Meet Åse:

Never Gets Tired of Being an Electronics Engineer at KONGSBERG

“There is an enormous range within the company and a wide variety of responsibilities. Those who start here usually stay for a long time,” says one of the experienced technical managers at KONGSBERG. 

  • Text:Einar Karlsen, Elektronikk

    Photo:Helene Bergset, KONGSBERG

The many opportunities within KONGSBERG are part of what makes the company an attractive place to work, according to project engineer Åse, who has built up extensive experience within the organisation. Today she works in technical project management as a work package manager for a hardware development product group. Åse works in a division that develops products for air defence, coastal defence, turret systems, and both surface and underwater vessels. 

Product Development 

“We carry out product development within the division, which includes everything from FPGA programming to high-voltage circuits,” she says. “We develop most things in-house, including circuit boards and cable designs.” 

Strict Requirements 

“Because we are working with defence products and products for demanding civilian applications, there are many safety and security requirements in development to ensure users can operate our systems safely — even under extreme pressure. We follow military standards that impose rigorous testing and qualification requirements. That is absolutely essential, since the products we develop must perform reliably in the most critical situations.” 

Maintaining Control in Challenging Times 

Like other electronics manufacturers, KONGSBERG has had to deal with challenges related to component shortages and long lead times. 

“Part of my role is monitoring lead times and identifying alternative components where necessary. Maintaining close contact with distributors and suppliers is essential, and in this way, we have managed to keep reasonably good control of the situation,” Åse explains.

Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration 

Naturally, development work spans many disciplines and requires close collaboration across teams. 

It is a large company with a great deal of diverse and important expertise — from skilled technicians to PhD engineers. Everyone is equally important.

Strong Focus on Recruitment 

Training and professional development at all levels are therefore central to the organisation. Recruitment is also a key priority. Åse has been involved in recruitment initiatives for KONGSBERG, including hosting a YouTube video series. 

“It is important to bring in qualified people — especially now in the electronics department,” she says. 

Since her student days, Åse has been committed to encouraging more women to enter the technology sector. She believes the industry is both ready for — and in great need of — more women contributing to technological development. 

“In the department where I work, women make up nearly 30 per cent of the team. That is very high compared with the national average within electrical engineering,” she notes, adding that the industry may need to make itself more visible. 

Become an Electronics Engineer!

Åse is currently supervising a group of bachelor’s degree students and recommends that other engineers and companies in the industry do the same. So, what should we say to young people considering electronics as a field of study?

It is the most exciting profession there is! If you know someone who is considering electronics, tell them to go for it. There is so much you can work with in electronics that it is almost impossible to become bored.

Meaningful Work 

Many of the products developed at KONGSBERG are subject to strict security regulations, so there is a limit to what can be shared publicly. Increased security requirements mean that the public does not gain as much insight into the development of new systems as they might have done 20–30 years ago. 

Nevertheless, Åse emphasises that the work is highly rewarding: 

“For me, this job provides a strong sense of purpose — especially when we see the real-world difference our systems make for those who rely on them,” she says. “It makes an impression to see the impact they have on the ground in Ukraine. It gives me pride and a strong sense of ownership, and it adds an extra dimension to product development. You contribute more when you know you are part of the overall defence preparedness of Norway and our allies.”