Discover Samuel Wågbrant's journey from curious MDU student to skilled developer at Westermo. A journey showing the importance of following your passion, seizing opportunities, and building a strong professional network.

Samuel Wågbrant started his academic journey at Mälardalen University (MDU) with a bachelor’s degree in network engineering. His interest in the program was sparked by the things we take for granted every day such as computers, phones, and the internet. The Network Engineering program gave him insight into data communication and how computers and devices interact.

After completing his bachelor’s degree in Networking Engineering, Samuel pursued a master’s degree in Intelligent Embedded Systems at MDU. His interest in this advanced program began during his undergraduate studies.

He explains, "My interest in Intelligent Embedded Systems started during my undergraduate studies where courses on programming embedded systems were part of the program. These courses caught my attention and inspired me to apply for the master’s program at MDU."

His first connection with Westermo came through a fellow student from MDU who worked in the Technical Support department at Westermo.

"When Westermo needed extra help during the summer, my friend recommended me. This led to an interview and eventually a summer job two years in a row, which later turned into a permanent position," Samuel recalls.

During his two summers at Westermo, Samuel worked in the Technical Support department. His role involved assisting Westermo’s sales offices and distributors around the world with technical support.

Reflecting on the experience, he says "The tasks ranged from troubleshooting large network topologies to diagnosing issues at the protocol level. This challenging yet rewarding job allowed me to tackle real-world problems faced by customers."

Today, Samuel works as a software developer at Westermo. He focuses on maintaining and developing features and functionalities for the software running on Westermo's network switches.

"This role brings together my two educational backgrounds perfectly, allowing me to work with embedded systems that manage network and data communication. The best of both worlds if you ask me." he says.

Samuel's advice to current students seeking summer jobs or other opportunities is to network actively. Whether it's connecting with company representatives at fairs or events like Högvarv at MDU, or building relationships with classmates, these connections can be invaluable.

"You never know, your current classmate may become your future colleague or employer," he says.