Aerospace Engineer Review

Aerospace Engineer placements with BAE Systems allow the student to rotate around three different areas of the Air sector within the business. The student is able to select their second and third placements, based on their own interests. However, unfortunately, the first placement is selected by the company, and does not seem to reflect any interests expressed by the student during interview. As BAE Systems is such a large company, many roles involve very little 'Engineering' as such, and focus more on corporate tasks. My current role is very slow and has involved tasks such as reviewing pages that detail my team's role within the company and collating information from senior staff. The work is very slow and I have found much of the little work I have very mundane.

One key skill I have developed during my placement is networking. In the work place a much larger emphasis is placed on this as a lot of your experience is based on who you know. I have planned my next placement within the company through reaching out the other teams. These contacts were found through work of mouth, i.e. discussing with my peers or other members of the team.

No, not at all. Very much of the work clearly did not have a purpose and was provided clearly to kill time. Very little tasks have had real follow through from more senior team members.

Again, part of the reason the work has seemed to have very little meaning is due to the fact is has almost entirely been independent and lacked follow through from the team.

Company culture is one of the big positives I have experienced thus far at BAE Systems. Most people are super friendly, and very much enjoy talking about their work and/or providing career advice. Many tours are available which help you to decide where you may intend to take your career. Some offices can be somewhat unfriendly, however on the whole most people are supportive. A key thing to point out is that the typical snobbery of some engineers is still present, especially for some of the younger engineers, especially given BAE Systems is a defence company.

As I have not yet finished my entire placement I am unable to give a definitive answer. I have very much not enjoyed my present role within the company, and have informed the careers team only to be told to wait for my next rotation which has left a very bad taste in my mouth. However, I am very hopeful for my next role. The work sounds more technical and more like what I would enjoy. Exposure to the products the company produces and to smaller projects within the business have been the most enjoyable part.

No

Be very careful during the application process. The job description is very misleading as many of the teams interns are placed in do not relate to the disciplines listed within the job description. Some interns are placed in more technical roles that involve Aerospace Engineering, however from what I have seen most are not. If possible, agree on a team to join and speak to your line manager before joining about the work you will be completing to make sure it aligns with your interests. Very much of the on-boarding process keeps the student in the dark, and they do not even receive contact from their future line manager till a week before the start.