7 Years in Milrem: From Curiosity to Enterprise Architect

Last month, Silver Lätt marked 7 years at Milrem Robotics - a journey shaped by complex systems, evolving responsibilities, and the growth of the company itself. From a background in physics to working at the intersection of technology, organisation, and strategy, his path reflects both personal development and Milrem’s transformation into a global defence technology company.

Early beginnings: a mindset shaped by physics

Silver’s academic background is in physics, having studied at the University of Tartu. For him, the real value of this field was not just knowledge, but the way of thinking it develops. “Physics teaches you how to break down complex systems, understand first principles, and build something meaningful from that understanding.”

Early in his career, Silver was involved in research and space-related initiatives, including initiating and heading the ESTCube programme which is Estonia’s first satellite, launched in 2013. Working at the intersection of science, engineering, and leadership gave him first-hand experience in turning ambitious ideas into real systems. “There wasn’t a single moment where I chose a path. It was more a gradual move towards increasingly complex challenges - systems that matter, and organisations capable of building them.”

Joining Milrem

Before joining Milrem, Silver worked across research, international cooperation, and policy, including roles connected to the European Space Agency and EU-level programmes.

Over time, his focus shifted from research to real-world application. “I became increasingly interested in how advanced technologies transition from research into real-world capability.”

Milrem stood out as a company doing exactly that. “It had the right mix: ambitious ideas, but also the ability to solve tangible problems with its own products.”

He still remembers his first days at Milrem- a smaller, fast-moving organisation where responsibility and results were closely connected. “There was very little distance between what you did and the outcome.”

Seven years later, Milrem has grown significantly in scale and maturity, now operating globally with more structure and complexity. Yet, he feels, the core remains unchanged: a strong engineering culture and a clear focus on delivering capability.

Growing with the company

Silver joined as a Systems Architect, working on integrating complex subsystems into functioning platforms, particularly within large international programmes like iMUGS.

This role required more than technical expertise, it meant connecting different stakeholders, from engineers to customers and policymakers.

As Milrem grew, so did his role. “The focus shifted from individual systems to the organisation as a system - how engineering, processes, and strategy come together.”

One of the biggest challenges was changing perspective. “It’s less about solving a problem yourself and more about creating an environment where good decisions happen consistently.”

This shift brought an important realisation: “Scaling a company is fundamentally a systems problem. Growth introduces complexity, and without structure, that complexity becomes a limitation.”

Today: Enterprise Architect

Today, Silver works as an Enterprise Architect, operating at the intersection of technology, organisation, and strategy.

His role focuses on ensuring that the company’s capabilities align and scale effectively - whether through improving processes, designing structures, or supporting decision-making across teams.

There is no typical day. “It can involve discussions with engineering teams, working with leadership on organisational topics, or analysing how different parts of the company interact. Much of the work is about bringing clarity to complex situations.”

One of the defining aspects of engineering at Milrem is the fast feedback loop. “You’re not designing in isolation - systems are tested, deployed, and iterated in real-world conditions. That creates a very dynamic environment.”

And sometimes, the challenges look surprisingly familiar: “Organisational bottlenecks often behave like engineering problems - just with more concerns involved.”

Advice for future Milrem candidates

For those considering Milrem, Silver highlights one key expectation: “Be ready to take ownership.”

Milrem is not a place where everything is predefined. People are expected to think independently, take responsibility, and contribute beyond their immediate role.

At the same time, teamwork remains essential. “The systems we build are too complex for any single person.”

In terms of mindset, curiosity and adaptability matter more than narrow specialisation. “Deep expertise is important, but the ability to learn across domains and connect different areas is what really enables impact.”

Why future defence technology matters?

Working in defence technology brings a clear sense of purpose. “The systems we build are not theoretical - they operate in real environments where reliability and trust are critical.”

Compared to more traditional engineering fields, the expectations are higher and the margin for error smaller. “There’s a very direct connection between engineering decisions and real-world outcomes.”

At the same time, the field is evolving rapidly. “Autonomy, robotics, and integrated systems are redefining how defence capability is developed.”

For Silver, this combination of complexity and impact is what makes the work meaningful. “You’re contributing to something larger - enabling new capabilities and supporting security in critical environments - globally.”

Beyond work

Outside of work, Silver enjoys experimenting in a different kind of lab - the kitchen.

He has a strong interest in modernist and molecular cuisine, applying principles not unlike engineering: understanding ingredients, controlling processes, and experimenting toward better results. “Whether it’s making ‘caviar’ with sodium alginate or cooking sous vide, experimentation is always part of the process.”

It’s also where he applies a simple leadership principle: “Create an environment where experimentation is safe, curiosity is encouraged, and failure is part of learning.” Whether in engineering teams or at home, the same idea holds - people perform best when they are trusted to explore and improve.

Final thought

Seven years in, Silver’s journey reflects both personal growth and the evolution of Milrem.

Whether working with systems, organisations, or even recipes, one principle remains constant: “Understand the fundamentals, build with intent, and don’t be afraid to test your assumptions in the real world.”