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Vehicle Manufacturer Creates Meaningful Careers
Updated: July 4, 2025, 08:25 Published: June 24, 2025, 10:00
Örnsköldsvik is buzzing as Europe’s defense industry prepares for the future. Vehicle developer BAE Systems Hägglunds has grown significantly to meet demand from existing and new customers.
“The job has always felt important, but the current global situation makes it more motivating than ever,” says Section Manager Mattias Nord.
The Swedish defense industry has seen strong growth in turnover and employment since 2022. Much points to a continued positive trend in 2025 and stability at the new, higher level for the foreseeable future*. One of the companies behind the positive figures is BAE Systems Hägglunds, which manufactures high-tech military tracked vehicles. The company is growing at a rapid pace and currently employs 2,300 people.
“My section within Engineering has grown from 80 to 250 employees in recent years. There is life and movement in the business, and the feeling that we are doing important things is noticeable among our employees,” says Mattias Nord, Section Manager for Mechanical Design at BAE Systems Hägglunds.
Good Opportunities for Internal Career Development
At BAE Systems Hägglunds, there are around 300 different positions and a range of career paths. Mattias Nord started in 2006 as a newly graduated mechanical engineer, in the role of designer. From there, he has climbed the organization, via team leader assignments and project management positions to his current role.
“If you have drive and will, there are great opportunities to develop, whether you choose to immerse yourself in the technology and become a specialist or go the leadership route. The company encourages everyone to try different roles and areas,” says Mattias Nord.
She Chose the Project Management Path
Sara Lindberg has also taken advantage of this opportunity. She has held many types of project management roles, in everything from technology and finance to purchasing and further to project manager for a delivery program.
“As a project manager, you function as a point of contact with the customer, while at the same time you have to motivate a large number of people to move in the same direction and think it is stimulating despite the rather complicated issues we handle. It is up to me to paint a picture of the goal that everyone can grasp,” says Sara Lindberg.
Quality of Life in Örnsköldsvik
It was not actually the job that took her to Örnsköldsvik 20 years ago, but the city. The young family was tired of commuting and was looking for a place to settle down.
“Örnsköldsvik is a moderately sized city where everything is close. The association life is large and vibrant, and here you will find attractive housing both centrally, near the forest or the sea for a completely different price than in the big city,” says Sara Lindberg.
The countryside outside the central town is also vibrant. And jobs can be found at Hägglunds.
“For a period, I chose to move around and explore working life outside Hägglunds, but I chose to come back. I came to the conclusion that I can stay in the same workplace and still develop, because the company, our products and our clientele are constantly evolving,” says Sara Lindberg.
*Source: Industry statistics from SOFF (Security and Defence Companies).
The article is produced in collaboration with BAE Systems Hägglunds.
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