assembler

quality assurance inspector

senior assembler

manufacturing technician

senior quality assurance inspector

Leonardo DRS

5 years ago, this was the best place I'd ever worked. Today, I can't hardly even recognize it as the same place. We were furloughed for 5 months in 2013, (some folks for closer to 8 months) due to the contract award being challenged. It hasn't been the same since. We use to have 100% of everything we needed on hand whenever we needed it, now you may have to wait 2 weeks for something as simple as a rivet, a washer, maybe a cotter pin. For that matter, I was told a couple of weeks ago that a standard everyday piece of hazmat was on back order and was 30 days out. The item in question is readily available at Autozone for 3 bucks, but the clowns running supply in this place couldn't get it any sooner than 30 days. Every person in this place whose job it is to procure anything needs to be removed and replaced. And quickly. But they won't be. They'll just keep running wild and making bad decisions without any fear of ever answering for their stupidity, and eventually they'll have to shut the doors because we can't get a screw or a nylon scrub brush. Also, after losing a ton of talent after the furlough due to a bunch of good folks taking other jobs, we barely have enough people on the floor to run 1 effective shift. And they're still leaving twice as fast as they're coming in. So the obvious fix for being shorthanded is to spread that one shift out over 3 shifts, so you're operating 7 days a week instead of 5. Nevermind the fact that now we just have 3 shifts that can't get anything done due to being shorthanded, instead of just the one. So now everybody's been working 7 days a week for I don't even know how long just so we can try and stay afloat. You can't make this stuff up. Corporate has no grasp of what we even do here, so of course they micro manage every tiny detail of the facility to the point that the VP and upper management are restricted from fixing things that need fixed. DRS corporate is going to micromanage this place right into the ground. I've never seen anything like it anywhere else.  Right before the furlough, this place was at the top of its game. Running like a finely tuned sewing machine. We came back after the furlough, and they've spent the last 2 years trying to find a way to "fix" a system that was perfect. The people here are great to work with, the pay is good, the benefits are fantastic, but the stability is gone, and I'm not sure it's ever coming back.

Nothing is ever scheduled effectively. We're not sure there is a production schedule - If one even exists no one on the floor has ever seen it, they are only told something has to ship tomorrow and finish it now no matter what is still left to be done. Priorities are a constant moving target, good luck trying to stay focused on any one thing. Deadlines are always unreasonable and too short. Forget about working ahead, there is never any lead time or a buffer built in just in case things go wrong. Because things often go wrong, that means every project being an emergency at all times and spilling into the time for the next project, which rolls into another emergency that pushes next project and so on and so on.

Communication is non-existent. It's very clear that upper management does not actually care about the well-being of anyone involved in making the products or getting them out the door. Director of operations is more focused on appearances than doing anything to fix any of the problems. If you're not one of her favorite few people, your knowledge & expertise will be ignored. Management should be about facilitating progress and success but it's very disheartening that people have to work to be successful in spite of their efforts, and not because of them. 

9/80 work schedule is great when you actually get to work just those hours, but that's rare. Overtime is not so much a matter of IF but of WHEN. It's going to happen, there's not really any choice - there's no way we can get things out the door without it. Production department was on full overtime for a year straight, got a 2 week break and is back on OT as of end of October. Test department is frequently expected to volunteer for weekend OT and long nights with no notice. There's no schedule to plan ahead for multiple shifts. 

People are guilted when they can't work extra and thrown some emotional abuse by implicating that they don't care about getting things done. They come in when they're sick because there's too much to do to be down too many people. Everyone in the office seems to be able to leave on time, though, so if you want to work here and still see your loved ones, try for an administrative position. 

People are burned out and morale is in the garbage. The crew on the floor is a good bunch of people but over half of them are looking for new jobs just to escape being abused.  Anyone who can't or won't acknowledge that is probably part of the problem.

I was terminated along with eleven other Military Veterans because our site lead made a decision to change our work schedule, DRS TSI upper management showed up at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait along with the investigators which they stayed in the same Hilton hotel during the investigation. I believe DRS Senior Management coming to Kuwait with the two investigators could have influenced the investigators' final decisions. We all received a flight itinerary to return to the states by email before the investigation started, we were terminated before the investigation even started. We were treated like convicts before and after the investigation and they become more rash and impatient as the investigation continued. We were lied too and mislead why they were there until we were told one by one that we had to go to the Hilton hotel to be interview (not investigated). I hate being lied too and the thought of being played. DRS TSI upper management has no Integrity and Loyalty to their employees, they are liars. Management does not give you false information, fellow employees, job duties and office policies. According to sites like "Bad Bossology," a lot of people work for men and women who would rather lie than tell the truth. It's an epidemic sweeping the nation; it’s like cancer that can’t be stop. DRS TSI is unorganized and poorly managed because the upper management has no clue what is going on within their group, 
 all the management cares about is undercutting the bids to get contracts awarded then pushing the workers to get the job done in an unreasonable time schedule to make up for the underbidding, DRS was a good stable job for two years with OK benefits, my job provided me an opportunity to learn and grow. It’s not that the company is bad, it’s the people that they put in management positions. DRS TSI upper management would not return us to Camp Atterbury to do our final out-process, but there deployment hand book for DRS shows that they have to return us there. Regulation, rules, dictatorial styles, small minds in small people.


We had flexible starting times; 6:00am, 7:00am or 8:00am. I chose the 7:00am shift. Since FedEx Ground picked up outgoing shipments about 9:00am, I would start packing those items first. Depending on the item, it would be wrapped in bubble, foam wrap, vacuum sealed or packed with expanding foam into an appropriately sized box. After the box was taped, labels were applied, it was weighed and measured for size, and a FedEx label was printed and applied. When outgoing Ground was finished, I would start on the items that were shipping FedEx air or with a trucking company. Large cartons and multiple carton shipments were stacked on pallets, stretch wrapped and banded. Some items were crated. Heavy items were lifted with the boom or forklift.
I would continue this way until lunch, and then till the end of my shift. If I ran out of items to pack, I would seek permission from my supervisor and go to stores to help pick orders or cut wire for the production line.
There were times when other departments would need forklift assistance or items needed to be unloaded off trucks outside. I would do this, also.
The best part of the job was  when we were busy, the time passed quickly. The worst part was when there was nothing going out or to be packed for future shipment and there was nothing to pick in stores. I like to keep busy.
The people that I worked with were very friendly and helpful. We all worked well together.

Typical day - is there really such a thing? I like to rise early, eat breakfast, tailor my clothing for the day - pack my backpack - after that - the day has its own ebb and flow - to which I influence as much as I can - I have learned influence is much more productive and respected than brute force and ignorance - I have learned that young people today look for leadership and direction - and they follow common sense when you take just a moment to explain what we are doing and how it contributes to the goals of the day and the company - they'll get behind the effort more if they understand. Most of my co-workers are much younger (30 years) than I am - they are bright, generally hard working and passionate - they just lack experience - Unfortunately experience is not the only teacher - it is the best teacher - and I use my experience to influence and mentor them through the day and the task. The hardest part of my job is mediating between managment goals and worker expectations to accomplish the task on time and within resources - sometimes the two are at odds - although the challenge to me is rewarding and makes the work interesting. Success - in the people I work with, in accomplishing a goal or job, in making the organization better - more responsive, more disciplined and human. Nothing gets done without people!

The worse manufacturing facility I've been to. Unorganize, I dont know how they pass their ISO audits. So many safety violations in the basement and stock room. Parts and random items such as tables and chairs sitting in the middle of isles for days as forklift operators have to maneuver around them. 

Manufacturing training supervisor and team members are the worst I've worked for. They belittle you and intimidate you into learning their way of operations. Their method of training is literally like boot camp training. Production assembler training consist of various testing: paper work/computer test, electrical/mechanical assembling test. No shadow training. They expect you to pass with three attempts or you're out the door. 

Upon hiring, they never mentioned that this position was a tempt to hire position. I interviewed for a specific position but was offered a lower position. On top of that, they threw in a bunch of lies with salary (salary vs hourly pay is different) benefits to make the job more appealing. Then when I was hired on, I found out that non of the benefits mentioned during the interview applied to me as an hourly employee. The turnover rate is very high at this place for a reason, be warned. I can only speak on behalf of the production area, office area may be a different atmosphere.

The only pro is the pay, but is it worth it? In a toxic work environment? I don't think so.

Please don't waste your time applying or working here because this company is a joke and does not value loyal dedicated employees. They will Lie to you about paid time off then cheat you out of overtime with their 9/80 schedule. They are a Sub contractor for Lockheed and are scared to death of losing their contract so they micro manage everything which actually slows down production. 
The HR lady is a Flake and walks around on the production floor constantly instead of doing her job helping retain good employees and helping with benefits and pay.
The HR and payroll department is so lazy they make you track all your own time in 6 minute intervals for every single project on a deltek spreadsheet and they use the excuse it's due to government contracting accountability. This is lame because I have worked for 3 direct government contracts and the timsheets were never so time consuming. 
This company is a joke and full of nepotism and politics and many relatives are employed here.
The break room TV only has the FOX channel on and the remote is kept locked at the front desk so you can't even watch the weather channel.
To be fair most department managers are good and respect their people however the QA department is Horrible. The QA department has 2 supervisors, 6 employees and one manager who is a vindictive, Back Stabbing Bully who is jealous of former military employees. 
This company claims to be military friendly however out of 109 employees only 8 are former military.

Employees are cut throats and have a hard time working with new employees.

Company expects perfect people without life problems. Mistakes are not allowed.

Not enough training is supplied. Long hours.

As an employee you are not appreciated. 

To many meetings and not enough information given on tasks to be done. 
Management acts like they walk on water.

This company has really bad ethics as they do not promote good things for others unless it is for the companies benefit.

For this company to have an annual revenue of 50 million +, they use "cheap imitations" that are easy to enter into incorrect data that makes reports non accurate.


They will add on hours to your week and have no problem cutting into your family time at home. 60 to 80 hrs a week +. 

Unless you are in their click and have no problem going out and drinking with them and most of the time paying EVERYONE'S tab, they will have nothing to do with you. While they are all out drinking, you will be stuck there doing their job along with yours. 

Their hiring practice is inadequate as they like to hire their buddies and pals, regardless to their experience, education, and training. 

I'm am very sadden and depressed about the high expectations I had about this company, I went in having high expectations about this company, and had a lot of positive plans. I feel I have robbed other companies who actually invest into their employees as their employees have invested into them.

DRS is a great company with a great history of service to the DOD. They stand behind there employees and take care to provide the greatest level of support to those of us out in the field while also protecting the interests of the Federal Government. 

My co-workers are a top notch group of individuals with electrical skill sets that provide a broad range of support to the DOD in the realm of electronic security systems to include bio-metrics, and fiber technologies.

Commenting on management can get a little complicated. In truth, some I have worked with and know are great and others not so much. I would prefer to think of management as a box of chocolates. You never know what your going to get and when you may get it. I have learned that a knowledge of self and the ability to clearly articulate my needs, and dreams and stand up for whats right for me in every situation an invaluable skill.Its great when your manager can do the same.

The hardest part of the job I currently perform is the stress of being away from home for the majority of the year. Always traveling and very little support for the stress that puts on a marriage.

The most enjoyable part of the job is that you will get to see the world and a lot of cool places if that is part of your scope of responsibility.

The company expects you to work 50+ hours a week and get paid for 40 hours.  They check timesheets each week to see how many hours each employee works.  They determine who gets laid off by the number of hours you report on your timesheet not by how much you actually accomplish.  The management is a complete joke.  They are selfish human beings that are greedy for bonuses and do not care one bit about the folks doing the work.  They are low balling bids to win contracts that they can not execute properly.  Most of the G&A staff have not recieved a raise in 3 years so if you get hired you better make sure that you can get a very high salary because you wont get an increase.  Teh 9/80 work week that is promised is not a truth.  Management at their discretion will take the Friday away from you regardless of how many hours you have worked that pay period.  It is also very common to work a holiday and not be able to take the holiday at a later time.  The DRS management style is to manage by intimidation.  They are all bullies.  They like to write up the staff for every little thing as a way to make the employees angry and hopefully they will quit.  This is overall poor management style. The HR department backs all the poor managment decisions that are made in the company as well.


Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Assembler 16 salaries reported	$42,335 per year
Quality assurance inspector 9 salaries reported	$47,595 per year
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Manufacturing technician 8 salaries reported	$50,580 per year
Senior quality assurance inspector 6 salaries reported	$50,356 per year

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