Boeing policy states that the company is willing to hire felons, particularly if the offense occurred five or more years ago. However, the company will take into account nature of the crime and whether the conviction is relevant to the job at hand.

Boeing’s hiring policy for individuals with a criminal record is based on an individualized assessment rather than an automatic disqualification. However, the nature of the felony and the specific role play a massive part. Many positions at Boeing involve work on defense contracts or "sensitive" aerospace technology, which require the ability to obtain a U.S. Government Security Clearance. According to 2026 guidelines, a felony conviction within the last 10 years can be a significant hurdle for clearance, though not a "hard" disqualifier if you can demonstrate "rehabilitation and strength of character." For commercial manufacturing or administrative roles that do not require clearance, Boeing follows "Fair Chance" hiring practices, evaluating the time passed since the offense and its relevance to the job. While it is possible for a felon to work at Boeing, certain high-security engineering and cybersecurity roles remain functionally out of reach for those with recent or serious convictions.

That’s an excellent and important question. The short answer is: It’s possible, but highly dependent on the specific circumstances of the felony, the job applied for, and Boeing’s strict security and safety requirements.

Boeing, as a major defense contractor and manufacturer of highly regulated commercial aircraft, has a complex hiring process with significant legal and security constraints. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the factors at play:

Key Factors Boeing Considers:

1. Nature of the Felony: This is the most critical factor.

   • Automatic Disqualifiers: Felonies involving violence, theft, dishonesty (fraud, embezzlement), sabotage, espionage, or any compromise of national security will almost certainly result in a permanent disqualification, especially for any role requiring security clearance.
   • Case-by-Case Review: A non-violent, non-theft related felony from the distant past (e.g., a drug possession charge from 15 years ago) might be considered differently, but it remains a significant hurdle.

2. Time Since Conviction & Rehabilitation:

   • How long ago did the conviction occur? A 20-year-old felony with a clean record since carries more weight than a recent one.
   • Can you demonstrate clear rehabilitation? This includes completion of probation/parole, stable employment history since, character references, and any relevant education or training.

3. The Specific Job Role:

   • Security Clearance (Crucial): The vast majority of Boeing’s defense-related positions require a U.S. Security Clearance (Confidential, Secret, or Top Secret). The adjudication process for a clearance (governed by the DoD Directive 5220.6, “The Adjudicative Guidelines”) conducts an extremely thorough background check. A felony conviction is a major red flag and often an automatic disqualifier for