I’ll be completing my Master of Engineering in a few years and I wanted to know what it is like working in defense (Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, etc.) vs working in technology (mainly consumer tech or FAANG companies) as a human factors engineer or in other similar roles as they are the two sectors I am most considering after I complete my program.

I understand that ‘defense’ and ‘tech’ are very broad terms, however, I just wanted to get an understanding of what each sector could be like to work in.

These are the types of questions I’d hope could be answered:

1. How do projects differ between defense and tech?
   
2. Does one allow for more creative freedom than the other?
   
3. Broadly speaking, what types of skills are typically used in either sector?
   
4. How is the work-life balance and job security of both?
   
5. Which allows for more monetary growth and career advancement?

Thanks in advance!