Systems Engineering Review
at BAE Systems
Graduate Scheme
Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Frimley
Review Submitted: November 2025
Overall Rating
4.6 /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!
4.5/5
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Overview of the Role
5/5
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Experience & Company Culture
3/5
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Recommendations & Advice
Overview of the Role
Overall, how would you describe your experience at BAE Systems?
My experience as a Graduate Systems Engineer at BAE Systems has been both professionally rewarding and technically challenging. The graduate scheme is well-structured and provides a strong foundation in systems engineering through a mix of formal training, hands-on project work. From the start, I felt supported by experienced engineers who were always willing to share their knowledge and guide me through complex defence-engineering processes.
What are the main responsibilities of the role and which elements of the role do you enjoy the most?
One of the highlights of the programme is the exposure to real, mission-critical projects. Working on large-scale aerospace and defence systems gave me a genuine sense of purpose and demonstrated how systems engineering fits into the bigger picture. Day-to-day tasks ranged from requirements analysis and modelling to supporting integration and verification activities. Tools like DOORS and model-based systems engineering methods quickly became familiar, and I was encouraged to take increasing ownership of my work as I progressed.
To what extent does your role give you the opportunity to contribute meaningfully and feel valued by your team?
4/5
How does your compensation package - including perks & benefits - fairly remunerate you for the work you do?
5/5
How well do you feel the role is preparing you for your future career?
5/5
How would you rate the extent to which you were developing new or existing skills through formal training and your day-to-day role?
4/5
Experience & Company Culture
How is the support you receive?
5/5
How is your work-life balance?
5/5
What is the organisational culture, values and general atmosphere like?
5/5
How would you rate BAE Systems initiatives when it comes to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility?
5/5
How would you rate BAE Systems CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives?
5/5
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Overall, the graduate experience at BAE Systems is a strong choice for anyone interested in complex systems, long-term career development, and meaningful engineering work. It provides a solid grounding in systems thinking, excellent mentoring, and exposure to some of the most advanced engineering projects in the defence sector. Despite the size of the company, the depth of learning and the supportive environment make it a highly worthwhile early-career experience.
How well did the role match your expectations based on the recruitment process?
3/5
When I first applied for the role the descriptions were fairly vague, and therefore did not really give me an idea of what the role would actually be like. I have since seen that the role descriptors have been updated and give an accurate description of day-to-day tasks.
When considering the recruitment & onboarding process, have you any specific tips or advice you would give to others applying to BAE Systems?
When applying to BAE Systems, it’s important to research the specific business area you’re interested in and demonstrate a genuine understanding of the projects you might work on. Prepare structured STAR examples for behavioural questions and highlight your systems-thinking skills, teamwork, and motivation for working in the defence industry.
