The cash balance pension is basically an IRA in your name run by the company. There's no magic number of years of work to reach. When you leave the company, whether after 3, 17, or 32 years of service, you get whatever's in that account in the form of a rollover IRA. Which means you can't access it til you're 59 1/2.( Well, you can, but it'll cost you a bundle in penalties and taxes).
Someone told me long ago to throw as much money as I could into my 401K, and to take advantage of any other company sponsored stock discounts or tax sheltered accounts...it was good advice.
Congrats on the new job.