Russell Davison - Life after Lufbra...
Images courtesy of BAE Systems.
Russell Davison
MEng Systems Engineering, 2008
I started my career with BAE Systems as an Industrial Placement Student in 2005 whilst I was studying MEng Systems Engineering at Loughborough. I was sponsored through the last two years of my degree and then joined BAE Systems’ Graduate Development Framework in the Military Aircraft area of the business. After about eighteen months working as a Mission Systems Engineer on Hawk jet trainers I applied to join the Sigma scheme.
The world is changing fast, but the skills I gained through my Systems Engineering degree are helping me keep up. Sigma is a unique, fast tracked programme designed specifically to develop future leaders of BAE Systems. The biggest benefits of the scheme are the flexibility to undertake any form of training you deem necessary to progress, and to be able to experience a truly diverse and challenging range of programmes and projects.
I spent the first eight months of Sigma working as Programme Manager in our Global Combat Systems business, responsible for leading the embodiment of a series of Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs) on to the Warrior armoured vehicle, and delivering the upgraded vehicles direct to Afghanistan. Since then, I have moved on to my next role where I am currently overseeing the trials and commissioning of Corvette-class warships.
There are very few industries where you can live and breathe the same environment as the people you serve, whilst working in some of the most cutting-edge and complex ‘system of systems’ environments. The credibility of working in such an open partnership was a massive draw for me, as was the flexibility to move around different areas of the business.
If you are ambitious and looking to push yourself, this is a great place to be. I am incredibly proud to be able to tell people I studied at Loughborough – it has been the spring board to my success.
If you want to find out more about opportunities with BAE Systems go to http://baesystems.com/graduates/