In support of International Women in Engineering Day, we spoke to our very own Hannah Parker, Software Engineer. With over 25 years of experience in the field, Hannah took a less conventional route into engineering. Read on to learn what advice she has for women interested in working in the sector and discover what continues to inspire her about her role.
Why did you choose to pursue an engineering career?
I didn’t have a clear idea of what career I wanted to pursue aged 18 and initially studied for a degree in Geography. One of the modules on software really sparked my interest and after graduating, I decided to specialise in software engineering, taking it as a master’s degree.
Would you recommend engineering as a career?
I absolutely would! When I started out, I wasn’t really aware of the breadth of opportunities that would be available to me, using the qualifications I’d gained. I’ve had the opportunity to work across so many different fields – from emergency services software in Australia to fish guiding software in the USA.
What advice would you give to women considering a career in engineering?
Don’t be afraid to re-train if you feel like you are heading down the wrong path! My own career pathway has taught me that whilst the easiest path to engineering might be to gain relevant qualifications or take an apprenticeship, it isn’t necessarily the only path. Many people don’t have a clear idea of what they want to do at 18 years of age and it might just take a little bit of time to realise where your interests lie.
What aspects of your role do you find most fascinating or fulfilling?
It sounds a little cliched, but it really is the problem solving. Whether the problem requires the creation of a new process or to investigate why another process is failing, a good day for me is when I’m creating solutions. I feel very privileged to be a software engineer at rFpro where the work is almost always interesting. My favourite area is developing our software to continually create and improve our high-quality digital models.
About International Women in Engineering Day
International Women in Engineering Day 2023 is being held on the 23 June and is organised by the Women’s Engineering Society. The Women’s Engineering Society is a charity and a professional network of women engineers. Their mission is to support women in engineering to fulfil their potential and support the engineering industry to be inclusive. AB Dynamics is a Company Partner of the Women’s Engineering Society.
