Lisa is drawn to problems that seem impossible to solve
Lisa is product owner for radar warners. Her team builds a small but critical part of the software inside the Gripen. She started as a Scrum Master and moved into the product owner role quickly. Our planning horizon now reaches 10 years into the future. Still, the data from a single flight test can rewrite her whole day before it has properly started. That's the rhythm of the job, and Lisa likes it.
Title: Product owner, radar warners | Location: Solna | Time at Saab: 2 years
She found her way to Saab two years ago. It all started at her sister's birthday party. A friend mentioned that they were looking for people in IT at Saab and that there were too few women in IT. The job ad was vague, since there's not much you're allowed to say about the work here. She applied anyway, got the job, and has been thriving ever since.
What keeps her at Saab are the people. Having worked in numerous places, she knows that the people always matter the most.
"I am capable of tackling a wide range of tasks, provided that I am part of a motivated team with whom I enjoy working and we maintain a positive and engaging atmosphere."
Before she joined Saab, Lisa pictured the company as stiff and slow. She was wrong. The culture here is kind and helpful, a place where people speak their minds openly. When something goes wrong, no one hunts for someone to blame; instead, everyone is focused on solving the problem together, regardless of who you are. People here take on the most difficult problems. Unlike other work environments I've experienced, Saab is a place where people see only possibilities, and 'impossible' is a word that is never used.
Lisa wants to know what happens when the systems reach the people who actually use them. So she brought in a pilot to meet her teams. He had tested the system in their test environment and walked them through how he thinks in different situations. She has also been part of flight tests, listening to the pilot in the air and sitting in on the debrief afterwards. In an industry where you can't talk about your work, that kind of access can be hard to arrange.
"I like that we bring the real world into development, so the team developing a feature understands where their work ends up."
For Lisa, the best part of the job is making someone's day-to-day a little easier. She's doing two leadership programs this year, and she's seen that you can switch roles, teams or locations when your life changes. Saab is the kind of place that asks what you want to do next.
Lisa on...
What makes the work feel meaningful?
At Saab we get to build fighter jets and submarines. I think it's amazing that a small country like Sweden develops these, and that they're among the best in the world. My kids think their mom has the coolest job. And we get to do this for Sweden. That's pretty cool.
What surprised you most when you started?
People here are knowledgeable and helpful, and everyone wants to solve the same problem.
At Saab, I have found the people to be knowledgeable and eager to assist. There is a strong collective focus on addressing and resolving the same challenges, which fosters a collaborative and innovative work environment. Regardless of your role, you can pick up the phone and call almost anyone to help make even the most difficult tasks happen.
What would you tell someone thinking about applying?
If you love working with a team to tackle complex problems, get a kick out of tackling tough questions, and enjoy diving into intricate, stimulating tasks, then you'll fit right in here at Saab. We've got a great environment where your skills and enthusiasm will shine, and you'll find the work both challenging and rewarding. If that sounds like you, I'd definitely encourage you to apply!