Jacob is at his best close to production
Jacob Gästrin is not one for sitting still. One day he’s building electronics in the lab. The next, he’s out on the production floor troubleshooting a test rig that’s gone down. The day after that, he’s writing software code. No two days are alike, and that’s exactly how he likes it.
Title: Test Systems Developer | Location: Gothenburg | Time at Saab: approx. 2 years
As a test systems developer at Saab in Gothenburg, Jacob’s job is to make sure that what’s produced actually works as it should: electrically, digitally and under pressure. He works with the test rigs, the advanced machines used to verify that Saab’s systems measure up before they’re delivered.
"You learn best by getting things wrong, and here you’re allowed to get things wrong and have another go. Nobody puts you down for it."
Jacob found his way to Saab through Chalmers, where Saab has a large and active presence. He applied a year after the war in Ukraine broke out, when Saab was growing fast and looking for new talent. What drew him in was the combination of software and hardware. Not just sitting and simulating, but actually being out there measuring by hand, tinkering with electronics and understanding the systems in depth. What surprised him most when he started was how unpretentious it all was. He might have expected a formal, hierarchical defence company. Instead, he was met by openness and a culture where it’s okay not to know everything from the start.
"I suppose I expected it to be more hierarchical. But it's very open. You can always ask for help, and there's always someone who'll take the time."
Today, Jacob is also an ambassador for Saab at student fairs. He’s noticed that something has changed. Students now know what Saab in Gothenburg actually does. Not Gripen, not cars, but radar systems and sensors. It’s a change he welcomes, and one of the reasons he’s happy to talk about his job.
"It matters that people get to feel safe, which is what we like to say we do. You can see clearly what the world looks like right now. It makes a difference."
Jacob on…
A really good day at work?
When I get to sit in the lab building electronics, testing my way forward and integrating soft test programs with the hardware and all the measuring instruments we use. Those are the days I really feel I’m doing what I’m here for.
What do you wish you’d known before you started?
That you learn best by getting things wrong, and that it’s okay here. You get the chance to put it right again. That’s a freedom that makes a big difference when you’re new.
Best tip for someone thinking about applying?
Come and have a look. It’s hard to explain in words what it’s like working close to production. See it with your own eyes and you’ll understand straight away why people stay.