OP: Not sure why you are down-voted. The HackerNews Community seems to dislike telling the truth if it is surrounded by even a hint of negativity.

Can you be more specific about what you mean by "engineering services firm"?

I think the downvotes are for suggesting the defense industry.

"We won't hire you because you're old, but don't you dare go to those guys who will, because we hate them." lol

There are many small companies which provide anything from staff augmentation(engineers for hire) to full product design services(come to us with an idea and a bag of money and we'll make it happen). I'm in San Diego and know a couple companies that do this:

http://www.serranosystems.com/

https://fairwaytech.com/

http://www.a2etechnologies.com/

http://www.jetheaddev.com/