Sponsored Editorial

Last year, BAE Systems announced plans to increase jobs up to 25% at its Rochester site, which is one of Kent’s largest private employers.

With more than 200 roles created last year, the site continues to grow for the future. Its skilled workforce of more than 1,600 people support the nation’s security services and armed forces, working on exciting technology such as augmented reality displays for pilots, active control sticks, and flight control computers.

Tom is an operations team leader, managing the flight controls project for Gulfstream aircraft at BAE Systems in Rochester. He joined straight after his BTEC Level 3 in Engineering. Starting out as a trainee test technician, he now leads a team of 20 people and is currently on a programme to support his future development.

Tom said, “After six months on the training scheme, I was a fully-fledged technician, specialising in flight controls for aircraft. I’ve worked my way up from there and have built, tested, and inspected flight controls for CH-53 Sea Stallion and MH-47 Chinook.

“Now I’m the team leader for Gulfstream flight controls, I choose to be very involved in the manual work, as I love a challenge. I believe in demonstrating to my team that I care about the work they do by being more hands on.”

He added: “My career development doesn’t stop here – the company is sponsoring me to study BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering part-time at university, and I’m being mentored to develop skills in another role, which will be a sideways and more senior move for me in the future.”

“My advice to anyone considering a career at BAE Systems is to just go for it. If I didn’t apply for the job I have, I wouldn’t be on the development journey I’m currently on, so it’s worth applying for every opportunity that fits you.”

Careers at BAE Systems

Whatever your talents, goals and ambitions, you’ll find a distinctive place to thrive at BAE Systems.

Find your next role at the BAE Systems website.