National Engineering Day 2024

At Saab UK, we bring together the best of Swedish and British engineering across a range of business units like Underwater Systems, BlueBear, and Sensor Systems. We are proud of all of the incredible engineers that work for us, delivering world-leading solutions through technological excellence. This year, we are highlighting these engineers and asking them who inspires them – meet Dan, Hannah, Ollie, and Todor.

What is your job title and department?

Dan: Systems Engineer (SR20), Seaeye

Hannah: Electrical Equipment Assembler, Sensor Systems

Todor: Graduate UAV Engineer, Bluebear - A Saab Company

Ollie: Head of Engineering, BlueBear – A Saab Company

What did your path into engineering look like?

Dan: I was interested in design and technology from young age, and found I was more comfortable with STEM subjects at school. I had decided to pursue engineering from about the age of 15, and I studied Mechanical Engineering at university. I have found through my career that, if you’re keen to learn, there’s always opportunity to get involved in areas even if they’re outside of your formal training.

Hannah: From a young age I enjoyed building things (and taking things apart too!). By the time I hit secondary school, I knew I wanted to be an engineer of some kind, so when a Greenpower Racing after-school club started in my first year, I took the chance. I was then accepted into a Level 3 Extended Diploma BTEC course in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. After 2 years, I was accepted into an Apprenticeship and a Level 4 HNC BTEC Course.

Ollie: Whilst trying to decide what to study at university, I saw a TV show about the aeronautical design department of Southampton University. I had been involved with model aviation from a very young age, and the course seemed like a perfect fit, and I managed to get a place at Salford University. After my second year, I was lucky to get a year-long placement with BlueBear in 2012. I was happy to join them full time again in 2016 as a Mechanical Design Engineer.

Todor: From a young age, before I chose to study engineering at university, I was always interested in science and in how things worked.  My journey in engineering really took flight when I enrolled at Coventry University, where I did my bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Systems Engineering.

Watch Dan's latest video about the Seaeye SR20's landmark water trials:

What do you enjoy about being an engineer at Saab?

Dan: We’re working on a cutting edge piece of kit, and there’s a huge amount of varied work to get involved in. One day I could spend completing 3D mechanical design and printing an urgently needed component, the next day could be testing software functionality on our ROV simulator. My favourite activity to date was our physical in-water tests of the SR20. This test was a complex operation with serious pieces of equipment, and we got to see what it can really do!

Hannah:  I enjoy being at Sensor Systems as the work varies, so I am not only on one product all the time. The amount of support you get from your colleagues is amazing here, and you can always find someone to answer a question if you get stuck on a job. I also like that we are part of a company that is to keep people safe and helps people.

Ollie: There is always a new challenge to be solved at BlueBear. No day is ever the same, and you never know what is going to come around the corner next. Drones are incredibly complex systems and require a huge amount of cross disciplinary knowledge to pull together. There’s always something new to learn, and luckily at BlueBear, there’s lots of smart people to learn from.

Todor: I enjoy the diversity of the projects as each one has individual challenges which involve lots of innovative ways to be successful. The range of people within the engineering and operations teams I work with provides for a great environment for ingenuity and problem solving. Teamwork is key to success!

Who inspired you to be who you are today?

Dan: I was initially inspired by innovative designers like James Dyson and his Vacuum cleaners, and Gordon Murray with the McLaren F1. However, as I‘ve gained experience I draw greater inspiration from the numerous colleagues I have worked with who bring their own specific skills to a team.

Hannah: My parents are the main source of inspiration as they instilled good values, drive, and independence from a young age. When I was in college, my mum and dad did not fully understand what I was taking about, as it was not in their fields of expertise, but listened enthusiastically and offered their feedback.

Ollie: I’ve had many mentors throughout my life and my career including friends, family, and colleagues. Notably, Guido Monterzino, our previous Head of Engineering, taught me much about understanding teams and individuals allowing them to be managed in a considered way.

Todor: I was inspired by my father, who was a Propulsion Engineer in the Bulgarian Air Force. He used to take me to aviation shows to see jet fighters flying when I was younger. These experiences were key to my passion for aviation and engineering.

What advice would you give to any aspiring engineers?

Dan: Be hungry to learn, both academically and about any products or projects you’re involved with. I found one of the best ways to develop your competency is to want to know everything you can about the subjects, products or processes you working on.

Hannah: Coming into this industry is not easy, but with the right mindset and keenness to learn you will thrive in an intriguing environment that is always changing. Most importantly, do what YOU want to do, not what others want you to do; if it makes you happy and you enjoy it then it won’t feel like work.

Ollie: Find something that you enjoy learning about and being involved in. You’ve got to be passionate about what you do, and what you create. Taking the time to explore as many different engineering areas as possible is key to this, so try and put yourself in a situation that allows that.

Todor: Follow your passion and learn from every task to broaden your knowledge.