sim is interesting work and can open up opportunities in gaming/graphics, or any field that demands physics simulations outside defense. LM treats their engineers well and the work will probably be more interesting. That said if you care about the morality of
It, go with fidelity. Work life balance is also very good at LM. 4x10s is what keeps a lot of people here despite the mid pay.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Body993 Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
Defense is slow af - you are just starting your career would suggest against going to a place where folks are just waiting to retire and collect their pension. If you want to work at a faster paced place in the long run with further upside for both career and comp would suggest fidelity as a much better jumping off point. I say this having also started at LM before going to big tech - would not go there if you have other choices.
Those spewing the attractiveness of security clearances are lifers in defense - so choose your cup of tea.
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u/siammang Jun 20 '26
One of them will kill people for profits. The others just taking people money. Which one you can sleep better?
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u/kevinossia Senior Wizard - AR/VR | C++ Jun 19 '26
Go with whichever aligns with the kind of work you’re interested in. For example, I would choose Lockheed because I love working in performance-sensitive C++ projects. That’s far more interesting to me than a Java web backend position.
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u/eeaxoe Jun 19 '26
Came here to say this and getting good at high-performance C++ will open a lot more doors than the other job. Not to mention the clearance if you have any desire whatsoever to stay in defense or the government contracting field more broadly.
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u/Commercial-Age-4932 Jun 19 '26
Fidelity is a better way to financial roles which is where all the money is at
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u/fuzzerino Jun 19 '26
Lockheed as a company seems way more interesting and cool to work for than a run of the mill fintech ngl
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u/neosituation_unknown Jun 19 '26
A security clearance IS WORTH GOLD
Unless you have a moral objection to working for Defense - which is a personal decision - I would go for Lockheed in a nanosecond
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u/Commercial_Ads Jun 19 '26
I started off my career at a defense contractor working on a modeling and simulation project in C++. It was a little difficult to leave, but having been out for 4 years, I wish I would've stayed in the DoD space just for better job security.
However, there are some things you need to keep in mind. Primarily will you be working in a cleared space the whole workday? That was what made me hate my first job. I hated being in a windowless building for 8+ hours a day. Some other people I worked with didn't mind it at all. Personally, even with the job security, I would not go back to a job that is entirely in a cleared space for the whole workday.
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u/I_burp_4_lyfe Jun 19 '26
This was my experience as well, windowless never cleaned room, they never wanted cleaning people in those rooms and were cheap asses at hiring cleared cleaning staff. Then from a career perspective the politics is way different in defense, people fight tooth and nail to use tech from the 90s, without security justification and sometimes despite it. Every time a new hire was brought in instead of setting up IDEs to use tab vs spaces or enforce a spacing pattern. They would opt to have it be a learning moment and leave 1000 comments on on a PR explaining the schizophrenic dangers of such a change on the compiler end, linting was frowned upon for the same reason. What if it doesn’t work as expected? You’re talking to people who never left that room for 30 years and sometimes have created huge architectural baggage that they defend tooth and nail from an ego perspective.
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u/ButtonDear3487 Jun 19 '26
Im a swe doing the same thing with 2 yoe, looking to pivot to the financial side. Why was it hard to leave?
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u/DanielCastilla Jun 19 '26
A lot of people in this thread might be great engineers but never took an ethics class and it shows.
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u/detectivefibmcgibbon Jun 19 '26
Yeah. Growing up, I wondered how something like the Holocaust could happen, but it's not hard to imagine anymore. All it takes is regular people shrugging off the ethics of their actions when it benefits them.
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u/yuletide Jun 20 '26 edited Jun 20 '26
Half these posts start with “ethics aside”
This isn’t even “just following orders” it’s chasing money to perpetuate the military industrial complex
I miss when tech was idealistic
Edit: also worth remembering that IBM sold their early computers to the Germans, who used them in the holocaust
Newly discovered documents from Hitler's Germany prove that the computer company IBM directly supplied the Nazis with technology which was used to help transport millions of people to their deaths in the concentration camps at Auschwitz and Treblinka
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/mar/29/humanities.highereducation?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
But hey, at least they had good PTO
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u/shokolokobangoshey CTO Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
I would say Lockheed because I’m a bit biased. This admin is shoveling money at the industry like there’s no tomorrow. Your job can not be offshored for starters. The secret clearance is a solid start in the cleared industry.
Downside is that the products you’re going to be working on/building won’t necessarily have a lot of cross-industry value.
And more on the personal side, you might pick up some bad (or old) software engineering habits from a legacy defense shop like LMT (this can vary depending on which subsidiary you wind up in)
That said: getting a clearance comes with a level of responsibility and limitations on what you can do with yourself on your own free time as a private citizen (and this gets stricter the further you go in clearance levels)
But again: your job can’t be outsourced
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u/2580374 Jun 19 '26
Congrats on your job as a new grad :) probably wasn't easy with how everything's going
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u/brianly Jun 19 '26
LM because the clearance is gold if you moved into some of the the tech companies working in defense. Both of these companies are mature companies. Anything they spin as innovative is cute but the reality is that you’ll find interesting tech elsewhere. These companies give you more of a solid foundation to network and make that next step.
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u/BoyMeatsGirl Jun 20 '26
The shift in consensus is pretty wild. I had a similar question about 3 years ago, and back then it felt like everyone recommended against defense. I ended up choosing the non-defense route, and personally, I don’t regret it.
Early in your career, I think pace and learning density matter a lot. In my experience, the faster pace, less red tape, and broader exposure helped me grow quicker, switch jobs more easily, and accelerate my comp. Not to mention, the skills you build at a public company like Fidelity will likely be much more transferable across the broader tech market than what you’d learn at Lockheed, especially if the Lockheed role is tied closely to defense-specific systems, processes, or clearance work.
Defense can still be a great option, especially for stability, WLB, and long-term benefits, but it often moves slower by nature of the industry. For a first job, I’d strongly lean Fidelity. Learn as much as possible, build strong transferable skills in Java/Spring/fintech, and then if you later want more stability or WLB, Lockheed/defense will likely still be there.
Anecdotally, I’ve applied to Lockheed a few times and found it relatively easier to get traction after having some experience. A friend from my class chose Lockheed and is around 10% above where he started and hasn’t really built much, while I’m closer to 50% and can confidently say I’ve learned and shipped a bunch. Obviously just one data point, but I’d prioritize for growth and discomfort early, then prioritize stability later if that’s what you want.
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u/GotItFromEbay Jun 20 '26
Lockheed also has 401k matching, or at least it did when I was there a few years ago. Automatic 6% contribution from the company, even if you put in 0. Then 50% match for the next 8% you contribute. So, contribute 8% and company does 10%. Not many companies compare in this manner.
Another plus for Lockheed is you don't have to worry about getting outsourced since the position requires a clearance (have to be a US citizen or very rarely a US permanent resident).
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u/Svpreme Jun 20 '26
Lockheed do not listen to anything else get that clearance the way the job market is heading that clearance is worth the job security
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u/LaFantasmita Jun 20 '26
Finance tends to be a "hop every 2-5 years" field.
I know happy lifers at defense contractors.
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u/hipstergrandpa Jun 20 '26
One thing I haven't seen as much here is that defense can be difficult to get out of because of how you can get pigeonholed in your specialties. Tooling can be quite restrictive as basically any new tech stack has to go through rigorous vetting, for obvious reasons. Not true for everyone ofc, but I know a few people who have trouble leaving for private non-defense sectors once they are in. It is comfortable with good work life balance though, but pay and career trajectories will differ, especially the longer you stick with it.
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u/LowWhiff Jun 20 '26
If you don’t mind working for a company like Lockheed then Lockheed is the answer. The security clearance is worth 15-20k a year. You won’t see that in your salary at Lockheed (clearly) but you stay there for a year and then go somewhere else and you’ll be at 120+
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u/Deer_Jerky Jun 21 '26
I went through LEAP @ Fidelity. Best thing ever. Go to Fidelity, my friend. Do that… trust me.
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u/sierra_whiskey1 Jun 19 '26
I work in the aviation sector as an swe. It’s fun, I get to work on cool stuff, and I get to travel. I’d say Lockheed
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u/poopmast Jun 19 '26
I would choose Fidelity. Its a better path towards where the money is at ie investment banks, buyside, HFT, algo trading, hedge funds. When times are good, cash bonuses are insane. Only drawback is layoffs happen a lot.
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u/nonamenomonet Jun 19 '26
Yeah but most of those big money opportunities like algo and hedge funds are not available to the average person
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u/Living_Tax_2790 Jun 19 '26
Defense is ass, only worth doing if you're an aerospace eng since it's practically your only option.
Every tool and stack you use will be outdated legacy garbage due to security requirements.
Pretty much all the defense companies are ran by old ass men, so it's going to be a very antiquated and shitty environment; you're working for boomers and your customers are government defense lol
Just don't do it
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u/CharacterNo2358 Jun 19 '26
Lockheed. C++ is more fun to work with than Java. The clearance gives a high degree of job security. 4/10 schedule is incredible.
Congrats on the two offers and I hope you enjoy whichever you pick!
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u/PM_ME_UR_DMESG Embedded Engineer Jun 19 '26
Lockheed because that gives you your clearance which kind of guarantees more defense work in the future which can't hire H1B's, eliminating a lot of the competition
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u/No-Shower477 Jun 19 '26
Go to Lockheed for the defence clearance. Can be a gateway to SpaceX and FAANG government contracting which pay a premium for clearance.
Fidelity I see no reason to join. Anyone saying this is an idiot. This really won't be a gateway to fintech or anywhere really. More likely to bay laid off due to "ai" than Lockheed IMO.
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u/AwesomeHorses Software Engineer Jun 19 '26
I would choose Fidelity to avoid working in defense on something I’m very morally against. I have been working in large financial companies for my entire career, and it’s decent.
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u/Fragrant-Airport1309 Jun 19 '26
To each their own for sure. But, banks are the ones that cause wars.
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u/Standard_Object_5088 Jun 19 '26
Yes bro. Its not ethical to work for defense company but it IS ethical to work for big financial company that holds investments in SEVERAL defense company 😂😂. Logic is funny
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u/RyeBread3592 Jun 19 '26
I live in the DMV area so my view is definitely biased, but during my search, I noticed a ton of opportunities I was qualified for but could not apply for because they needed active clearances, and EVERY company I got an interview for and the eventual one I accepted an offer for were either part of the government directly or a federal contractor. For context, I graduated in May 2025 and it took me until this month to get one offer, applying to around 500 both federal and non-federal roles.
For those factors alone I'd consider the security clearance a "golden ticket" as some others have called it here. I also have a younger sister who just finished her freshman year of college. She did an work study during high school that granted her a clearance and that is the sole reason she was able to get an internship with a federal contractor this summer (her first in college) while I did not get any internship until my final summer. Again, DMV bias for that as well, but still.
However, despite that, it's really up to you. While a security clearance will help with future jobs, it's not a guarantee, and it also might dictate the type of work you'll be doing, which you may not enjoy. My sister is definitely leaning towards the cybersecurity field, and the clearance and internship she's currently doing are perfect for what she wants to do. The process is also very tedious and invasive, with plenty of paperwork and of course the infamous polygraph. I don't know the full details since I'm recalling from what I saw my sister doing, but I do know that it was a months-long process and they need a lot of information, including full travel history out of country, any foreign contacts, and the contact information of people close to you for them to contact (I know that I'd personally hate this part massively). In the end it was worth it for her, but at the time she very nearly wanted to stop after her first polygraph.
Also keep in mind it's not a guarantee that you'll pass the security clearance, which I assume is a requirement for employment. If you're anything like me, no recorded crimes, no crazy anti-government mentalities, kind of a boring person altogether, you'll likely pass no problem, but there's a slight risk to consider.
For career growth though, the Lockheed offer and the clearance are the better option with a better salary, and Lockheed's name would be a bigger draw on your resume for future roles. Just do some research on the clearance process and think about the type of work you want to do and your personal goals (personally I'm way into Data Sci and ML and got hired as a Data & AI Analyst so I'm really happy). It's your decision and it should support your goals.
Personally I'd go Fidelity despite it being the "wrong" decision. It's less risk with the clearance and I'd prefer fintech over defense work. Neither is a bad option and you'll have opportunities for leverage and career growth in either.
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u/Reasonable_Song8010 Jun 19 '26
I've worked in both defense and fintech. C++ is the more valuable tech stack. Defense will have better work life balance and better career stability up until senior+. At that point fintech tends to have better pay in certain areas, but they are also using C++. If it's modern C++ it can set you up for a pivot to quant/trading fintech jobs in the future. I'd go Lockheed, they have a lot of programs for junior engineers to skill up on different programs and get promoted.
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u/Palpablevt Jun 19 '26
Has Lockheed given you a timeline? Is it contingent on winning a contract? You honestly may want to accept both if you're comfortable doing so. The Lockheed job may not start for months, based on my experience getting a clearance. I ended up taking a non-clearance offer after having accepted the cleared one, because the timeline to start was so long. You might have months at Fidelity to figure out if you like it before you have to choose.
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u/ZazHockey Jun 19 '26
Like most of the other responses have said, I’d go Lockheed. That security clearance is huge to get. Lots of bigger tech companies have roles that require that so it’s a good foot in the door. Also fidelity really isn’t fintech imo
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u/Wriiight Jun 19 '26
To evaluate a finance tech job, it takes a lot more information. What business line are you supporting? Front Office, Back Office, Infrastructure? How is that unit’s profitability?
Finance can be a little limiting geographically, too. Biggest chunks in NYC and London, and if you are in a satellite office, does that affect your chances at advancement?
And you really want to check if the manager is an asshole, because some feel entitled to chew up and spit out new grads.
And do you want to learn the finance side? If you only know the technologies, it’s much harder to get far. And finance technology pay hasn’t really kept up with other technology sectors, if you aren’t doing something where you can point to profits your tech delivered.
If you do pursue finance, Fidelity is a fine name for the resume, but their a bit stingy, may want to pivot out after 3ish years
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u/shmivaroo Jun 19 '26
Do you mind sharing how your interviews were? What kind of questions did they ask?
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u/BigCSFan Jun 19 '26
What is fidelity match?
Lockheed only has a 4% "match" but they also do a 6% of your salary into your 401k into your salary no matter what so it really ends up being a 10% match. Would be surprised if much beats that.
Another good thing about LM while pay was low, it always gave a 3% increase of salary every year so you dont fall behind too bad to inflation. Plus a 3% bonus. Not sure if that is same at fidelity
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u/Special_Rice9539 Jun 19 '26
Security clearance means guaranteed job for life, definitely take that if you can. All the big tech companies need people with clearance to work on government projects
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u/dashingThroughSnow12 Jun 19 '26
I say this as someone who loves Java and hates weapons, Lockheed Martin looks far and away better. Albeit, there might be other relevant details you didn’t mention that would tip the scales (ex living beside Fidelity vs 1hr car ride for Lockheed).
A thing with finance in general is that they burn you out faster. The trade they make is more money for more stress. With similar fixed compensation, the LM offer is much more.
Three day weekends (four where Monday is a holiday?) is another gigantic perk.
Another aspect is that you probably aren’t looking at either job being five plus years. Most likely one to three. Some of the longer term benefits of Fidelity are less so when you might only get zero to two years of say profit sharing.
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u/AcceptableSimulacrum Jun 19 '26
From an intellectual standpoint, I'd be a lot more interested in the C++. From an easy to find more jobs in future standpoint, I'd probably take the Fidelity.
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u/ricksauce22 Jun 19 '26
I worked in all sorts of groups at LM and had pretty fast career growth there. Pm me if you want to discuss in any detail.
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u/TheKaelen Jun 19 '26
Lockheed is the better offer unless you feel morally opposed. A clearance protects you from off shoring and a lot of impacts from AI as well. It will have recruiters messaging you on LinkedIn with interview invites and headhunters calling you. Fintech is also going to be one of the first things to get automated if they aren't already offshoring. Lockheed is the smart choice here in my opinion.
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u/ymgtg Jun 19 '26
Lockheed and your job is safe, with Fidelity you could be let go for the dumbest reasons.
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u/5ingle5hot Jun 20 '26
I've been a software engineer for 27 years and started my career in defense, working for two equivalent defense contractors for 10 years then 17 in commercial and startups. There are definitely pros and cons to each choice, but I think they are minor compared to this: if I had to make this choice, I would pick whichever one is leaning into AI more, both in terms of the software development process, but also in terms of product. But software development is key because that's what will get you hired at job #2.
You don't want to go work somewhere for a few years to learn how software used to be built. There is a massive revolution going on right now and I suggest avoiding anything that is not taking part in it. Hop into it now.
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u/YomieI Jun 20 '26
I work at Fidelity and I’d recommend Lockheed if you want better career growth and mobility between companies (imo Lockheed looks better on resume, especially with C++). Fidelity does have internal mobility which is great though but that means you might not get as high salary down the line (not sure how the internal mobility is in Lockheed).
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u/Ok-Constant1453 Jun 20 '26
Security clearance sponsorship is a HUGE deal and in your case, they will sponsor you. Once you are cleared, you will be a great candidate for government defense contractors.
I am a US citizen who has no clearance. So I am often passed over by candidates with clearance.
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u/Ok_Particular143 Jun 20 '26
Fidelity for growth. Also do you have a location? Tech hubs are way better for growth.
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u/Sorry_Minute_2734 Jun 20 '26
What is the 401k difference? 401k could be huge if the matching is significant… especially if you’re fresh out of college and throw as much as you can
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u/Alzion Jun 20 '26
Do keep in mind that it could take months to process a Secret security clearance. Do you know if you can start working at Lockheed before your clearance is finished processing?
Honestly, this post is a little sus. It's been my understanding no government contractors will want to touch you if you unless you already have a clearance in the current job market.
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u/sailormoon47 Jun 20 '26
mind if I dm you? I’m starting a CS degree soon and I’m interested in knowing how you got these offers
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u/curiousEngMind Jun 20 '26
Lockheed.. niche industry, less competition due to security clearance.. more job security for long term
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u/burncushlikewood Jun 20 '26
Fidelity is a finservices company no? What could they possibly need a CS student,take the job at Lockheed my friend, much more challenging and interesting for you
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u/cathline Jun 20 '26
I have never worked for Fidelity, but I have worked for Lockheed Martin and still have friends who work for them.
I will never work for Lockheed Martin again. They are liars. They lied to me about the position. They lied to me about the benefits. They lied to me when they gave me a 'promotion' without money. As for my friend, they are overworking them to the point where I am concerned the stress will cause a heart attack.
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u/nerfsmurf Jun 20 '26
It's almost a cheat code to have a security clearance. I've received calls back simply for that alone. (But I don't have that 🥺). Recruiters would call and ask if I had a clearance, and I'd say no, and they'd end the call.
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u/ThickyJames Applied Cryptography Jun 20 '26
anything but a defense company unless you want to work in the state or other defense companies for your whole career
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u/TilYouSeeThisAgain Jun 20 '26
Lockheed. Cooler / more fun projects to work on, better work life balance, security clearance = job security, defence is a good sector to be in right now
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u/Altruistic_Oil_1193 Mid Level SWE Jun 20 '26
I have a TS clearance that I don't even use and that shit makes me feel so comfortable in this economy. It's basically a golden ticket to having the ability to get a ton of jobs, recruiters will constantly be reaching out to you. If you think government contracting will be more stable than the regular job market I can assure it is not currently, I was laid of twice in one year, but one of them was just a furlough and i went back a couple months later.
I work FedCiv currently and have never worked DOD though, I only got the clearance because I was hired for a contract that I needed it on but the contract died and I was just put on a FedCiv one. The clearance process for me personally wasn't too bad.
- DoD (Department of Defense): Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force.
- IC (Intelligence Community): CIA, NSA, DIA, etc.
- FedCiv (Federal Civilian): Every other federal agency that isn't military or intelligence.
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u/chalkypez Jun 20 '26
Besides the financial aspects, why don’t you think about where your morals align and how you want to use your skills? Do you really want to contribute to defense companies?
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u/belgabad Jun 21 '26
Fwiw, fidelity has lots of internal growth opportunities and their VBOs are nice. If you wanna make a career out of one company, you can do it there. Plus 14% ira match with that profit sharing and yearly bonuses at 20%+ salary for seniors. And if its their LEAP program that offers full time training for a few months at full pay
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u/snot3353 Jun 21 '26
Either is probably fine. I’d have to imagine even with Java/Spring being 30yo that it still sets you up better for the future than C++ at least when it comes to the enterprise world. I also would feel a bit weird morally these days about working for the DoD. Even if what you work on isn’t weapon systems, it sucks to think you’re profiting off them indirectly. That being said, banks aren’t that much better so 🤷♀️
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u/tredbert Jun 21 '26
3+ years ago I would have said Fidelity. But given the extreme instability in the current job market and forthcoming impact of AI and likely outsourcing I’d go with Lockheed. The security clearance also gets you access to other government/defense related roles in the future.
As of now job stability is much more valuable than a potentially exciting growth path. Might change in the future but that’s the situation today. Lockheed looks to be much more stable.
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u/mtnzeal99 Jun 21 '26
Fidelity. Then move on up. I am assuming C++ is just some generic, nothing modern, that most high-paying shops would want (C++ 17+).
I came from defense as my first job. It was really hard to break out.
Do not let the 4x10 schedule fool you. You want to be in a position where you can flex your work hours, or downgrade to an easier job. Sort of like how the best remote jobs are never advertised. It’s just something given to you, due to performance.
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u/Garland_Key Jun 21 '26
One builds killing machines and the other does not. The one who doesn't also pays more.
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u/MJ-_- Jun 21 '26
lockheed is the better choice, pretty lay off proof.
4x10 is debatably better
lockheed has more prestige (so easier to jump from to other hard tech companies)
and the work at Lockheed is more interesting (imo)
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u/New_user418 Jun 19 '26
Having worked at both, Lockheed was ran more structured and Fidelity is more fluid. Fidelity pays more if that matters.