software engineer

engineer

system engineer

project manager

systems administrator

BAE Systems

With all positions I have held throughout my career, I have had the ability to communicate confidently with the Team Leaders, Business/Client Stakeholders and Senior Executives. I quickly build and unite teams towards common objectives with my enthusiastic personality and communication skills.  
I have been responsible for planning and implementing work activities according to strict policy and procedures. This has been achieved through careful planning and commitment through the stewardship of my team and drive and enthusiasm for my profession. I actively cultivate my relationships with team leaders and identify and engage mentors to develop my skills (if required).
In my private sector experience to date, I have been responsible and accountable for the provision of correct and timely information to all my direct and indirect managers. I have a proven track record in communicating to my team leaders and providing impartial and forthright advice.  I critically analyse my own performance and seek feedback from my Manager. In addition, I ensure that the outcomes for which I am responsible have documented processes put in place that are auditable and accountable.  
The knowledge and experience I have gained by working on various Teams within the BAE Systems has given me a solid foundation in managing expectations of stakeholders, working collaboratively and efficiently with various professionals and harnessing a collegial working environment.

A typical day at work would start at 0730 with initiating all the test equipment needed for the day then checking with the team leader if there were any special or urgent jobs required.Next would be a communication with other company areas to coordinate use of other shared test equipment.Then testing circuit cards and wiring assemblies from multiple projects for most of the day.Writing and printing test reports and test failure reports as I went along.Prior to the end of the day at 1600 my time would be taken up fault finding and completing test logs.
Ive learnt a lot in how to communicate and work with anyone from micro managers to away you go and let me know only if theres a problem managers.Ive also learnt how to critique and rewrite test procedures with engineers with the view that anyone off the street can do the test.
Management on the whole were quite good except for the fact they were constantly under pressure to find work and as a consequence had little time for the small things needed for the workers.
My co-workers were a great team and great fun to work and socialise with. Each had their expertise and in turn was utilized to get the job done.
The hardest part of the job was trying to keep to an ever changing schedule and filling in time sheets utilizing the full day when there was no work but the most fullfilling part of the job was succeeding in this and keeping the failure rate to a minimum.

Typical day at work: professional yet fairly relaxed environment, consisted mainly of disassembling the electronic components of various missile systems and running calibrations and environmental testing using specialized machines. Reports on each part tested were completed and forwarded onto management before reassembling the electronics and sending them back to the armed forces.

What I learned: teamwork was extremely important, as each team member was a specialist with a different role. Communication and prioritizing tasks were very valuable skills to grasp very quickly in order to meet the tight deadlines imposed by the higher up managers and the clients: the armed forces.

Management: admittedly not much experience with management, although one boss I did meet was a fairly sensible and well mannered

Workplace culture: since teamwork was important, pretty much everyone had to get along really well in order to maximise efficiency. Workplace culture was that of a professional electronics laboratory, but was fairly relaxed as when the calibration and testing machines were started up, there generally wasn't a whole lot of work to do unless some electronics were found to be faulty.

Hardest part: possibly the hours that I attended, as I started every day at 6 am, and it was an hour's drive up there.

Most enjoyable part: getting along with the team and learning about electronics and how they are applied in automated systems.

Worked there for 21 years in various roles, and ended up in a support function.
Initially the work was interesting and I got to work on many types of defence equipment in manufacturing teams. BAE decided to leave the manufacturing game and win Prime contracts, and this is where BAE always seems to bite off more than it can chew. They always underbid then drive teams extremely hard to achieve impossible schedules. In such contract environments, bullies are not only welcomed but promoted. Middle management was populated with this type of alpha male, and I had several clashes with management who   were professionally and personally bullying me, in one case over a period of years.
In my experience BAE has an extremely dubious ethical and legal compass. If you're comfortable with that, and you can fit in with the boy's club, you could do well.

great place to work friendly and good people to work with and plenty of learning opportunities.The opportunity to apply for different jobs internally.
A good workplace culture also the management are very helpful with their guidance.
the hardest part of job was time management in getting work finished on time but this could be a number of different areas not having there part in the process finished on time.
the most enjoyable part of the job was having good people to work alongside of you .
I learned a lot of different jobs also which further helped my position 97
a typical day at work was to try and plan your day and what you wanted to achieve that outcome as well as liaise with different areas if they needed any particular jobs completed and the passed onto them. 
Also it was a good learning place as there would be different situations arise that you had not dealt with so this was a good learning curve as well.

They are extremely disorganized, and they do not listen to experts in their own fields.  Nor do they also listen to the over-all Directors appointed, by Chief Government Representatives, including Government Ministers.  In fact, for example, RAN Commodores, Admirals, and Captains repeated got frustrated with them, as they often did not know how to behave, nor how to best-serve the Prime Contracts they were selected to manage.  To further confound and confuse the end-customer, they were disorganized in any attempt of theirs, to deliver whatever they were obliged to deliver, to the Customer.  They did not know how to manage and run-through with Contracts they were awarded by Governments.  

A typical day at work for me is a busy day with flexible hours and a safe environment shared by all employees and customers and to enjoy my workplace with both the job and fellow workers. I have a large range of skills which include property and vehicle maintenance which includes a skill level with power and other tools. I have been in the management roles in previous employment and understand the pressures and demands placed on the individuals in such positions. Workplace culture is not understood by some but needs to be followed for a balanced workplace.
The hardest part of any job is not becoming complacent with your role as a employee i.e. surrounds, nature of work etc.
The most enjoyable part of a job is having a job that you enjoy and learning new skills along with meeting new people.

Positive: I worked at BAE Williamstown for 10 years...i was the Senior illustrator lead on the Delos Oiler Project.....Protector....LHD and some input into ANZAC......very interesting products to illustrate.....i feel privileged to have worked on these projects.

Negative: The strange mid management culture...it was a shame to see lazy non involved personnel get promoted to prominent positions....mates rates.
very happy to be away from that.
i was 60 when i was re-trenched 2 years ago but i have successfully found illustrating work as a self employed contractor commercial and defence.

Day to Day
        The day to day tasking very quickly became monotonous and very repetitive, even with job rotation there was a level of stagnation with each role.

Learned
        Get everything, and I mean EVERYTHING in writing before you begin.  Almost everyone is willing to throw you under the bus to save themselves.

Management
        Quite dysfunctional.

Co-workers
        Ran around in cliques and would not lift a finger to help even when ordered.

Hardest part
        Dealing with all the egos running round the site, with everyone working toward their own goals.

Most enjoyable
        Satisfaction of a job well done running my own stores.

Day to Day
 The day to day tasking very quickly became monotonous and very repetitive, even with job rotation there was a level of stagnation with each role.

Learned
 Get everything, and I mean EVERYTHING in writing before you begin. Almost everyone is willing to throw you under the bus to save themselves.

Management
 Quite dysfunctional.

Co-workers
 Ran around in cliques and would not lift a finger to help even when ordered.

Hardest part
 Dealing with all the egos running round the site, with everyone working toward their own goals.

Most enjoyable
 Satisfaction of a job well done running my own stores

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Software engineer 10 salaries reported	$105,300 per year
Engineer 3 salaries reported	$81,000 per year
System engineer 4 salaries reported	$111,750 per year
Project manager 4 salaries reported	$143,500 per year
Systems administrator 3 salaries reported	$98,667 per year

Working at BAE Systems: Company Overview and Reviews

BAE Systems

BAE Systems Ratings

Popular jobs at BAE Systems

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected