Skilled Trade Partnerships | P&S

The next step in your career journey starts here.

Five people pose indoors in front of an ATDM and Institute for Advanced Learning and Research backdrop at a defense manufacturing training hiring event.

A BAE Systems program manager wearing a white hard hat, safety glasses, and a navy polo shirt adjusts a large industrial control panel while holding a clipboard in a mechanical room. The image highlights hands-on technical expertise, safety, and precision, with switches, gauges, and indicator lights reinforcing a professional industrial environment.

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Skilled trade worker works out of the BAE Systems Louisville site.

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Technical & vocational institutions

•   Hobart Institute of Welding Technology
•   Universal Technical Institute
•   Tidewater Tech
•   Tulsa Welding School
•   J-Tech Institute
•   Pennsylvania College of Technology
•   Aiken Technical College
•   Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology

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Jose, a craft supervisor, on our Jacksonville Maritime Solutions team poses for a photo with a military vessel behind him.

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Strategic partner institutions

•   Florida State College at Jacksonville
•   Welder Training and Testing Institute
•   Advanced Technology Institute
•   Vincennes University College of Technology .

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Aiken Technical College BAE Systems Skilled Trade Partnership

BAE Systems makes a donation to a trade school in Aiken, SC.

BAE Systems is proud to be a military friendly employer.

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Frequently asked questions

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BAE Systems offers a variety of skilled trades career paths across its manufacturing and ship repair operations as part of the Platforms & Services sector. Opportunities may include roles such as Welders, CNC Machinists, Fabricators, Quality Technicians, Crane Operators, Fitters, and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) technicians, among other specialized trades.

For a complete list of skilled trade currently open opportunities within Platforms & Services, click here. Visit our manufacturing and maintenance page to explore careers across the entire company.

To be eligible for these programs, candidates should typically be currently enrolled at a partner school and within two to three months of graduation, though alumni in good standing may also participate. Interested students should contact their school’s Career Services office to learn about upcoming events and coordinate the application process.

For those already possessing the skills to contribute to BAE Systems today, visit our Platforms & Services skilled trade page or explore all opportunities company-wide on our manufacturing and maintenance page.

BAE Systems Platforms & Services currently offers skilled trades opportunities at several manufacturing locations across the United States, including Aberdeen, South Dakota; Aiken, South Carolina; Anniston, Alabama; Jacksonville, Florida; Louisville, Kentucky; Norfolk, Virginia; San Diego, California; and York, Pennsylvania.

Candidates relocating from more than 50 miles away may be eligible for a relocation assistance lump sum to support their transition to the area.

Visit our locations page to see opportunities across BAE Systems. Check out our life in York and Life in Jacksonville pages to see more information about the area and sites. More location spotlights to come.

BAE Systems brings the hiring process directly to partner trade schools, allowing students to interview and complete practical assessments in a familiar environment using the equipment they train on. This approach helps candidates perform at their best and creates a smoother transition into the workforce. Selected candidates then complete a structured 3–5 week training period to prepare for full-time production roles.

BAE Systems is proud to support military service members transitioning into civilian careers through specialized workforce programs focused on skilled trades. We partner with leading veteran-focused training programs including:
•   Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM)
•   Workshops for Warriors

In addition, BAE Systems participates in the Department of War SkillBridge Program, which allows active-duty service members to gain valuable industry experience during their final 180 days of military service.

The SkillBridge program provides participants with:
•   Industry-specific training
•   Hands-on technical experience
•   Professional development opportunities
•   A pathway to full-time employment based on performance

As a military-friendly employer, nearly 20% of the BAE Systems workforce consists of veterans, and many of our teams have firsthand experience supporting military transition into civilian careers.

Visit our military and veteran page for information on our military partnerships, career resources, and to connect with our military hiring team.

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