Matt's path from graduate to Software Engineer
Matt joined Saab through the 2022 Graduate Program and after completing the two year rotation, he was promoted to Software Engineer in the Space division.
Two things grabbed Matthew’s interest as a kid – sports and technology.
"Growing up, I moved around a lot," Matthew explains. "Sports were my constant, a way to connect with others and build friendships. I also wanted to become a pilot, but that dream quickly morphed into building aeroplanes and then evolved into building my own “Iron Man” suit.”
This ambition to create and think on a technical level led him to pursue a Bachelor of Mechatronics and a Bachelor of Mathematical and Computer Sciences at the University of Adelaide, where he veered more into software development.
When it came time to launch his career, Matthew knew he wanted more than just a job – he was looking for an environment that nurtured innovation, fostered collaboration, and offered opportunities for growth.
He applied to the Saab Graduate Program in 2022, hoping to find a place where he could not only contribute his skills but also thrive personally.
"I was drawn to Saab's reputation for having a welcoming and friendly culture," Matthew recalls. "I had applied for grad positions at a few defence companies in software engineering and also mechanical engineering but everyone I spoke to that had worked at Saab or was still there emphasised the supportive atmosphere within the business. They also spoke of the opportunity to connect with colleagues through sports and social activities which was a huge plus."
Upon being offered a position within the Saab Graduate Program, he embarked on a journey of discovery, rotating through three diverse eight-month placements.
His first stop was the Modelling and Analysis team within Naval Combat Systems, a research and development hub where he was encouraged to experiment, be creative, and push the boundaries of technical innovation.
Next, he joined the Software team in 9LV, working on the front-end Human-to-Machine interface for the Phased Array Radar system used on Anzac class ships.
Finally, he landed in the Space team, where he now holds a permanent position as a Software Engineer.
“I’ve got a very multi-faceted role that sees me doing a mix of creative work, problem solving, systems engineering and front and back end development.” Matthew shares enthusiastically. "I'm part of a team developing solutions for space domain awareness, essentially building systems that provide situational awareness and command and control capabilities for space operations.”
Beyond the technical challenges, Matthew has embraced the social aspects of Saab life. He's an active member of the Saab Sports Club, something he enjoys being part of to keep fit and meet other people from across the business.
“Being involved in the Saab Sports Club has been a fantastic way to continue building friendships like when I was a kid."
He's also involved in the Early Careers Committee where he’s highly involved in fostering a welcoming and supportive environment for new graduates and promoting STEM careers to high school and university students.
“The Saab Graduate program hasn’t been just about acquiring technical skills; it’s also helped me build leadership qualities and business skills related to communication, team work and negotiation.”
“The same things that attracted me to Saab keep me here. There are interesting problems to solve, room to grow professionally and great people to work with. And wrapped around that is a culture that facilitates different ways to meet different people all the time.”
Interested in learning more about our Early Careers program? Find out more about Saab Australia's Graduate Program or search open Graduate roles by clicking the button below!