MEET KHALID OBAID – DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER, ROWER, KNITTER AND CYCLIST
2026-04-07
ESBE’s Technology Center is the heart of our product development. Here, all our products are designed, tested, and approved before they reach the market – the purpose is simple: to develop products that deliver according to ESBE’s high standards. In the department, we find engineers with different areas of focus, such as Khalid Obaid, who is a development engineer specializing in electronics and embedded systems. Khalid’s work affects all our products containing electronics, and his task is to build the intelligence behind the products.
Khalid, tell us a little about how you ended up at ESBE and what you do here.
- I have worked for ESBE for about ten years now. I started as a consultant via a consulting company, BAB Elektronik in Jönköping, but for the past few years, I have been permanently employed at ESBE. Here, I mainly work on developing and testing the software in our electronic products, but I am also involved in various stages of development and help plan improvements and new features in our products.
Some of the products Khalid works with are our actuators in the ARA series, controllers in the CRx series, and our motorized control valves, SLx. Khalid believes that his curiosity and solution-oriented personality are some of his strengths in the job as a development engineer, especially when it comes to ensuring that the products work as they should in all conceivable situations – both for customer satisfaction and for the environment.
- The hardest part is getting the product to behave correctly in unexpected situations for which it was not designed. You might think that valves are simple, but in reality, there are many functions interacting in the background, and it can be difficult to foresee all scenarios. Another challenge is to develop electronics as resource-efficiently and sustainably as possible. It’s about minimizing unnecessary iterations, reducing material waste, and ensuring that solutions work right from the start. If they do, we can also minimize returns, which is incredibly important. Faulty products lead to complaints and extra transport, more resource consumption, and increased environmental impact. By working carefully in the development phase, we can reduce such problems and contribute to a more sustainable whole.
Do you have a dream product you would like to develop?
- I would like to develop smart and energy-efficient solutions for the home, where technology is used to reduce energy consumption while increasing user comfort. I am also interested in how AI can be integrated into such systems, for example, to optimize control and adapt functions to user behaviour.
Life outside ESBE
We have previously described Khalid as a true jack-of-all-trades. In his spare time, he juggles many activities; among other things, he enjoys painting and knitting, and during the autumn he participated in the indoor Swedish Rowing Championships. But it doesn’t stop there. During 2025–2026, Khalid has taken his training to a whole new level by taking on the challenge of a Svensk Klassiker (Swedish Classic Circuit).
- I think it’s a unique experience that is part of Swedish culture while also being very healthy. There is an activity for every season, and the challenge has been a great way for me to get back in shape. It has been a journey where it hasn’t been about the specific competition events but about how I have developed in my training every day. It has been a good way to be consistent in training. In addition, spending a lot of time outdoors instead of in front of the TV or on the phone has been very enjoyable and rewarding. You meet many people with the same interest and learn a lot about sports.
During 2025, Khalid checked off both the Vansbrosimmet and the Lidingöloppet, and now at the beginning of 2026, the Vasaloppet was next in line. Unfortunately, it didn’t go quite as Khalid had hoped, as he missed the cut-off time by just a few meters at Mångsbodarna.
- It was a bit disappointing that I had to stop after 24 km at Mångsbodarna. But considering that Vasaloppet themselves said it was among the worst conditions in 30 years, I am glad I made it as far as I did. If I do this again, which I plan to, I know what challenge lies ahead and can train more consciously and thoroughly.
Even though the Vasaloppet didn’t go exactly as Khalid had planned, he continues his Swedish Classic Circuit challenge during the year. Next up: Vätternrundan!
- Right now, I am training according to Vätternrundan’s recommendations to cycle about 1000 km before the race. I take it step by step and build up the volume. During March, I have cycled about 40-50 km per week, and now in April, I will increase the distance by about 10% per week. The idea is to combine this with long rides on weekends when the roads are swept.
We are incredibly happy and grateful to have Khalid on our team, and we wish him the best of luck with his training for, and of course the completion of, the Vätternrundan later this year. With his determination and his desire to learn and develop in various forms of training, we believe he can go as far as he wants!
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