A Pathway into an Engineering Career

The Pathways Program Helps Early Career Engineers Find their Best Fit

Apurbo’s professional journey has always taken a unique path. From when he arrived in the United States in 2011 from Bangladesh, to starting his own business as a college freshman, to taking on projects like designing a new student portal for his school, he’s been open to new experiences.

So, Northrop Grumman’s Pathways Program has been a perfect fit. Pathways is a three-year rotational program for entry-level professionals that provides guided, intentional experiences to acquire a breadth of technical skills to establish a foundation in their career and develop business acumen. Apurbo started in the program in early 2022 and said he’s already had the opportunity to expand his knowledge in computer engineering and move his career forward.

“It’s been an exciting journey,” Apurbo said. “Before joining Northrop Grumman, I wasn’t exactly sure of which field I wanted to work in, so the Pathway’s program has given me the opportunity to look into different areas of programming and development skills.”

“I had the opportunity to speak with many different recruiters from various companies at SASE. Northrop Grumman stood out to me the most. I learned about the many different opportunities within the company. Now I am growing my career at Northrop Grumman and getting exposure to different areas of interest.”

–Apurbo, DevOps [development and operations] engineer, BEYA and SASE attendee

Apurbo studied software engineering, a broad field that can take your career in many directions. He was excited when he attended the Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) Conference in 2020 and the Society of Asian Scientist and Engineers (SASE) Conference in late 2021 and saw at both that Northrop Grumman was hiring; a friend who worked for the company said the culture of support and mentorship was a good place for early career engineers. Apurbo said that since coming onboard, he’s been even more impressed by the Pathways Program because its continuing to let him explore where his expertise can take him.

“Right now, I’m a DevOps [development and operations] engineer. For my next rotation I’m planning on working as a test engineer,” he said. “For my third and final rotation I’m planning on working as a software developer. If it hadn’t been for the Pathway Program, I would not be able to do all of those. I now gain experience in different fields, and at the same time, find a programming field that I am most passionate about.”

In addition to the many opportunities Northrop Grumman and the Pathways Program have offered him, Apurbo said he has found Northrop Grumman to have a welcoming culture where people are helpful and happy to offer mentorship.

“I feel like I’ve been working here for a very long time, and I know a lot of people already. It’s been very welcoming,” he said. “Everyone is very helpful.”