Undergraduate Mechanical Engineer Review

Item: Undergraduate Mechanical Engineer at BAE Systems
Rating: 4.8
Author: Anonymous

at BAE Systems

Placement (10 Months+)

Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering, Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Portsmouth

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!

5/5 - Overview of Role

5/5 - Skills Development

5/5 - Support and Guidance

4.3/5 - Company Culture

5/5 - Overall Experience

5/5 - Future Career Prospects

Overview of Role

Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis.

As an undergraduate mechanical engineer, I was tasked with designing CAD components for the overall system my team were working on, doing calculations, and writing and understanding user and contractor requirements. On a day-to-day I used Siemens NX to design and make parts and overall assemblies. I would contact suppliers for drawings, after thoroughly researching parts that match the requirements, and I would do calculations and write up other documents to back the design of the vessel. I have been involved in in-person testing and simulation work, using Maxsurf Motions and going on a work trip to observe tank testing.

Were you given much responsibility during your placement / internship?

I was given a lot of responsibility and it was a very rewarding experience as it showed me how to deal with smaller scale projects in an industrial setting and I will be able to apply this knowledge when I return to the industry after finishing university. I took charge for a specific project for my team, and organised meetings, wrote up documents and technical memorandum, conducted simulation testing and validated my test results through in person testing. Furthermore, I volunteered for events and programmes within and outside of the company, representing BAE in them all, and found it a wonderful experience to share my knowledge and use the SOFT skills learned in a new setting.

Please rate how meaningful the work you were doing was

5/5

Skills Development

Have you learnt any new skills, or developed your existing skills?

I have developed my CAD skills, becoming much better at Siemens NX and learning how to use AutoCAD entirely. I have built upon my teamworking, networking, and leadership skills, and used these on a daily basis communicating with my team and with other members of the company. I have developed my confidence in my engineering abilities and in my industrial capabilities.

How would you rate the training provided during your experience?

5/5

How would you rate your development of industry-specific skills during the experience?

5/5

How would you rate your development of personal / soft skills during the experience?

5/5

Please rate how these skills have helped you in your career development

5/5

Support and Guidance

How much support and guidance did you receive during your placement / internship?

I received constant support and guidance and my team were always willing to help me with work and with overall issues if I had any, and I felt I had developed a good support system while working there.

How would you rate the support and guidance from your line manager?

5/5

How would you rate the support and guidance from the wider team?

5/5

Company Culture

What was the company culture and general atmosphere like?

Everyone is very work-driven and everyone is constantly busy, but they are all also willing to help and have a chat, everyone is very friendly and the atmosphere is a warm welcoming one. You never feel out of place from the minute you join, and the culture is inclusive and involves everyone. What I liked is a lot of the company's initiatives to reach out to schools and talk about bringing younger people into the company, and including more women in this as well. It makes you feel included and you realise the company values your input and the fact that you are there.

How would you rate the inclusiveness of the culture?

4/5

How would you rate the social opportunities?

4/5

How would you rate the diversity initiatives?

4/5

How would you rate the charity, sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives?

5/5

Overall Experience

To what extent did you enjoy your placement / internship?

I had a lot of fun on my placement - I spent the first few months finding my footing and developing my skills and getting up to scratch with all my training. I was then put on big tasks and integrated well with my team and felt like my projects specifically and my work itself had a great impact on the overall work the team was doing. I enjoyed meeting other IPs and graduates within the company, and felt included in all different aspects of the company. I liked the STEM outreach activities, and volunteering in 2 separate immersions as well, welcoming new graduates and IPs into the company and sharing my experience with them. Overall it was a very fun and rewarding experience, and I even decided to extend my placement and stay a few months longer!

Please rate your level of enjoyment on your placement / internship

5/5

Please rate how your experience met your expectations

5/5

Recommendations & Advice

Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?

Yes

What advice would you give to others applying to BAE Systems

Put yourself out there and apply for lots of new roles and opportunities - every company and every university will describe and teach you different things about these roles. When I joined BAE Systems I didn't expect to be this involved in the integral design choices as an IP Mechanical Engineer! I learnt a lot about Maritime Services, I also learnt a lot about Air through working on Stretch Assignments across the company. Don't feel stressed about being an expert in your field either, every team is supportive and will train you with the skills you specifically need to do your job. Just make sure you're proactive and keep on top of your work, and ask plenty of questions - everyone is always willing to help undergraduates (and everyone else for that matter!).