Pros
BAE Systems SMS (Formerly Ball Aerospace) has a great culture. Everyone owns their roles and trusts others to do the same. Leads are actually helpful and don't last long when they become a problem. Everyone works hard and we produce amazing results. Expectations are high for everyone and there is very little dead weight. If you work here, you can take on roles that other companies would not consider you for because you lack the job title. As a level 3 engineer, you can own a spacecraft. As a technician with no college degree and 5 years of experience, you can own a manufacturing shop. This company will present you with challenging opportunities and if you raise your hand to take them on, you are not likely to be turned down.
Cons
The total compensation is lacking. Employees here could go to any other firm in the area and get a 15-30% raise. There are no additional bonuses that improve the salary. Other benefits (Insurance/401k) are average at best leading the total compensation to be severely behind the curve for the Denver Metro Area. This has always been the case to some extent for the company that used to be Ball Aerospace, but they had a pension, they had good benefits, and they weren't too far behind the curve. Lately they have fallen FAR behind the curve and don't appear to have any intention to catch up. Unfortunately this is also causing a mass exodus of employees who are getting outrageous raises to leave. The company is losing employees faster than it can hire. If you do work here, you're taking on a massive workload due to the under-staffed programs. You might think that you could get management to pay you some overtime to get all your work done. You'd be right about that, after you donate 5 hours first. That's right. This company expects you to donate 5 hours of your time before they'll pay you overtime (If they approve it). They are also getting rid of banked time, so that extra hour you'll work at the end of week two of the pay period to meet a deadline will be donated to the multi-billion dollar company regardless of if you're approved for overtime.