Meet the future of energy: Johanna Grauers, Automation Engineer Specialist

What do you do at Northvolt?

As an Automation Engineer Specialist, I focus on finding the best automation solutions for the entire production line to ensure efficiency within our factories, which includes working with material flows and advanced robotics.

Together with key automation solution suppliers, I design and implement a highly automated production process and warehouses for our battery cell manufacturing.

To be a part of this journey at such an early stage allows our team to think outside the box with little or no constraints. We have the opportunity to use our imagination and creativity to find innovative solutions and keep flexibility.

Why did you join Northvolt?

When I completed my Master’s Degree in Production Engineering and Management at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, my goal was to work for a company where I could make a difference. I also wanted to be in an environment that would give me the opportunity to improve and grow professionally. Above all, I wanted to work for a company I really believed in. Northvolt checked all the boxes!

After your first months working at Northvolt, is there something that surprised you, something you didn’t expect when you joined?

I was, and still am, surprised and a little overwhelmed by the great responsibility and trust the team gives me.

It’s not always easy being a junior engineer, and here I learn every day how to be more confident by working closely with experienced colleagues. I’m grateful for being around so many talented people who are willing to share their knowledge across all teams.

As a company, we have grown very quickly in a very short amount of time: from just a few employees to now multiple teams that need to work closely together every day. At Northvolt, I realized how important it is to create an environment where people can work efficiently together while having fun at the same time. I think our numerous teambuilding activities are a great and fun way of getting to know each other and get closer.

How did you get interested in studying and working in this field? Did anything have an impact on you during high school or earlier?

Even at an early age, I was interested in smart solutions and technology: my favorite children’s book was “How Does it Work?”

My mom recalls that before I could read or write, I used to love assembling anything from IKEA. All the furniture came in flat packages with detailed instructions, but I never needed them! I just looked at the different parts and somehow I knew how everything would fit together. I saw the objects in 3D.

In high school, I had to choose between two programs: Social Studies/Economics and Science/Engineering. Everyone in my family had studied Economics, and all the girls in my class had chosen Social Studies/Economics. So in a way, it was implied that I would have made the same choice. I asked myself: should I follow my heart, go against the stream and choose Engineering instead? That is what I did, and today I am truly grateful for the choice I made.

What makes you tick at work?

Great colleagues and the feeling of being on a mission together! Being part of a team that works to create a more sustainable world makes me incredibly proud.

It is also so inspiring to work with the latest automation technologies, testing new ideas and finding optimal solutions is part of my daily work.

Apart from your job, what else are you passionate about?

When I’m not at my desk at Northvolt, I’m in the dance studio. Street, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, House, Modern, Contemporary, Heels, Ballet… I love them all. In the dance studio, I practice creativity, discipline, endurance, confidence, teamwork, technique, and musicality. Dancing helps me de-stress my body and brain and re-charge my batteries. Not to mention the health benefits that come along. Never miss a chance to dance!