‘I felt empowered to be a great mother and engineer’: how a career in aerospace can take off

When I was 15 we went on a family holiday to Devon and, while there, we watched an airshow. I was completely mesmerised by the sound and the speed of the jets. I remember the fierce roar of the Harrier jump jet as it flew low overhead under the gaze of the sun. I thought it was amazing and I knew I wanted to be involved somehow.

I’d always been drawn to science and maths subjects, especially mechanics, and when I went back to school the following term, I began looking into a career in aerospace.

There wasn’t much guidance available on the different routes a career in aerospace could take, but my school was supportive of me in my subject choices. I applied to the University of the West of England in Bristol and completed a master’s in aerospace systems engineering.

There was only one other woman on my course, which was quite daunting initially. However, once I got to know everyone, my gender wasn’t an issue. They turned out to be a great group. So great I even ended up marrying one of them!

I joined BAE Systems six years ago as a flight systems engineer and I work on various aircraft. My job involves designing, developing and supporting a range of flight-critical systems. It’s a mix of collaborating with our suppliers about how we might best design new equipment, testing ideas, and problem solving.

I’ve been lucky to have a range of project types in the past, including working on a hydraulic system, which makes the wings and tail move, and on helmets and suits for pilots. My current project is the most exciting yet – I’m working on our next generation combat aircraft technology, which means I get to research and plan the possibilities for the future.

Every aircraft has its own unique challenges and you learn something new with each project, so eventually you have your own toolset of skills that you use throughout your career.

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The face of engineering is changing, which is encouraging and exciting. I’ve seen a lack of diversity in my sector, but never a lack of support for those of us who don’t fit the typical mould.

Something that really impressed me though was the fact that I felt empowered to be a great mother and engineer. After I had my first child last year, I was able to strike a balance by returning part time, meaning I was able to keep pushing my career forward while maintaining the family life I wanted. You can never schedule what a toddler wants and needs, so having flexible hours, being able to take “flexi-days” off, or working from home has been essential to being able to balance my work and family life. Now with Covid-19, it’s more evident than ever that everyone is able to balance – I’m not the only one with children’s voices in the background of conference calls.

I also attended a mothers’ returning-to-work course that left me with some invaluable techniques, such as time management, which I’ve used to help maintain my work-life balance.

The piece of advice I always come back to is to find a mentor who can help support, guide and challenge you, no matter what stage of your career you’re at. It’s come full circle for me recently, as I’ve started volunteering as an ambassador and mentor by speaking to young people interested in engineering.