BAE Systems (Maryland) Reviews

Pros

1) Salary
2) Management
3) The ability to switch job within the company
4) Communications within BAE management with BAE customers
5) BAE HR staff is great

Cons

1) Benefits package (Leave days)
2) Benefits package (High Costs of Medical/Dental/Vision)
3) Benefits package (Not many Holidays)
4) BAE senior level management jobs are all located in DC/MD/VA.
5) Communication within the sectors of BAE Systems

Advice to Senior Management

Expand BAE systems outside of the defense contacting sector.

Do not disregard the cost of health care when choosing a provider. I was with BAE Systems for a number of years and the cost of heath care went up every year. This year not only the cost has gone up but with less choices and options. Forcing the employees to deal with a very high cost plan and no choices to limit that cost.

Pros

Great place to work; great people to work with.

Cons

Reorganization or restructuring almost on a yearly basis. No clear vision given by Leadership as to what they want to accomplish. No clear roadmap to get there, and not much in overall communication between leadership and the employees.

Advice to Senior Management

Care more about the people you have.

Pros

BAE is an extremely large company and they tend to have great benefits. Employees are also very friendly and willing to help.

Cons

Senior management structure is flawed beyond belief. The most senior members may think you are the best employee ever, but if a lower level senior member has something against an entry level worker, they can impede their growth prospects.

Advice to Senior Management

All senior managers need to collectively work together. Senior managers also need to give credit to employees that do a good job. Also there are senior execs that tend to hold grudges against entry-level workers and this is bad for employee moral.

Pros

There are great opportunities to travel. I have been all over the world. The employees are highly regarded as experts in their field. It is exciting to be a part of the team.

Cons

The company benefits package has decreased over the last three years. The health insurance is overpriced compared to individual plans. I often feel that I am going to get fired for asking questions. Senior management dismisses outside opinions.

Advice to Senior Management

Management needs to be proactive with the opinions and thoughts of the employee. There are numerous places they can continue to cut costs effectively. Benefits should be immune until all other avenues have been looked at. Management needs to address the good ol’ boy network. Employees should not fear retaliation for speaking up. Don't kill me.

Pros

Very honest management and a very good work environment. Supportive environment and fair pay. Raises were directly linked to performance. Work/life balance was good as well.

Cons

Limited potential for advancement due to very flat organizational structure. You either have to wait for one of the few managers to leave, or move on. Fortunately, there are many BAE offices throughout the DC metro area. Relations with corporate headquarters in Maryland were poor.

Pros

Dealing with cutting-edge technologies. Good "espirit de corps". Very good compensation package. Visibility to management was good. Working environment was very good.

Cons

Going through consolidation of facilities and staff, was nerve-racking. Getting authorization( hours) to work on necessary tasks was a struggle. Constant "accounting" for for tasks performed was tedious and boring.

Advice to Senior Management

Stategy for pricing of products needs to improve to stay competitive. Offer base model with "options" pricing.

Pros

BAE instills pride in what they do, i.e., provide MRAPS for the troops in war zones, electronics advances for US Forces, and protective gear for military and police units. It's all about our Troops and that's the way it should be.

Cons

It is a company built solely on Acquisitions and these acquisitions were always left to do their thing and simply contribute to the UK parent annually. There has always been and still is a propensity for businesses to resist a corporate culture. Opportunities and Promotions tend to be handed out to folks who have worked together in the past prior to being absorbed into BAE Systems. The Senior Financial person lacks leadership abilities and that impacts all businesses and initiatives.

There isn't a company on the Earth that couldn't improve communications. BAE takes the cake for just awful communications. One example: They recently encouraged employees to apply for internal jobs, which had already been filled. They communicated a voluntary retirement program and gave employees three days to elect participation.

All in all, much promise unrealized due to Senior Management in all major businesses and Corporate Headquarters.

Advice to Senior Management

Don't hire talent and then allow it to evaporate before your eyes. Engage young people and make their development a priority with Middle and Senior Management. Allow lower levels of management to make some decisions and hold their feet to the fire and provide support, always focusing on results. When someone doesn't deliver as expected, analyze why rather than throw them out. Some very successful CEO's failed before they became household names. Failure is a stepping stone to success. Realize that basic principle. Listen and follow up when middle managers propose new directions and initiatives.

Pros

Their support to the war fighter makes effort rewarding.

Cons

New senior management seems to be moving the company in the wrong direction.

Advice to Senior Management

Look at what has worked for the company before heading in new directions with no knowledge of where you're headed. Too many new managers who do not know this history.

Pros

Reasonable management and salary.
Leave never expires.

Cons

Not much selections of opportunities within BAE for some specialized skills
No sick leave.
You're in BAE but not in BAE especially if you'll be working at a client site.

Advice to Senior Management

One idea to encourage a sense of belonging in BAE employees, especially those embedded at client sites, is to hold a few more social events in addition to a summer picnic and holiday cocktail party.

Pros

Salary is pretty good at the higher levels with substantial bonuses possible. Location is good. Opportunity for advancement if you are the right type of person, due to high attrition.

Cons

Very chaotic, no game plan from senior management. Plans change daily. High rate of people getting fired, especially at the manager & director level. Most get fired within 1 year or less. Several sacred cows and untouchables who can do no wrong, so beware and make sure you survey the political landscape thoroughly because the office politics and backstabbing is considerable. Very few college educated professionals, most are ex cops, ex military, or ex SWAT. Lots of foul language, screeming, and fist pounding at the top levels, respect for individuals is just not present.

Advice to Senior Management

Respect for individuals is key. Treat people nicer, no need for yelling & screeming & cussing. Too quick to fire people. It will eventully hurt you in the long run. Make a plan and then stick to it.