u/Many_Carrot_4959

Hi everyone,

I’m a new grad software engineer deciding between two offers and would really appreciate perspective from people a few years into their careers.

Offer A (Charles Schwab)

• Role: Software Engineer (full-stack)
• Pay: ~$88k base (nonexempt, so OT eligible) + ~10% target bonus + $5k sign on
• Location: Dallas area
• Tech: .NET, AWS, Angular (retirement software)

Offer B (Lockheed Martin)

• Role: Software Engineer (UI/GUI focused)
• Pay: ~$96k base + ~3% bonus + $5k sign-on
• Location: Virginia
• Tech: Java
• Security Clearance

What I care about (in order):

1. Long term career growth / mobility (transferable skills)
2. Exit opportunities (big tech, higher-paying roles)
3. Compensation growth over time

My current thinking:

• Fintech seems better for building modern SWE skills and keeping doors open
• Defense seems more stable, and the clearance could be valuable, but I’m worried about getting pigeonholed

Questions:

• How difficult is it to transition out of defense into mainstream tech later?
• Does Schwab experience translate well into top tier companies?
• Am I underestimating the value of a clearance early in my career?

Would really appreciate any honest advice, especially from people who’ve been in either path.

Thanks!