Graduate Hardware Engineer Review
at BAE Systems
Graduate Scheme
Electronic and Electrical Engineering
Rochester, Kent
Review Submitted: May 2026
Overall Rating
4.2 /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
3.8/5
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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?
Very positive, there is a lot of support for your development. My team lead has kept a note of the areas of engieering and the job role that I enjoy, and has constantly looked out for opportunities for me to work on tasks that I will find interesting
What are the main responsibilities of the role and which elements of the role do you enjoy the most?
Schematic capture, pcb layout design, pcb testing, integration of a pcb into an overall system. In my experience there is a good mix of office based design work and hands-on work in the lab. I find the lab-based work and layout design work the most enjoyable
To what extent does your role give you the opportunity to contribute meaningfully and feel valued by your team?
5/5
Almost straight away I was given tasks that were going to help towards the project, but were not so difficult that I would not be able to contribute effectively.
How does your compensation package - including perks & benefits - fairly remunerate you for the work you do?
3/5
A lot of the benefits do not really appeal to me. There are occasional events such as free fruit, free ice cream, and free pastries that I do find are a nice touch
How well do you feel the role is preparing you for your future career?
5/5
The fact that I am learning at a very fast rate, and that management seems keen on me developing, and in an area I desire means that I feel very confident that I am being prepared for a career that I want
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
As I've said before, I have learned a lot in my short time here so far, and have been given a large variety of tasks that have refreshed what I learned at university, and taught me lots of new things.
Experience & Company Culture
How is the support you receive?
5/5
I have a buddy that periodically checks in on me that I am doing okay and enjoying my work, he'll give me advice on how to get the most from the job. Line managers are keen on me developing my hardware competencies and are open to me moving between projects to fulfill that.
How is your work-life balance?
4/5
The flexible hours, and hybrid working mean that I am able to mould my workday around commitments that I may have during the week. I also do not get put under high-pressure by higher-ups meaning that I rarely 'take work home' with me. This allows for a good work-life balance.
What is the organisational culture, values and general atmosphere like?
4/5
Hybrid working policies are reasonable and team leaders are open to me taking extra days from home if needed. The culture is welcoming and I have felt included in my team. The two weeks of graduate immersion meant that I had a good network of colleague and friends to go through the graduate scheme with, ask questions and learn from.
How would you rate BAE Systems initiatives when it comes to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility?
4/5
It is nice to see so many employee resource groups that cater to a wide variety of groups
How would you rate BAE Systems CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives?
2/5
None come to mind.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
While the salary and pay rises are a common point of contention, working at BAE is a huge learning opportunity and you really can get a lot of development out of working here
How well did the role match your expectations based on the recruitment process?
5/5
I have already engaged in most of the roles and responsibilities that were laid out in the job description
When considering the recruitment & onboarding process, have you any specific tips or advice you would give to others applying to BAE Systems?
The HR people I spoke to were really good at giving me advice on how to approach the interviews, it gave me confidence that I knew what to work on and prepare for.
