From outdoor adventure to a cyber career

Joss has traversed a unique career path enriched by experiences in hospitality, outdoor pursuits, and now, cutting-edge technology. His story is not just what a successful late-career transition looks like at Raytheon UK, but one of personal growth in the pursuit of his passion – cyber.

“I've gone from having no coding experience to being a well-established member of the team,” said Joss, highlighting the impactful training and opportunities at Raytheon UK.

Joss’s journey began in the hospitality industry, working as a fast-food operative for Holiday Parks company, Pontins. “I progressed to a supervisor role before moving over to work in the bar, where again I was promoted. It taught me a lot about customer service and teamwork,” he said.

“Working for Outward Bound in Wales as a qualified mountain leader was particularly rewarding, as it combined my love for the outdoors with leadership and group management skills,” he said.

He then returned to hospitality, but the gruelling 80-hour weeks working to raise the hotel to five-star standard eventually resulted in burnout, and he left to pursue academia.

“Mentoring feels like something I need to do – sharing my knowledge and helping others improve.”

“For the first time, I had the opportunity to go to university. I was in my 30s and I got accepted onto a forensic computing course,” said Joss. “Off the back of my degree, there was a bursary scheme for joining the graduate scheme at Raytheon UK. I applied, thinking it was a long shot, but once accepted, it felt like all my different career experiences had somehow prepared me.”

Since joining Raytheon UK’s graduate programme, Joss progressed to being a software engineer. His unique trajectory highlights the importance of diverse experiences in shaping a successful career in engineering.

Joss’s successful late career change reflects Raytheon UK’s approach to talent development, emphasising skills over age or traditional career paths.

He feels fortunate to be in a field he loves and has found mentoring students in Raytheon UK’s STEM outreach programmes rewarding. “Mentoring feels like something I need to do – sharing my knowledge and helping others improve,” he said.

He is excited about participating in the upcoming 2025 FIRST Tech Challenge UK regional final and national final, sponsored by RTX, not only as a mentor but for the first time as an “event manager.”

“To see them overcome their initial doubts and accomplish something they thought was beyond them, it’s incredibly rewarding.”

“We bring students together for six months of self-directed learning, culminating in a world stage competition. To see them overcome their initial doubts and accomplish something they thought was beyond them, it’s incredibly rewarding,” said Joss.

Mentors, like Joss, come from all areas of Raytheon UK, with no need for extensive robotics or engineering experience – just a passion for empowering young people. Known to the competition organisers as “game-changers,” they teach students invaluable skills including project management, problem-solving, and collaboration, as well as providing strong introduction to the world of STEM and its possibilities.

Joss’s story exemplifies the broader opportunities available at Raytheon UK, where employees are encouraged to expand their roles and contribute to community initiatives, such as STEM education and mentoring.

“It’s about progress, not perfection, and this mindset has helped me in my professional life as well,” Joss said.

He describes his recent ADHD diagnosis as “a turning point, helping me understand my journey through various careers and ultimately leading me to Raytheon UK.”

“It’s about progress, not perfection, and this mindset has helped me in my professional life as well.”

Joss’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of embracing change and seeking growth through varied experiences, both personally and professionally. His commitment to mentoring and passion for STEM education illuminate the path for future engineers and innovators.

As for his elevated role to “event manager” of such a large competition, he is unflappable.

“I’ll be fine,” Joss said. “In a previous life, I was the conference and banqueting manager at a 5-star hotel.”