Building the systems that keep us safe: inside tech at BAE Systems

Defence may not be the first industry that comes to mind when you imagine a career in tech, but it's one of the places where the work carries the most weight. Find out what tech roles at BAE Systems are really like by hearing from three people who work there.

At BAE Systems, technology teams design, build, secure and support the systems that some of the world's most critical programmes rely on. That covers software engineering, cyber security, infrastructure, data and more, across a business of over 110,000 people in more than 40 countries.

The people doing this work didn't all arrive at BAE Systems the same way. For example, Davinder, who works as a Senior Software Engineer in the UK, got hooked on computers when her uncle gave her one at 14, went on to study computing at BTEC and degree level, and now has nearly 30 years in the industry behind her. Ivy, who’s a Software Engineer in the UK Operational Cyber team, taught herself to code from her bedroom and picked up cyber security through podcasts before joining BAE System’s Software Engineering Graduate Programme. And Chris, who’s a Systems Administrator in Australia, served in the Army Reserves before retraining through a free Linux course.

This mix of experience says a lot about how BAE Systems hires for tech. They don’t just look for people with relevant degrees or long careers, but welcome applicants with self-taught skills, and develop talent through internships, apprenticeships and graduate programmes. 

No matter how varied their backgrounds, once people arrive at the organisation, their experiences start to look very alike. That’s because working in tech at BAE Systems is shaped by the same culture, the same kind of work and the same sense of why it matters, regardless of your role.

The work has real-world consequences

Tech roles at BAE Systems aren't about shipping features for the sake of it. The systems these teams build and protect are used by governments, armed forces and organisations around the world, and that sense of purpose comes up again and again.

For example, Davinder has spent her whole career on government projects because of the purpose they give her. One of her proudest moments at BAE Systems was helping deploy a new system for UK border control data, which is now live across all the country's major airports.

For Ivy, impact has taken her further afield. Through international cyber capacity-building work, she's collaborated with organisations facing very different security challenges and helped them strengthen their resilience.

And for Chris, his role is a way of continuing what he started in uniform. He sees his work protecting critical systems as another way of supporting Australia's national security.

Collaboration is part of the daily rhythm

Software engineering is often imagined as a solitary job. But at BAE Systems, it's built around teams.

On Davinder's team, each engineer owns different features, tracked through project management tools and aligned to sprint goals. Daily stand-ups keep everyone connected, and hearing what her teammates are working on often means she can help them get past a problem. "That collaboration is a big part of what I love about working here," she says.

She's also a fan of "rubber ducking" when she's stuck; that's the coding trick of talking a problem through out loud, often to an actual rubber duck, until the answer comes to you. And beyond the day job, senior management encourages face-to-face meetups and social events to help relationships form across teams.

Ivy experienced the same openness from the start. During the graduate programme, she was encouraged to connect with colleagues across the business and learn from their experience; today, she contributes to complex technical discussions alongside experienced engineers.

You're trusted to keep learning

Tech moves quickly, and the people who do well at BAE Systems are the ones who like to keep up with it. The good news is that there's plenty of support for that.

Since joining, Ivy has built skills in Android vulnerability research, penetration testing, Python and C++, and now works across Android, MacOS and web development projects. She credits the freedom to explore different teams and technologies as one of the most rewarding parts of her career so far.

Chris is at a much earlier stage of his tech career, and his team supports that. He's learning something new every day, and his colleagues give him the space to grow and stretch himself rather than expecting him to know everything on day one. That's backed up by a learning licence, in-house training, lunch and learns, and mentoring.

A culture where you can be yourself

All three of these tech professionals point to BAE Systems’ culture as a big reason they're happy where they are.

As a woman in software engineering, Ivy found mentoring through the Women in Cyber Security network especially valuable early in her career. "It gave me confidence, helped me see what was possible," she says. Davinder also highlights the awards, forums and events the company runs throughout the year to celebrate women's contributions in tech.

For Chris, breaking into tech after military service was harder than he'd expected, despite going to industry events and investing in his own development. BAE Systems supported him through every stage of that transition, and it's a wider commitment, too; they ranked first in the Top 50 UK companies employing veterans and service leavers in 2025, and they give reservists 15 days of dedicated leave.

Employee Connection Groups like ForcesNet, the Inspiring Women Network, the Neurodiversity Network and OutLink give people a community and a voice in shaping the culture. It's part of why BAE Systems was named one of the top five Most Loved large companies in the Flexa Awards 2026.

Routes into a tech career at BAE Systems

As Davinder, Ivy and Chris show, there's no single profile BAE Systems looks for when it comes to hiring in tech. The business recruits across a wide range of information technology roles, including software development, DevOps, product security, data engineering, data governance, solutions architecture, cyber security and infrastructure engineering, with entry points at every career stage.

Internships and placements

For students, summer internships offer a first taste of the work. It's a well-trodden path; plenty of BAE Systems employees started as interns or placement students and returned after graduating.

Graduate programmes

BAE Systems runs graduate programmes across engineering, technology and business services, combining structured training with work on live projects. That’s how Ivy joined, via the Software Engineering Graduate Programme, which gave her the chance to explore different teams and technologies before settling into the Operational Cyber team. 

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships at BAE Systems run across four levels, from intermediate (Level 2) through to Degree Apprenticeships (Level 6), making it possible to earn a salary and a qualification at the same time. They're open to career changers as well as school leavers.

Career changers and veterans

Chris's route shows that a background outside tech isn't a barrier. BAE Systems has a strong track record of supporting veterans, reservists and career changers into new roles.

Experienced hires

Experienced professionals can search current tech vacancies on the BAE Systems information technology jobs page, where roles can be filtered by location and specialism. Roles are also listed on BAE Systems' Flexa profile, where following the company means an alert every time a new job goes live.