Saab in Östersund is looking for the engineers of the future

Imagine a job where you get to develop equipment for advanced fighter aircraft and work at the absolute forefront of technology – in the middle of Östersund. For many students at Mid Sweden University, this is already a reality. Saab is one of the region's most expansive employers, and they are happy to recruit directly from the university's engineering programmes.

"The people we hire should be a bit like a Swiss army knife – versatile, curious and ready to solve problems. You don't have to be the best at everything, but you should have a lot of tools in your toolbox," says Peder Engström, section manager at Saab Aeronautics in Östersund.

Right now, Saab employs around 250 people in Östersund – and the need is increasing. Saab has the Swedish Armed Forces as its largest customer, and the security situation in the world has meant that the company is growing rapidly.

Sports technology – an unexpected but perfect match

Many of Saab's new employees have studied sports technology at Mid Sweden University, an education that combines mechanical engineering, construction and design.

"It may not be sports equipment we manufacture, but the students from Sports Technology are very good. They are used to thinking creatively, working on projects and developing new solutions," says Peder.

In addition, he appreciates that many of them have an active interest in the outdoors.
"They come in with many soft values that are valuable to us as an employer. They are interested in outdoor life and moving, and that is good for the entire workplace.

Time to think about the future

Saab plans to continue to grow – and is looking for more engineers. For those of you who study technology in Östersund, there may be an exciting future close at hand.

"It is a great advantage for us that Mid Sweden University is located here. This is where our future engineers are born," says Peder Engström.