Graduate software engineer Review
at BAE Systems
Graduate Scheme
Software Engineering
Cowes
Review Submitted: May 2026
Overall Rating
4.8 /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!
4.8/5
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Overview of the Role
4.8/5
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Experience & Company Culture
5/5
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Recommendations & Advice
Overview of the Role
Overall, how would you describe your experience at BAE Systems?
Good training - 20% dedicated to professional development
Interesting work - opportunity to work across projects and business areas
Good company benefits - Pension, stocks, discounts
Flexible work - work is in office but flexi scheme allows you to choose your own hours on daily basis, and build hours up for additional time off up to 2 days a month.
Tools and systems outdated - due to nature of work many toolsets are missing modern features and skills that would transfer into other industries.
Interesting work - opportunity to work across projects and business areas
Good company benefits - Pension, stocks, discounts
Flexible work - work is in office but flexi scheme allows you to choose your own hours on daily basis, and build hours up for additional time off up to 2 days a month.
Tools and systems outdated - due to nature of work many toolsets are missing modern features and skills that would transfer into other industries.
What are the main responsibilities of the role and which elements of the role do you enjoy the most?
Software development
Software testing
Code Reviews
Development lifecycle
Software testing
Code Reviews
Development lifecycle
To what extent does your role give you the opportunity to contribute meaningfully and feel valued by your team?
5/5
Work is of genuine importance and represents skill level fairly. Team meetings are respectful and allow all members to present and share thoughts
How does your compensation package - including perks & benefits - fairly remunerate you for the work you do?
4/5
Pay is on upper end for graduate schemes, however, payrise set to inflation rate for next few years (unless above 4%) and company has reputation for only rising pay with role/grade increase.
Good pension scheme and pre-tax company matched shares up £75 a month.
Good pension scheme and pre-tax company matched shares up £75 a month.
How well do you feel the role is preparing you for your future career?
5/5
Good opportunity to progress down path with lots of opportunity within projects. 20% development time allows to build skills to progress different career routes if desired.
How would you rate the extent to which you were developing new or existing skills through formal training and your day-to-day role?
5/5
Formal training helps build skills relevant to project, for software this includes ADA courses, UML, and radar overviews.
Day-to-day role is always new and you have say in what tasks you would like to work on,
Day-to-day role is always new and you have say in what tasks you would like to work on,
Experience & Company Culture
How is the support you receive?
5/5
All very supportive and quick to help when reaching out
How is your work-life balance?
5/5
Great - flexi scheme allows you to choose your own working times
What is the organisational culture, values and general atmosphere like?
4/5
Positive and welcoming culture, close to no options for remote work though
How would you rate BAE Systems initiatives when it comes to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility?
5/5
good
How would you rate BAE Systems CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives?
5/5
Great community investment schemes, good investment in early careers and STEM
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Fair compensation, interesting work, good internal opportunites and well set up with wanting external moves in future
How well did the role match your expectations based on the recruitment process?
5/5
well
When considering the recruitment & onboarding process, have you any specific tips or advice you would give to others applying to BAE Systems?
Use the STAR method when answering questions, link to the 8 company behaviors. Do some research on the products your site makes.
