Three women, three journeys: Shaping innovation at Saab UK

This year, we’re highlighting three women – Muhsina, Sophie, and Lucy – whose careers span engineering, radar production, and commercial leadership. Their paths are distinct, but they share a commitment to learning, resilience, and shaping meaningful change across Saab UK.

Muhsina: Turning ideas into hardware

As an Electronics and Avionics Engineer at BlueBear – A Saab Company, Muhsina spends her days transforming concepts into the hardware that powers uncrewed systems. Her work spans Printed Circuit Board design, schematic reviews, layout optimisation, avionics integration, and close coordination with manufacturing teams. It’s hands‑on, detail‑driven work – and for her, deeply rewarding. Nothing compares to seeing a board she designed move from a digital layout to a physical product and eventually take flight as part of an Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle.  

Electronics has always been her passion. After graduating in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, joining BlueBear straight from university felt like the natural next step. 

For Muhsina, innovation means continuous improvement: preventing overheating, avoiding short circuits, enhancing reliability, and staying ahead of emerging technology. It’s about making every system safer and more dependable than the last.

Her message to future female engineers is simple: “Tech is not about gender. No one can stop you if you have the skills.”

Sophie: Leading with purpose

Sophie’s career began in the Royal Logistics Corps, where she spent eight years as a Communication Specialist. Leaving the Army was one of her biggest challenges – not because she doubted her abilities, but because adjusting to civilian life required rebuilding confidence in a completely new environment. Still, she never questioned whether she belonged in this industry.

When she joined Saab UK, her leadership potential was instantly recognised. She became a Team Leader within just three months, guiding the production of radar systems built from the ground up. She’s quick to correct the misconception that testing happens once and the product is done – the work is detailed, iterative, and full of troubleshooting.

Sophie brings a philosophy shaped by her military experience: “You either win or you learn – you never fail.” It’s an approach she encourages her team to adopt, helping them turn setbacks into growth.

For her, the greatest reward is developing people – building their confidence, supporting their progress, and watching them thrive in roles they never imagined for themselves.

Lucy: A career of bold transitions

Lucy’s career has followed an unconventional path – from practising family law, to serving 14 years in the Royal Navy as an air traffic controller, to now leading as Head of Commercial for Saab Seaeye. Each step has been driven by curiosity, opportunity, and a willingness to push herself beyond what felt comfortable. 

She has never questioned whether she belongs in this industry, though recognition hasn’t always come easily. In male‑dominated environments, she has experienced moments where her ideas gained traction only when repeated by others. But rather than diminish her confidence, those moments strengthened her resolve to speak with clarity and conviction.

Lucy sees innovation as the product of diverse thinking – drawing on people’s varied experiences to find smarter, more effective ways of working. She’s also keen to challenge the misconception that commercial roles ‘block’ progress. For her, commercial work is about enabling value, shaping strong propositions, and ensuring delivery meets customer expectations.

Reflective and analytical, she views mistakes as opportunities to grow. “Success is doing a job I enjoy and doing it well – and pushing myself to try new things, even when they feel uncomfortable.” 

Bringing their stories together

Across their different careers, Muhsina, Sophie, and Lucy share a commitment to problem‑solving, continuous learning, and speaking up with confidence. Their experiences show that innovation is built through curiosity, resilience, and supporting the people around you.

As we mark International Women’s Day, we celebrate their contributions – and the impact of all women across Saab UK who drive progress, shape ideas, and help build a more inclusive future.