From experience comes future ambition
Born in Jordan, Sama was introduced to the Defence Forces as an early age.
As refugees of the Iraq War, Sama’s father was forced to leave his family and immigrate to Brisbane under refugee status. Seven years later, Sama, her brother and mother were able to join him in Australia.
Following in her brother’s footsteps, engineering was high on the agenda for Sama.
“My brother is in civil engineering, and although I liked the idea of it, civil wasn’t of interest to me. I had a fascination with computers and felt that working in that area could provide me the flexibility to travel anywhere in the world,” said Sama.
Studying at the Queensland University of Technology, Sama undertook a Bachelor of Engineering with a major in computer and software systems. And in her second year, she received the Naval Shipbuilding Scholarship.
Sama reflected, “Through that scholarship I completed an internship at the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) – a group designed to provide solutions that enhance capabilities for the Australian defence industry.”
After DTSG, Sama worked for BIA5, a company established to convert technology ideas into industry and first responder capability.
“I was the only Software Engineer on the team, the rest were electrical or mechanical engineers,” Sama explained. “We were responsible for creating a robot that could be tailored depending on the usage occasion. For Defence, the robot could carry payloads between locations. For mining it was able to access the mines in lieu of humans, and it could even fight fires with a tailor-made hose,” she continued.
Post-graduation, Sama decided to explore outside of Brisbane, and with two past experiences in Defence, she developed a desire to stay within the industry.
“I wanted to work in a big company, and most of these were establishing themselves in South Australia. It just felt like a great option for me,” Sama commented. “Adelaide is a fantastic city that allows me to have balance in life, but also have the time I want to really dedicate to my work,” she continued.
Now, Sama is a part of the Saab graduate program, working as a Software Engineer.
“Saab has strong values around making society feel safe. As someone who was born into a region that was not safe, where I looked to the Defence Forces to provide protection that we otherwise might not have had, I can very much relate with those values,” reflected Sama. “That’s why I wanted to be a part of the company, and I love every minute of it,” she added.
Over the two years of the graduate program, she will participate in eight-month rotations that allow graduates to explore a wide range of opportunities within the company. She is also working on the 9LV combat management system which Sama describes as being the “brain of most Australian Navy ships”.
When asked about any advice she would give to others looking to get into the defence industry, Sama said, “When you’re looking to break into the industry it can really feel daunting. But the scope of the industry is so vast that there are so many opportunities available for everyone. When you apply for a job in Defence, it’s not just about a job. You are building a career, something that provides opportunities well into the future.”
