From maritime enthusiast to submarine designer: Anna's career story
How long have you been working at Kockums, and what do you do?
I’ve been here for a little over two years - about two years and two months now. I work as a designer, specifically on submarines. My job is to develop components for production, so I get to be involved in both the design and engineering aspects.
What made you apply for the job?
I’ve always loved the ocean and anything maritime, so when I came across the job listing and saw the title Submarine Designer, I thought, "Wow, this sounds incredible!" It felt like such a unique opportunity, and I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t apply.
What was your background before joining Kockums? Did you come from another job or straight from studying?
Before this, I worked in the electricity network industry. I had recently graduated from Luleå, where I studied Sustainable Energy Engineering. I wanted a change of scenery, so I started looking for jobs in Skåne, and then this opportunity came up!
How would you describe the company culture at Kockums?
It’s super welcoming. Even before I officially started, my manager invited me to after-work events to meet the team, which was great. Since the work is quite complex, it takes time to settle in, but no one ever makes you feel like a burden. Everyone is really supportive and open to helping each other.
What’s the most enjoyable part of your job?
I love the creative side of it. As an engineer, I expected the work to be very structured, but there’s actually a lot of room for creativity within certain boundaries. I also love seeing the things I design come to life in production - that’s a really rewarding feeling.
Do you get to see the real products?
Yes! The submarines are built in Karlskrona, so we travel there regularly - I’m actually going this week! It’s amazing to see the real thing take shape after working on the design for so long. We have a close connection with the production team, so we get to follow the entire process.
How long does it take from the initial design phase until a submarine is completed?
A long time! About 10 years is a common time for a submarine project. There are so many safety, quality and technical reviews along the way, so it’s a slow but very thorough process.
Have you had a moment where you felt especially proud to work at Kockums?
Yes, definitely! One big moment was during a family day when we were allowed to invite relatives to see a bit of what we do. My mom came, and we got to look inside parts of the shipyard. It’s usually such a secretive environment, so getting to share even a small glimpse of it with her was really special.
Kockums is known for having a strong learning culture. How does this show up in your daily work?
There’s a huge focus on teamwork and knowledge-sharing. Everyone is happy to help each other out, which is really important since the work is so complex. There are also a lot of internal courses where we learn about submarine history, past incidents, and best practices - it all ties into how we work today.
The company's mission is "Keeping People and Society Safe." How do you see that reflected in your work?
For me, the biggest focus is on safety for the submarine crews. The conditions they work in are extreme - high pressure, potential threats - so everything we design has to be incredibly safe and reliable. You also realize how important submarines are when you hear about things like sabotage on undersea cables. It really puts things into perspective.
Can you give an example of when teamwork worked exceptionally well at Kockums?
Teamwork is a huge part of our culture. Everyone knows that if one piece of the puzzle doesn’t fit, the whole project suffers. One thing I really like is that we don’t just focus on the big, long-term goal of finishing the submarine - we also celebrate smaller milestones along the way. Whether it’s with cake, a team dinner, or just a quick recognition, it helps keep motivation high during such a long process.
If someone with a similar background as you were looking for a job, why should they apply to Kockums?
Because we make some of the coolest products out there! The technology is cutting-edge, and in today’s world, these products are more important than ever. And honestly - it’s just super fun. Simple as that!