Apprentice Flight Systems Engineer Review
at BAE Systems
Degree Apprenticeship
Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
Warton, Lancashire
Review Submitted: March 2026
Overall Rating
3.6 /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
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Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
3.2/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
I work as a fuel systems engineer supporting multiple aircraft programmes. I am involved in a variety of aspects of the system lifecycle, including modelling, safety work, qualification, requirements and testing.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I enjoy the flexibility of the scheme and ability to study and work at the same time. Generally the apprenticeship scheme is clear and well structured, however aspects of the degree have been challenging mainly due to teaching issues
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I have developed a wide range of skills, both in a technical and soft skill capacity. My role has allowed me to learn engineering specific skills such as modelling, document writing, reviewing, plus communication and team work. Stretch activities have allowed me to develop soft skills such as adaptability, leadership and task management.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
For the most part, organisation of the course is handled quite well. Instructions and timelines for L4 and EPA work is clear, although feedback can often take a long time from skills coaches. The process for arranging placements was very disorganised earlier on but I believe this has mostly been addressed now.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
Support is mostly good across the business. I sometimes find that placement managers do not have enough knowledge about the expectations when having an apprentice in the team and therefore it can be difficult to get permission for stretch activities or managers put too much pressure on apprentices.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
Overall, support from the college is quite poor and very disorganised. Despite multiple attempts to improve this, there has been minimal change. Lecturers have too much work so can't give time to students, for example my dissertation supervisor had almost no free time in the week to do catch-ups about my work. Resources provided on canvas often have mistakes or aren't released to us in a timely manner, such as assignment briefs taking weeks to be released.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
1/5
I have used almost no skills from my degree in my day to day work. The most applicable thing I have done at college is my dissertation because I did it on a fuel based topic to support my role. Otherwise I find very minimal link between the degree content and the work I carry out.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
There are a variety of different events and activities organised both for apprentices and across the wider business
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Overall the company is a good place to work. There is generally a lot of support around the business and there are so many opportunities for different roles and experiences, around the UK and abroad. There are also good opportunities for career progression.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BAE Systems?
I would say that although grades are important, skills and experiences are the things that set you apart from other candidates. The company is interested in hiring well rounded people, so having experiences to demonstrate this is really important.
