I’ve been in aerospace engineering for a while now, long enough to have seen Boeing at its best and at its most troubled. Over the years, I’ve worked alongside plenty of former Boeing folks, kicked around interviews for different roles, and kept close tabs through professional circles. Lately, with all the noise around Boeing, a lot of younger engineers have been asking me: is it still worth trying to build a career there? What should they be ready for if they do?
It’s not an easy answer. Boeing remains one of the cornerstones of the aerospace world. But if you’re considering a future there, you need to understand the reality on the ground, not just the branding on the website.
Boeing’s Public Challenges Are Not Small
You probably already know some of the major headlines. The 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 were a devastating blow to Boeing’s reputation. Investigations revealed a tangle of technical missteps and management decisions that prioritized speed and cost over safety. The aftermath led to billions in losses, a major leadership shakeup, and a long road to restoring trust with regulators, airlines, and the public.
Since then, Boeing has faced additional PR crises: manufacturing flaws in the 787 Dreamliner, a door plug blowout on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 earlier this year, and quality concerns flagged by whistleblowers and regulatory probes. Just last month, Boeing’s CEO Dave Calhoun announced he would step down by the end of 2024, joining a broader management restructuring aimed at signaling change to investors and customers alike.
All of this matters not just because of how it affects Boeing’s market position, but because it trickles down to the daily work culture — and to what new hires can expect when they walk through the door.
Hiring Trends: Still a Giant, but a Different One
Despite these struggles, Boeing is still hiring aggressively. In 2023 alone, the company added thousands of engineers, with many of the roles focused on quality assurance, production engineering, supply chain oversight, and safety-related systems. There’s a clear internal push to shore up technical expertise and address the gaps that became painfully obvious during the MAX crisis.
But the type of engineer Boeing needs today is different than what they prioritized ten years ago. It’s no longer just about being a brilliant designer or a project management wizard. It’s about being a systems thinker. Someone who can see the full life cycle of a product, anticipate where problems might arise, and advocate for safety and reliability even when schedules and budgets apply pressure.
The Shift Toward a True Safety Culture – Slowly
After the MAX incidents, Boeing committed to rebuilding a “culture of safety.” If you talk to people inside, they will tell you that change is happening, but it’s uneven.
Certain divisions, particularly those working closely with regulators like the FAA, have embraced the need for more rigorous processes. There’s more openness to reporting concerns without fear of retaliation, more technical deep dives during design reviews, and a general push for better documentation.
That said, cultural change at a company as big and layered as Boeing does not happen overnight. Some legacy habits are stubborn. If you join, you need to be prepared to navigate an environment that is in transition: part old-school, part forward-looking. Resilience and diplomacy will matter just as much as technical skill.
Practical Advice for Future Applicants
If you’re thinking about applying to Boeing in the next year or two, here’s what you should keep in mind:
1. Build Systems Thinking Skills
Boeing is actively looking for engineers who can think beyond their immediate tasks. Whether you’re designing a bracket or developing flight software, you need to understand how your piece fits into the larger machine — and how failures at your level could cascade into bigger problems. In interviews, expect scenario-based questions that test your ability to assess system-wide impacts.
2. Show Commitment to Safety and Quality
It’s not just lip service anymore. Hiring managers are scrutinizing candidates for signs that they take ownership of quality issues, that they can spot risks early, and that they are willing to escalate concerns. Have real examples ready. Times when you caught a small mistake before it became a major defect, or when you advocated for a better solution even if it meant a delay.
3. Be Adaptable to Organizational Changes
Boeing is in flux. Management structures are shifting, priorities are being redefined, and new compliance systems are being installed. You will need to be comfortable working through uncertainty, adapting to changing leadership, and maintaining your standards even when the ground under your feet is moving.
4. Get Involved in the Aerospace Community
One thing that hasn’t changed: relationships still matter a lot in aerospace. Join professional groups like AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics). Attend industry conferences, even if just virtually. Get active on professional platforms like LinkedIn. Having internal advocates or even just friendly contacts at Boeing can make a difference when you’re applying or interviewing.
5. Focus on Fundamentals, Not Flash
There’s a temptation, especially for younger engineers, to chase the flashiest roles: autonomy, space systems, future air mobility. Those are exciting areas, but Boeing’s current needs skew toward engineering fundamentals: structural integrity, materials science, manufacturing process control, systems integration. The boring stuff that keeps planes flying safely. Show you’re strong on the basics first.
6. Pay Attention to the Business Side
Even as an engineer, you need to understand the business forces acting on Boeing. Delays, cancellations, political pressure – these all impact what gets prioritized on the shop floor or the drawing board. When you’re interviewing, being able to show that you understand how technical and business realities intersect will set you apart.
I won’t sugarcoat it. Boeing has a long road ahead to fully rebuild its reputation. There are risks to joining a company in the middle of a turnaround. But there are also rare opportunities. As a mid-career engineer, I can tell you: being part of a rebuilding effort can be some of the most meaningful work you’ll ever do, if you approach it with eyes wide open.
For the next generation of aerospace engineers, the mission is clear: demand excellence from yourself, hold systems accountable, and never let the weight of schedules or executive pressure erode your commitment to safety and integrity. Boeing needs people like that now more than ever.
If you step into that arena, do it prepared, do it thoughtfully, and you just might help shape the next era of one of aerospace’s most iconic companies.
