What happens when underwater technology doesn’t behave as expected - hundreds of meters below the surface?
For Esten Solem Dalseg, this is not a hypothetical scenario - it’s part of everyday life.
At Water Linked, he works where cutting-edge technology meets real-world unpredictability, helping customers solve problems in environments where visibility is limited, communication is difficult, and conditions are constantly changing.
A natural path into underwater tech
Esten didn’t randomly end up in subsea technology.
“I’ve always been interested in robotics and electronics, anything that can be controlled.”
That curiosity led him to Norwegian University of Science and Technology, where he studied cybernetics and robotics and quickly found himself working on real underwater challenges.
In one of his academic projects, he explored how to detect and track underwater equipment using cameras and machine learning, even in low visibility and complex environments.
The challenges he worked on back then, signal limitations, poor lighting, moving objects, are the same ones he now faces in the field.
“It’s funny, I’m basically working with the same type of problems today, just in real life.”
From offshore experience to customer reality
Before joining Water Linked, Esten worked at Kongsberg Maritime, gaining hands-on experience with offshore systems.
But something was missing.
“I wanted to go deeper technically, not just operate systems, but really understand them.”
He joined Water Linked as a software engineer, working with embedded systems. After nearly two years, an opportunity came up.
“We needed someone in support. And I realized I missed the interaction, talking to customers, and understanding their challenges.”
So he stepped into the role and found the balance he was looking for.
What “support” really means
At Water Linked, support is not a helpdesk sitting on the sidelines.
It’s where engineering meets reality.
“I bring the customer perspective into development,” he explains.
“If something is unclear or difficult to use, we don’t just explain it, we improve it.”
It’s a role that constantly shifts between urgent problem-solving and long-term thinking.
“Sometimes you have to drop everything and help a customer. Other times, you’re working on improvements that will prevent those issues in the future.”
The part people don’t see about underwater tech
Working underwater is fundamentally different from working on land.
“There’s no light. There’s pressure. Saltwater damages components. And GPS or radio signals don’t work, so communication becomes much harder.”
That means even small issues can become complex very quickly.
In one case, a customer delivering an ROV system to the end user in Defence experienced problems during acceptance testing and suspected Water Linked’s sensor.
Esten joined the investigation.
“We couldn’t reproduce the issue at first. That’s always tricky.”
After digging deeper, they identified two root causes:
- Electrical noise from another component
- Instability in the ROV creating air bubbles interfering with measurements
Once resolved, the system performed as expected.
“It wasn’t one single issue but the combination. That’s often the case.”
Where customer feedback becomes product development
One of the most important parts of Esten’s role happens behind the scenes.
Every customer interaction feeds back into product development.
“We work closely with customers, from startups to larger companies. Many of them feel like they’re part of the development process.”
Requests and insights from customers have directly influenced features, sometimes turning specific needs into standard solutions.
“My goal is to make sure customers feel heard and see that we actually act on their feedback.”
A place where you’re not just one thing
What stands out most to Esten about Water Linked is the flexibility.
“It’s a very progressive company. There are so many possibilities, honestly more than we have time to do.”
That creates an environment where roles are not rigid.
“You can try different things: testing, development, customer interaction. You’re not stuck doing just one task.”
It’s also a place where people matter.
“You’re not just a number here. The company wants you to grow.”
What keeps it interesting
For Esten, motivation comes from impact.
“When you help a customer succeed or see that our technology enables something new - that’s the best part.”
It’s not just about fixing problems.
“You’re helping someone achieve something they couldn’t do before.”
Life outside the water
Outside of work, Esten spends as much time as possible outdoors - hunting, skiing, hiking, or training.
He’s also a father to a young daughter, with another child on the way, balancing deep-tech problem solving with family life.
Thinking about joining?
Esten doesn’t hesitate when asked what he’d say to someone considering Water Linked.
“If you like new technology and want to build something that doesn’t already exist — this is the place.”
And if you’re someone who enjoys variety:
“You won’t get bored. Every day is different and you’re always learning.”