Hit the Ground Running: Marianna’s First Days at Ubiq

Introduction

When Marianna joined Ubiq Aerospace, she thought she might ramp up slowly. Get familiar with the tech, find her footing and find her role after some time. Instead, she got the opportunity to tackle a major technical challenge the team had been working on a long time: designing an algorithm that could autonomously control the power levels of the propeller de-icing solution.

A high-stakes task right away. The algorithm would soon be tested in a wind tunnel, validated in flight, and demonstrated at a trade show—all within months.

Background and First Impressions

Graduating first in her class with a master’s in cybernetics from NTNU, Marianna joined a team of leading minds, PhDs, associate professors, and expert engineers, and fit right in.

Having previously worked on control systems in complex environments, she was a good match for Ubiq’s Autonomy chapter, where she now works on algorithms and control systems for critical onboard functionality. When Ubiq came calling, the opportunity felt right. "I was ready to try something new," she said. "And Ubiq needed someone with my background."

Her experience made her well-versed in adaptive control algorithms, perfect for the task at hand. "It’s a seemingly simple system," she said. "But the details multiply quickly when you're dealing with spinning parts, airflow, moisture, and temperature dynamics."

- I felt trusted, not thrown in the deep end with no one around. It was more like a sandbox where others were building too. You can ask questions, get feedback, and then go solve your piece of the puzzle.

Thrown In, Backed Up

Being asked to take on critical algorithm development so early could have been overwhelming. Marianna met it with humility and pragmatism: "I was new. I figured I’d just do my best, and we’d see what happened." Fortunately, she wasn’t alone. Her teammates in the autonomy chapter were on hand for advice and sparring. "I felt trusted," she said. "Not thrown in the deep end with no one around. It was more like a sandbox where others were building too. You can ask questions, get feedback, and then go solve your piece of the puzzle."

Control, Adaptation, and Real-World Impact

Marianna quickly recognized that one of the algorithmic approaches her teammates had discussed aligned with techniques she’d studied. Within days, she was pulling out old textbooks and prototyping solutions. The goal was to control heating panels embedded in the propeller—to get ice off fast, and then hold a steady temperature efficiently. Her method did just that.

What made the project even more satisfying was how it has helped other chapters in the organisation. The algorithm shifted the test engineer’s approach from using a constant power input to using internal temperature as the primary control signal—a change that aligned more naturally with how the system would behave in real flight.

"That shift was meaningful," Marianna said. "Instead of testing how much power was needed, he could now test how to maintain the right internal temperature. That’s what the system actually cares about."

Why It Matters

In aircraft, every watt matters. Overheating unnecessarily wastes precious energy and shortens mission range. Marianna’s algorithm allowed smarter heating—strong bursts when needed, and just enough afterward to hold the line. Her work helped Ubiq build a smarter IPS system that elegantly reduces power usage and increases safety.

Complexity

"Everyone has heating cables in their bathroom, and you probably know how a thermostat works", Marianna explains. Heating a propeller is notably more complex. "We're trying to estimate the temperature of the outside of the propeller, by measuring the inside. All this while it's spinning, and flying through clouds, and unpredictable conditions". That's what Marianna's algorithm is doing, making the control system responsive and robust.

Learning on the Fly

Ubiq’s culture turned out to be a good match for Marianna’s mindset. "It’s independent, but not isolating," she explained. "You’re trusted to go figure things out—but you’re never far from someone who will help if you get stuck." Coming from academia, she appreciated the shift. "I’m used to working independently, but here, I also get real teammates, it's a shared purpose."

What’s Next?

Marianna has since shifted focus to Ubiq’s ice detection sensor, diving into new challenges and technical domains. She’s learned to work with real-world constraints, unexpected physics, and the joy of seeing her work not just simulated, but flying.

"There’s something satisfying about knowing it works," she said. "Graphs that stabilize. Systems that adapt. And teammates who trust the tool you built. That’s a good feeling."

What began as hands-on contribution soon evolved into system-level influence, Marianna became a go-to problem-solver as Ubiq advanced toward the future of autonomous flight.