What's your job about?
Saab Australia is an engineering company that typically provides software that integrates products for defence, civil and security projects. However, Saab has grown in to various other engineering disciplines outside of the software world. For example, I have worked in our Underwater Systems team doing mechanical design for the Swedish A26 submarine program as well as systems engineering for the Land group with the JP2060 Deployable Health Capability program.
I have now rotated into Saab’s Modelling and Analysis team and I am working on creating a physics simulator using Python. The idea is to be capable of modelling different scenarios and environments to determine the performance of different systems, for example Uninhabited Surface Vehicles. Many of the projects the Modelling and Analysis teams work on are used to validate the performance of algorithms and systems in different scenarios, including 9LV’s performance on the ANZAC class ships. The generally involves modelling the subsystems and their interactions and then analyse the results of the simulations, hence the name of the team! In this team, I use lots of the physics and maths that I learned during high school and university to make sure the models accurately represents reality.
What's your background?
I grew up in Adelaide and have always had an interest in mathematics and physics. My casual interest in the aerospace industry led me to study Mechanical Engineering where I also ended up completing a double degree with Physics. This combination set me up with a broad foundation for multi-disciplinary roles across mechanical engineering, systems engineering, and now software engineering.
During my studies at university, I was part of Saab’s Internship Program with the Modelling and Analysis team. This was a fantastic opportunity to work on an interesting software project using neural networks. While the project was software based, most of the problem solving relied on my mechanical engineering background. The Internship then led to me joining the Graduate Program. I have now seen my Internship project be developed further by other people and it is now making its way into Saab’s 9LV product.
I have only just come back to the Modelling and Analysis team after spending last year in the Saab’s Underwater team. The Graduate rotations have given me a great perspective on different areas of the company, and have allowed me to develop my engineering skills in different domains.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Yes, but within reason! Currently the Modelling and Analysis team has people with all sorts of engineering and science backgrounds. Foundational to all these people are their keen ability to learn new things, because no single person is an expert in everything. I think having some sort of physics-based background, such as an engineering or science degree, is helpful in thinking about the problems we are solving.
Being on a team with people from different backgrounds is incredibly useful as everyone brings their own unique perspective. For example, someone with a software background will have interesting thoughts on implementing algorithms efficiently, someone with an aerospace background will have insight on aerodynamic subsystem modelling, and someone with a statistics background will good at accurately analysing data. At the end of the day, we all do a bit of everything but knowing there are experts to turn to is reassuring.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
Personally, I have found it great to experience a wide variety of engineering disciplines throughout my rotations. It has given me an understanding of what different people are really working on within Saab, rather than being siloed off in my own little corner. Specifically, it has been cool learning about everything from submarines to hospitals to which coffee machine in the café has the strongest espresso shot. It is also really cool seeing my little intern project being picked up and developed into a full-fledged product that will be used.
What are the limitations of your job?
Due to the complex and novel nature of lots of problems, you will often be the person with the deepest understanding and therefore have limited help from others. On one hand, this can be frustrating because it would be nice to just ask someone how to solve an issue. But on the other hand, you develop expertise and a sense of ownership over the problem. It pushes you to learn more independently and to have confidence in your own problem-solving skills.
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...
Some advice for myself as a student: