Graduate Nuclear Engineer Review
at BAE Systems
Graduate Scheme
Engineering
Barrow-in-Furness
Review Submitted: November 2025
Overall Rating
2.6 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
2.5/5
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Overview of the Role
3/5
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Experience & Company Culture
1/5
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Recommendations & Advice
Overview of the Role
Overall, how would you describe your experience at BAE Systems?
Poor, the graduate scheme is an oversight compared to their well developed and thought through degree apprentice scheme. Workload is low and management has little to no interest in developing you or training you appropriately. You will not be respected and given responsibilities as a normal employee until you leave the scheme. This experience varies greatly based on your area and role. Other graduates have had better experiences.
What are the main responsibilities of the role and which elements of the role do you enjoy the most?
Main responsibilities for an operations engineer include paperwork, attending meetings, running procedures, organising personnel and arranging support from other departments.
Enjoy the work area, colleagues are friendly and helpful, plenty of time to train in other areas, opportunities to do courses.
Enjoy the work area, colleagues are friendly and helpful, plenty of time to train in other areas, opportunities to do courses.
To what extent does your role give you the opportunity to contribute meaningfully and feel valued by your team?
1/5
I do not feel valued or able to contribute meaningfully to my team or the project as a whole. Any opportunity for meaningful contribution was sought outside of my day to day job role.
How does your compensation package - including perks & benefits - fairly remunerate you for the work you do?
5/5
The compensation is excellent, especially due to the location of the site.
How well do you feel the role is preparing you for your future career?
3/5
There is learning by osmosis, and my professional development has been excellent, there has also been plenty of time for me to train myself in my desired career direction. However, the role was not as advertised in the job posting and is very far away from my desired career direction.
How would you rate the extent to which you were developing new or existing skills through formal training and your day-to-day role?
1/5
No formal training in day-to-day role
Experience & Company Culture
How is the support you receive?
1/5
Support is extremely poor, there are a number of support systems set up but none appear to have any ability to influence your experience and solve your issues. You have to advocate completely for yourself and sometimes there is extreme resistance in achieving your goals in the scheme.
How is your work-life balance?
4/5
Good work life balance, friday afternoons off, very flexible working hours and holidays.
What is the organisational culture, values and general atmosphere like?
3/5
Culture of the employees is actually fine, its a welcoming environment, people are nice and helpful. Management culture is very poor in my opinion and therefore a huge amount of working hours are wasted.
How would you rate BAE Systems initiatives when it comes to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility?
5/5
No issues seen
How would you rate BAE Systems CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives?
2/5
Not very visible, could be doing more to support the local area.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Despite the lack of support, management, workload and formal training, the compensation and flexibility is excellent and you can make of the free time you have as you will. It is a good starting point for my career.
How well did the role match your expectations based on the recruitment process?
1/5
Completely different from described in job postings and suggested in the interview process. Operations should not be advertised as engineering.
When considering the recruitment & onboarding process, have you any specific tips or advice you would give to others applying to BAE Systems?
There will be technical questions in engineering roles interview and you should prepare accordingly. Expect a phone call after your online tests that at first does not appear to be an interview but they will use this to get a gauge of your character before your proper interview.
