Graduate insight experience opportunities | Careers in the UK

Get the inside track

Our Insight Experiences give you first-hand experience of what life at BAE Systems is really like. You'll meet our inclusive team and hear about their inspirational career journeys. And you’ll get the chance to explore how you could make a big impact here too.

What you can expect

Talks from inspiring and influential members of our team.
An insight into life at BAE Systems and our commitment to diversity, inclusion and sustainability.
The chance to connect with people across the business.
Learn more about the undergraduate and graduate opportunities available.

Opportunity to network with other undergraduates.
Insight into specific areas of interest for your chosen career path.
Personal and professional development sessions (available during our 2 day insight events).

Our insight experience opportunities

Women in engineering

Virtual 2 day insight experience 23 and 24 August 2023

During our 2 day women in engineering insight experience you will gain first-hand insight into the engineering sector at one of the largest UK engineering employers, and all the opportunities available to you to reach your full potential.

What to expect

Inspiring talks from influential female colleagues
An insight into life at BAE Systems
Personal and professional development sessions
Career pathways for female engineering students

You will also learn more about how BAE Systems is driving its sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) agenda, and developing your employability skills.

With around 100 insight experience places available UK wide, you will have the chance to network with other women in engineering from different areas of our business, all at different stages in their career journeys – from graduates to senior leaders. You will hear all about the work our colleagues are doing and the difference we’re making for our clients and our communities, and hear more about the fantastic range of engineering roles available to you.

Best of all, after the insight experience, you could find yourself progressing on one of our undergraduate or graduate roles the following intake!

Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)

Our ambition is to be recognised as the leading employer in the defence and security sectors for valuing diversity, equity and inclusion. Our gender equity ambitions are to:

Ensure that women make up at least 50% of our Executive Committee by 2030.
Aim to have a UK workforce of more than 30% women by 2030. This includes more women in senior grades and in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths roles.

We're continuing to work hard to improve our gender balance and remain steadfast in our commitment to redress this by attracting and retaining women throughout all levels of the Company. That’s why we’re taking action to tackle the issue with initiatives to encourage women into entry level positions and support them through their careers.

BAE Systems was one of the 50 founding signatories of the ‘Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter’ and the ‘Women in Defence Charter’. The Charters commit the UK’s aerospace and defence sectors to work together to build a more balanced and fair industry for women. We have also signed the charter for 'Women in Maritime' which similarly pledges to increase the number of women in the sector and create an environment for women to realise their aspirations.

Who is the women in engineering insight experience for?

This opportunity is aimed primarily at female candidates seeking insight into a career in Engineering, to join our insight experience you must currently be studying a STEM degree and be on course to achieve at least a 2:2. Please note: This insight experience is a learning opportunity and is unpaid.

For those graduating in 2024, apply here.

For those graduating in or after 2025, apply here.

Cultural diversity in engineering

Virtual 2 day insight experience 23 and 24 August 2023

During our 2 day cultural diversity in engineering insight experience you will gain first-hand insight into the engineering sector at one of the largest UK engineering employers, and all the opportunities available to you to reach your full potential.

What to expect

Inspiring talks from influential culturally diverse colleagues
An insight into life at BAE Systems
Personal and professional development sessions
Career pathways for engineering students

You will also learn more about how BAE Systems is driving its sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) agenda, and developing your employability skills.

Why attend?

With around 100 insight experience places available UK wide, you will have the chance to network with culturally diverse colleagues from different areas of our business, all at different stages in their career journeys – from graduates to senior leaders. You will hear all about the work our colleagues are doing and the difference we’re making for our clients and our communities, and hear more about the fantastic range of engineering roles available to you.

Best of all, after the insight experience, you could find yourself progressing on one of our undergraduate or graduate roles the following intake!

Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)

We're continuing to work hard to improve our ethnicity balance and remain steadfast in our commitment to redress this by attracting and retaining culturally diverse colleagues throughout all levels of the Company.

Our ethnicity ambitions are to:

Increase our racial and ethnic minority representation on our Board, Executive Committee and their direct reports
Publish a race action plan and ethnicity pay gap report
Enable a culture of inclusion, equity and belonging to allow all employees to bring their whole selves to work

Who is the cultural diversity in engineering insight experience for?

This opportunity is aimed primarily at candidates from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds seeking insights into a career in Engineering, to join our Insight Experience you must currently be studying a STEM degree and be on course to achieve at least a 2:2. Please note: This insight experience is a learning opportunity and is unpaid.

For those graduating in 2024, apply here.

For those graduating in or after 2025, apply here.

Systems engineering

Virtual half day insight experience 20 September or 29 November 2023

During our half day systems engineering insight event you will gain first-hand insight into the exciting and varied role of a systems engineer at one of the largest UK engineering employers, and the opportunities available to you to reach your full potential. Working on our projects as a systems engineer you will gain experience across various stages of the product lifecycle. You will learn to consider important factors such as schedule, cost, training and environmental concerns. Under technical supervision you will provide services to the project from requirements management to systems architecting and modelling.

As a systems engineer you would be working in a variety of teams such as:

Systems architecture;
Modelling and simulation;
Requirements management;
Governance and assurance;
Testing and integration.

With a Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approach throughout.

What to expect

Inspiring talks from our systems engineering graduates
An insight into life at BAE Systems working on our graduate programmes
Career pathways for STEM students into a systems engineering career
An opportunity to ask our panellists and graduates any questions

Who is the systems engineering insight experience for?

This opportunity is aimed at graduates and undergraduates who are seeking insight into a career with BAE Systems in systems engineering. To join BAE Systems on one of our systems engineering graduate or undergraduate schemes you must currently be studying or have studied a degree and be on course to achieve/achieved at least a 2:2.

Wednesday, September 20, 2023: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM, sign up here.

Wednesday, November 29, 2023: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM, sign up here.

Graduate and undergraduate programme

Virtual one hour insight experience July 27 or October 19 2023

During our one hour graduate and undergraduate programme insight events you will gain first-hand insight into some of our early careers programmes at one of the largest UK engineering employers, and all the opportunities available to you to reach your full potential.

What to expect

An overview of the graduate and undergraduate programmes and recruitment process
Career pathways for both engineering and non-engineering students
An insight into life at BAE Systems from our graduates
An opportunity to ask questions to our panellists and graduates

Who is the undergraduate and graduate programme insights experience for?

This opportunity is aimed at graduates and undergraduates who are seeking insight into a career with BAE Systems. We have a wide range of opportunities available across our business sectors. To join an insight experience you must be studying a relevant degree and be on course to achieve at least a 2:2 in your Bachelor’s or Master’s.

Thursday, July 27, 2023: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, sign up here.

Thursday, October 19, 2023: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM, sign up here.

Talent Community

Not yet ready to apply? Can’t see the programme you’re after? Simply join our Talent Community for careers news and updates, and be one of the first to hear when new roles open.

Join our Talent Community

Hear from our inspiring people

Want to know more about what life is like at BAE Systems? Get the facts first hand from some of our current and former graduates.

Read our employee stories

Application process

What do I need to apply?

How to apply

We're committed to recruiting in the most inclusive way possible so we can welcome the best people from all kinds of backgrounds to our team.

Women in engineering and cultural diversity in engineering: The process begins with an online application. If you're successful, we'll invite you to perform a virtual assessment which will include gamified assessment challenges and video questions. If you are successful, you’ll be invited to attend the Insight Experience.

Systems engineering and graduate and undergraduate programme: Register your attendance by submitting the registration form. You will be then sent an email with details on how to join the virtual event.

Application tips

We want everyone to have the best chance of securing a place on our programmes. Here are some tips to help you give it your best:

Have a good think about which opportunity or business area best matches your interests and skills.
Keep your application clear and concise – we want to be able to easily see your strengths and achievements.
Give full details of your degree modules, work experience and relevant final year projects – we want to see how the programme is right for you.
Be sure to check your spelling and make sure you fill in all the sections of the application!

Note: applications are only required for our Women in engineering and Cultural diversity in engineering insight experiences.

Got a question?

Not sure which programme is right for you? Want to understand more about job roles here at BAE Systems? Have a question about your application? Our FAQs are a great place to start.

Frequently asked questions

But if you want a chat with our team we're always here to help.

To discuss your application email the GART@baesystems.com or call them on 0208 068 2868.

To discuss your Digital Intelligence application, please email the Future Talent team.

We can only discuss applications with candidates directly.

Take your next step

Life at BAE Systems Experienced professionals Locations in the UK Early careers

Connect with us Frequently asked questions Search and apply

Insight Experiences

Insight experiences

Get the inside track

Our Insight Experiences give you first-hand experience of what life at BAE Systems is really like. You'll meet our inclusive team and hear about their inspirational career journeys. And you’ll get the chance to explore how you could make a big impact here too.

What you can expect

Talks from inspiring and influential members of our team.

An insight into life at BAE Systems and our commitment to diversity, inclusion and sustainability.

The chance to connect with people across the business.

Learn more about the undergraduate and graduate opportunities available.

Opportunity to network with other undergraduates.

Insight into specific areas of interest for your chosen career path.

Personal and professional development sessions (available during our 2 day insight events).

Our insight experience opportunities

Women in engineering

Cultural diversity in engineering

Systems engineering

Graduate and undergraduate programme

Talent Community

Not yet ready to apply? Can’t see the programme you’re after? Simply join our Talent Community for careers news and updates, and be one of the first to hear when new roles open.

Hear from our inspiring people

Want to know more about what life is like at BAE Systems? Get the facts first hand from some of our current and former graduates.

Meet Andy

Wholeship Assistant Technical Authority, Glasgow

Meet Mike

Senior Systems Engineer, Rochester

Meet Jenny

Project Manager, Frimley

Meet Michelle

Product Environmental Support Engineer, Warton

Meet Lucy

Accelerate Graduate Engineer, Warton

Meet Caroline

Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Barrow

Meet Pujan

Combat Systems Engineering Graduate, Dorchester

Meet Sophia

Graduate Delivery Manager, London

Application process

What do I need to apply?

How to apply

Application tips

Got a question?

Not sure which programme is right for you? Want to understand more about job roles here at BAE Systems? Have a question about your application? Our FAQs are a great place to start.

But if you want a chat with our team we're always here to help.

To discuss your application email the GART@baesystems.com or call them on 0208 068 2868.

To discuss your Digital Intelligence application, please email the Future Talent team.

We can only discuss applications with candidates directly.

Take your next step

Join the conversation...