INTERVIEW WITH AN ENGINEERING INTERN: SARA

State of the STEM Gap

Did you know: 28% of Science and Engineering workers are women, despite nearly half of the workforce being made up of women? Clearly there is a disparity between men and women in the STEM workforce, but data shows that even though the number of women entering the STEM field is increasing the gender gap persists.

In light of these statistics we're interviewing one of our engineers, Sara, to learn more about why she entered the engineering field and what advice she has for other woman interested in engineering. ​

Sara

Industrial Manufacturing Intern
Mechanical Engineering - concentration in Aerospace Engineering & Space Systems

Why did you choose to study engineering as a career path?

I chose to study engineering because I love math and I have always had a deep passion for the aerospace and space industry. I knew that I wanted a career where I could really focus on my passions and engineering turned out to be the best option for me.

​What is the most exciting thing about your job?

The thing I love most about my job is the hands-on experience. I love understanding the design and build process of everything around me, and at Custom Manufacturing & Engineering (CME) I have really had the chance to see that in much more detail.

What does your typical day at work look like? ​

A typical day consists of analyzing drawings and working directly with production employees to find the most efficient way to build a product. Then I document the process by writing up work instructions that can be used by the production employees to build the products.

What do you think is the future of engineering?

Engineering is all about designing products and coming up with new ideas to improve the world around us.  Engineering changes drastically based on current demands. With that being said, I think the future of engineering is headed towards innovative ideas in the automotive, aerospace, and space industry to reduce waste and protect environmental resources.

​What's it like to be a woman in the engineering field?

Being a women in engineering can be weird at first. There will be many times where you walk into a classroom to discover you are the only women there. But regardless of your gender, every engineer knows the hard work and discipline it takes to be in the field, so they will acknowledge and respect your dedication whether you are a minority or not.

What would you say to other women considering entering the engineering field?

The engineering field is full of amazing opportunities. Engineers are always in demand and are needed just about everywhere. Not to mention, being an engineer never gets boring; you are always working on new, innovative projects. If you have a passion for designing and building new things, or just understanding the world around you, you should highly consider becoming an engineer.  ​

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Sources:
National Science Board, 2018. Science and Engineering Indicators 2018. Arlington, VA: National Science Foundation (NSB-2018-1). https://ngcproject.org/sites/default/files/ngcp_the_state_of_girls_and_women_in_stem_2018a.pdf
2019, Steady Rise for Women in STEM but Gender Gap Remains.  https://www.statista.com/chart/16970/women-stem/

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