The engineers who make Norway safer

NITO union representative Thomas Evensen gives us an insight into an everyday life where engineers tie complex systems together, meet strict frameworks and deal with new ethical issues.

In the meeting room of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, one of the few places that does not require security clearance, we meet Evensen.

Here he talks about the situation the engineers and technologists in KDA find themselves in every day. Whether it's product development and testing, deliveries or support functions. They have a requirement to deliver safely and quickly, while regulations, safety and ethics must be in place.

"Since Norway is supplying weapons systems to Ukraine, it has affected our employees and members. Many difficult decisions have to be made in several areas. It has also challenged us in production, because here it is important to deliver quickly," he says.

"This means that we have to comply with national and international laws. We see cyber threats in particular as relevant, and we have invested considerable resources to protect both the computer network and our systems," says Evensen.

Evensen points out that engineers develop and operate systems that will protect Norway's territory: from sensors and weapon systems to communication, command systems and platforms in space.

At the same time, they see an ever-changing working day.

"Cyber risk characterizes both design, testing and operation. The key is targeted work on security throughout the life cycle and interdisciplinary interaction with the Armed Forces and internal professional communities," he says.

KDA follows a comprehensive framework: the Security Act, the export regulations, the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency, the Storting's guidelines, NATO standards and internal ethical and security policy guidelines. This is happening in parallel with the engineering communities prioritising robustness in systems and processes.

"Cyber defence and the geopolitical situation we are in now mean that we have more rigid systems," he says.

 This makes test procedures more extensive and more difficult, because KDA also has to take these considerations into account when designing and making equipment.

Evensen emphasizes that discussions about ethics and autonomy in weapon systems are not new in the Kongsberg community.

 "The balance between human decisions and system requirements is a basic premise in development work. At the same time, the war in Ukraine has triggered new ethical questions and increased delivery pressure.

The role of union representative is also put to the test when projects are strictly graded and the world is uneasy with increased delivery pressure.

"It is special and at times challenging to be a union representative during this period. Many of the projects are strictly secret. You sit very alone and are not allowed to share so much. You have to take a lot of the responsibility for safeguarding the working environment for these members," he says.

Evensen describes innovation and an increased degree of autonomy in test and production systems as necessary measures to scale deliveries. The engineering job is central to streamlining and maintaining quality when the pace increases. He points to a clear need for staffing and the right expertise.

"There are simply not enough people to get hold of with the right expertise," he points out.

To meet the needs, KDA emphasizes, according to Evensen, an increased focus on supporting science initiatives, collaboration with schools and student courses such as summer jobs and project assignments.

Further education is also crucial if we are to be able to keep up with technological development and the transition towards more production. He also highlights the ability to use civilian technology in defence segments as a strength, to "stitch together" solutions for larger defence systems.

At the same time, he believes it is an exciting and rewarding time to work as an engineer:

"There are many new challenges all the time, rapid development and many complex processes that are needed to deliver the best products and services. Of course, it's exciting to be an engineer now," he concludes.