Meet Senior Software Engineer Marianne:

At the core of the next missile revolution

When Marianne joined Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KONGSBERG) as an industrial master’s degree student 13 years ago, she had no idea she would one day lead the software development for the next generation of missiles. The Supersonic Strike Missile (3SM) takes missile technology to a new level – designed to fly faster and further than anything KONGSBERG has built before. At the centre of it all is Marianne.

  • Text:Anita Nyheim / KONGSBERG

    Photo:Magnus Bjørnnes / KONGSBERG

“We’re building the missile of the future from scratch. It’s unique to be part of something like this,” she says.

A hands-on path into high-tech development

After completing her bachelor’s degree in software engineering at the University of South-Eastern Norway, Marianne joined KONGSBERG’s industrial master’s degree programme – a scheme that lets students combine full-time studies with relevant work experience, bridging theory and practice.

She began as a software developer on submarine and torpedo systems – a start she describes as a dream come true.

“It was an amazing start – imagine being freshly graduated and getting to work on something that exciting. I was given real trust and responsibility from the very beginning, she recalls.

After finishing the master’s programme, she moved into software Quality Assurance within land systems – helping to build quality into both code and processes, from reliability and safety to documentation and maintainability.

She also kept her hands on the keyboard, coding for the Remote Weapon Station (RWS) system – and even joined the team at the Hengsvann firing range to test it in action. 

“I enjoyed continuing to code, but I also wanted to understand the bigger picture – why we do things the way we do, and what requirements we have to meet.”

In the defence sector, those requirements are extensive.

“The standards for quality, reliability and safety are far stricter than in most software development. Every line of code can be critical, and everything must be documented.”

The systems use both Java and C++, but Marianne prefers the latter:

“With C++, you’re in charge of everything – every choice, every detail. That’s what I love about it.”

Software flying at supersonic speed

Since 2017, Marianne has been part of KONGSBERG’s Missile Division, and for the past two years she has led the software project for one of the company’s most innovative developments: the Supersonic Strike Missile (3SM). With greater range and speed than today’s systems, it builds on the company’s extensive experience from the Joint Strike Missile (JSM) and Naval Strike Missile (NSM) – both world-leading in their class.

The 3SM complements existing systems and meets new operational needs. Designed for future security challenges, it combines long range, supersonic speed and high precision – both at sea and on land.

“The competence we have here is truly unique. We already know how to develop world-class missile software – now it’s about carrying that knowledge into the future,” says Marianne, adding with a smile that her team likes to say their software has never flown this fast before.

Development of the 3SM will span about a decade, with the first live test firings planned in two to three years. Her team is now defining how the missile software of the future will be built.

“We’re right at the beginning. There are no fixed rules yet – we’re throwing all the cards in the air and keeping the best ones. This is our opportunity to leave behind old ways of working and build something new: new technologies, new programming languages, and a product designed to last far into the future.”

The software her team develops is the brain of the system.

“Without software, the missile can’t navigate, make decisions or complete its mission.”

They work across the entire software stack while establishing a modern development environment with tools that enable continuous development, testing and deployment. Software architecture is modelled in SysML and UML, and artificial intelligence will help streamline development, testing and quality assurance.

“We can select the best tools and methodologies to build a framework that makes us more agile and innovative.”

Close to the technology – and to the people

After 13 years at KONGSBERG, Marianne has held many roles – developer, quality assurance, and now project manager for a truly exciting development programme. She’s worked across several divisions, gaining a wide network of colleagues she values highly.

“Many of my colleagues have been here for years – and I can see why. It’s a highly skilled, inclusive environment with plenty of social activities, and you quickly feel part of the team.”

What motivates her most is creating something new and complex together with talented colleagues. She values the breadth of her work and the close collaboration across disciplines – where software and electronics engineers work side by side in the lab and can instantly verify the results of their code.

“What makes this job so exciting is that you’re close to the system and can see how everything fits together. You have influence – you help shape both the tasks and the solutions.”

For Marianne, the job also carries a broader sense of purpose.

“I know people have different views on defence, but for me it’s meaningful to contribute. Given the situation in the world today, the need for robust defence capability is evident – and I’m proud to be part of it.”

Meet the people behind the technology

At Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, it’s people – their experience, collaboration and dedication – that make our technology possible. Want to know what it’s really like to work as a software engineer here? Meet some of the colleagues who are already shaping the technology of tomorrow: