By Maria McGregor, External Communications Manager for BAE Systems Intelligence & Security sector

$10K certification bonus, paid time off, training and upward mobility are some of the key reasons why candidates choose to join the BAE Systems Intelligence Solutions team under our Intelligence & Security sector.

Our Intelligence Solutions business is actively recruiting top talent. We’re looking for pros in information technology (IT), software engineering, and cloud technologies.

In the following Q&A, you will hear from Laura Letts, a Senior Talent Acquisition Manager, who is overseeing Intelligence Solutions’ robust hiring efforts. You’ll learn about what makes BAE Systems’ intelligence program stand out from others in the industry. If you’re curious about #LifeatBAESystems or about the benefits we offer, then this interview is for you. Here are Laura’s insights:

What types of jobs are you actively recruiting for?

We hire qualified candidates in highly technical, specialized, and intelligence-related fields. We hire mostly software systems engineers, and intelligence, geospatial, and high-performance computing analysts. A majority of our candidates must be cleared (e.g., holding secret or top secret [TS] clearances, with polygraph).

Why should a candidate choose BAE Systems’ Intelligence Solutions team?

BAE Systems supports national security capabilities and our employees really find a sense of purpose working for a greater mission. Additionally, we have solid industry-standard benefits, plus many opportunities for advancement and development across our global enterprise. At BAE Systems, we pay up to $10,000 for high-level certifications in Engineering, Cloud, IT, and Cybersecurity.

We also cover a variety of exam fees for employees who wish to obtain certifications, and we offer nearly 1,000 free educational and development courses. When an employee earns a certification, they also qualify for a certification bonus. Over the past year, we have seen more and more employees registering for classes and working to achieve certifications than we have ever seen – many of those who work remotely due to the pandemic are likely putting their reduction in commute time to good use.

What additional benefits does the company provide?

Throughout the past year, we have all had to learn what it takes to be resilient. BAE Systems really cares about its employees’ emotional and financial well-being and we offer tools and resources to help them through tough times.

We grant most new hires and rehires a lump sum of hours equal to two weeks of Paid Time Off based on their business’ accrual schedule at the time they join/re-join the company. Typically, a new employee at another company would have to wait to accrue it, but we offer that as a benefit right away. Rehires receive credit for prior BAE Systems service when calculating their accrual tier. Then, after completing 26 weeks of service, employees accrue paid time off on a weekly basis.

Why should candidates apply for a BAE Systems Intelligence Solutions program?

At BAE Systems, we really care about people, and even if you don’t get the first job you applied for within the company, we are always looking out for other positions that might fit well. As recruiters, our job is never done—we always have open programs and contracts that we need experts for. I was referred and that’s how I got to be in this role today. Our hiring and Talent Acquisition Team do their best to stay connected with and find the best opportunities for candidates; and we are always looking for qualified, skilled individuals. Moreover, candidates can sign up to receive emails from our Talent Community to get updates on what’s happening at BAE Systems.

Another advantage of joining our programs is our employee engagement events. We regularly connect with employees to ensure they are updated on the strategy. We really do view everyone as an integral part of our business. Our business leaders give updates via virtual platforms and we host Touch Base Thursdays to engage with employees. It’s a really fun group! We mix it up sometimes with themed “after hours”/”happy hours” and trivia on WebEx. Throughout the year, there are other fun events including virtual scavenger hunts, 5k walk/runs, and cooking classes.

What are some exciting things new hires can look forward to during their first few weeks of on-boarding?

We have our own onboarding process, which includes meeting your manager and getting introduced to the company and learning what is available to you. We have Employee Resource Groups that employees can join right away to network quickly with others in the organization with similar interests. We typically host an orientation day, where a program employee would hear from their program manager.

What are some roles or skillsets you actively hire for in Intelligence Solutions?

One of our biggest recruiting efforts is currently centered around seeking qualified candidates in highly technical, specialized, and intelligence-related fields – a majority of our candidates must be cleared (e.g., holding secret, top secret [TS] clearances, with polygraph). A large part of these openings are for software systems engineers, and intelligence, geospatial, and high-performance computing analysts.

We are a leading-edge technology company that drives IT digital modernization for the Department of Defense, the intelligence community, and federal/civilian agencies. Our employees are experts in IT transformation, intelligence analysis, geospatial intel analysis, high performance computing, and software systems engineering. Working in intelligence usually requires individuals to have about 4-5 years of experience, especially to qualify for the TS and SCI cleared roles, and most who work on the IT side have completed a polygraph. We’re always looking for cleared talent!

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Interested in learning more about intelligence and IT opportunities with BAE Systems? Start your search here.