The educational needs of the C-130J Software Factory are as diverse as the roles of the C-130J aircraft itself, covering many software development domains that address corporate, FAA, and national and international military and civilian requirements. This article presents insight into the diverse education and training needs of the software engineers in the C-130J Avionics/Software Integrated Product Team, focusing on the shortfalls of the conventional academic education in computer science and the engineering disciplines that result in a mismatch of expectations between the new hire and his or her company. The author points out the need to prepare students to work on teams, communicate, and understand the importance of a disciplined, measured, and mature engineering process.