Advantages

The primary objective of the ELDP is to attract, train, develop, and retain the very best and brightest engineers

Through special training, guidance, and education, the program seeks to foster the development of future engineering leaders. In order to establish a strong foundation for engineering leadership, the program is designed to:

• Offer a unique educational experience
• Build a foundation of essential communication skills
• Foster people skills in a teamwork-based environment
• Instill self-confidence through rigorous weekly problem-solving projects and reports spanning different functional disciplines
• Encourage logical thinking, analytical skills, technical knowledge, and writing skills required for engineering leadership
• Increase employee retention by offering challenging work assignments and varied career growth opportunities
• Develop a multi-skilled, multi-talented engineering workforce
• Provide exposure to our businesses and technologies

Program Completion

Graduation from the Engineering Leadership Development Program is an achievement held in high esteem. Upon successful completion of the program, participants select longer-term positions within the engineering organization. These positions reflect the interests and abilities demonstrated by the participants during the program. Opportunities for challenging work assignments and excellent career growth opportunities are readily available to ELDP graduates who leave the program as Senior Engineers.

After the three years, participants will have their graduate degree in engineering, job experience, and leadership training. From the Technical Development Curriculum (TDC) participants will have studied various topics in advanced mathematics, engineering fundamentals, and engineering business. From attending partnering universities, participants will have taken the rest of the courses needed to complete their engineering master’s degree. From job rotations, participants will have experienced various programs throughout the company during various design phases while interacting with many company subject matter experts. Participants will have seen the different business areas at BAE Systems and learned about the technology of each. From the Leadership Development Conference and other leadership activities, participants also will have received leadership training on emotional intelligence, teamwork, personal effectiveness, partnering, communication, and how to be an effective leader.

Without the support of the Engineering Leadership Development Program, it typically takes an additional year or two to complete a Master’s degree. Without the opportunities of rotational job assignments, most engineers spend an average of two years on a program before moving to the next, which does not allow for exposure to as many programs, groups of people, and technologies within the company early in one’s career. Therefore the benefits of the program along with the opportunities and advancements are abundant.