Hardware Engineer Review

Work in a team to complete a circuit board design, from initial concept and simulations, to selecting components and layout, to manufacturing and testing in a lab. The day to day therefore continuously changes depending on the stage of design, however one day would say start with a team meeting to check schedules, and then everyone would go off and work on their current tasks, and maybe get together to solve some larger problems.

I did not have much PCB design knowledge before I started however now I am confident in designing analog and digital circuits and then producing a final design which can be manufactured and built.

Yes most of the tasks I completed were independent, and I even laid out some boards entirely myself which were then successfully manufactured and tested. You get a lot of responsibility but the team is always around you to help.

There is a very defined team layout at BAE so you always know who to go to for help and support. And there are a wealth of experts in many Engineering fields. As for guidance in a career sense, there are meetings with functional managers who are simply there to monitor your progress and help you set out your career trajectory.

The company culture is hard working but relaxed, however the atmosphere can get tense when large deadlines are approaching or if there are design disagreements. I hear the culture and atmosphere vary project to project but can't say for sure as I have only been in one project. The welfare of the employee is put first and is a wellbeing team.

I really enjoyed my placement. I got to learn way more than I every expected about circuit design and using digital and analog chips in designs. Also made a lot of contacts and have a job opportunity.

Yes

For application process, practise interview skills, and also technical skills as there will be technical questions to do with electronics and engineering. Once your in make sure you let your team leader know if there is anything in particular you want to do and/ or learn about.