Systems Engineer Review

Depending on the placement I am assigned, my work varies. It tends to involve some work with requirements and systems modelling and generally ensuring the work we do is the simplest way to do it. I have one day per week at college where I can complete the study aspect of the apprenticeship.

I feel like I have developed my skills of simplification. I can reduce problems right down to their cause and take away all the associated chaos. I have also improved my communication skills and I feel that I can get involved more quickly with a new team and with their work.

I dislike the lack of continuity between the college learning and the workplace. I study for electrical and electronic engineering but my day job is a systems engineer and I feel that I would prefer the day job to be electrical engineering. I enjoy learning about electronics but sometimes I wish the academic side of the scheme was a bit more challenging.

I think the structure of the programme could be improved in that placement managers should be more up to date with the requirements of what the apprentices need to get out of their placement. I like the balance of regularly having college and work so this structure I think is fine. I would just like to see a bit more exposure to work which is relevant to my study.

I receive a lot of support from work as I have specific apprentice managers which look after my college life and work life and if I had any issues with home life then I could go to them as well. I have had issues with college this year and my managers have been very good with dealing with those issues so that the other apprentices and I are as unaffected as possible.

There have been problems with college and there have been attempts to resolve these issues although they took a very long time to realise the severity and so very little action was taken for around 6 months which led to the class being behind schedule and generally being left in the dark for that time. The issues seem to be resolved now as the severity has been realised.

I do not feel that my qualification helps my role as much as it could do as my study does not match up with my work very well. I do learn how to explain things to others which is useful for the workplace and learning how to adapt to the person you are teaching so that they can understand more clearly.

There are a number of social activities across a number of sites like sports and there are often socials organised formally and informally at the end of other activities. There have been networking events specifically for early careers but also in person training is a great way of getting to know other people.

Yes

I feel like BAE Systems look after you as an employee and if there was anything that you were not happy about then they would be able to help you find your solution to keep you at the company and to make sure you are happy with all aspects of your wellbeing.

Try and find an apprenticeship that has been running for a few years as this will help with organisation. The apprenticeship I am on has only been running for 2 years and there are a lot of uncertainties with what the transition from college to university will look like which would not be the case if this has already happened. Also, look for an apprenticeship that matches study and work as this will really motivate your study and develop your workplace understanding.