Airframe Design Engineer Review
at BAE Systems
Graduate Scheme
Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
Samlesbury
Review Submitted: September 2026
Overall Rating
4.5 /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!
4.3/5
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Overview of the Role
4.8/5
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Experience & Company Culture
4/5
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Recommendations & Advice
Overview of the Role
Overall, how would you describe your experience at BAE Systems?
Overall, I have had a very pleasant experience at BAE Systems. I've been able to acquire knowledge and skills without too much pressure, and have always been supported by a helpful and friendly team.
What are the main responsibilities of the role and which elements of the role do you enjoy the most?
My main responsibilities involve liaising with engineers and analysing information to complete written reports on procedure methods with defected aircraft parts. I would say I most enjoy using design software such as Catia V5 and VAS Viewer.
To what extent does your role give you the opportunity to contribute meaningfully and feel valued by your team?
4/5
There have been occasional opportunities where I went above and beyond my usual responsibilities to complete work, and the acknowledgment and feeling of value I received from these were very meaningful to me.
How does your compensation package - including perks & benefits - fairly remunerate you for the work you do?
5/5
I'm very grateful for the flexi/hybrid working capability, which has enabled me to work in my most comfortable states. The SIP is also great, I view it as almost like a "second pension pot" which I can access at any time if I want to.
How well do you feel the role is preparing you for your future career?
4/5
My role has aided me not only in acquiring knowledge on my specific area of work, but also on how BAE operates as a whole. I've been able to see other areas of the business through visits, tours and other events, some of which have certainly caught my interest.
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
I've steadily acquired new skills and further developed my current ones over the course of my grad scheme. These will definitely be beneficial to me further down the road in my career.
Experience & Company Culture
How is the support you receive?
5/5
I have been supported whenever I've needed it from numerous colleagues. They've always been easy to approach and have never made me feel bad for "bothering" them.
How is your work-life balance?
5/5
My work-life balance has been very good. I have been able to start later and finish earlier whenever I've wanted to, which has enabled me to do more things I enjoy in my out-of-work life.
What is the organisational culture, values and general atmosphere like?
5/5
I have been in a positive, relaxed and ambitious atmosphere where people want to work to the highest standards and achieve their goals while providing all needed support to do so.
How would you rate BAE Systems initiatives when it comes to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility?
5/5
I have become aware of multiple facilities on site to support people of varying backgrounds and those with physical conditions. I have also completed training material based on inclusion of people of diverse backgrounds in BAE.
How would you rate BAE Systems CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives?
4/5
I always receive emails inviting me to BAE-related events of varying kinds, as well as WhatsApp messages from the graduate social group of any events they organise.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
There's so much work encompassed within BAE, with the potential to work towards exciting opportunities and venture into different business areas. The benefits as a whole compliment the experience very well, ensuring wellness can be managed and any hard work is made worth it.
How well did the role match your expectations based on the recruitment process?
4/5
For the most part, the role has matched my expectations based on what I knew and predicted coming into the company.
When considering the recruitment & onboarding process, have you any specific tips or advice you would give to others applying to BAE Systems?
My advice would be for people to gain experience either through work in industry, or within an academic project. I never had prior experience with BAE or any similar industry/company, but I worked on a long-term project at university which I was able to discuss in great detail at my interview, which covered many of the values and skills that typical work experience would also cover.
