In observation of International Women in Engineering Day on June 23, we are highlighting a few of the many female engineers that are building a brighter energy future at Landis+Gyr.

This year’s theme is Engineering Heroes and we chatted with six engineers about their current roles, who or what inspired them to enter the STEM field, and advice they have for young women interested in engineering.

What is your role and responsibility at Landis+Gyr?

I’m the product manager responsible for the AMI meter, C&I meter and RF communications portfolio for South America. I manage the product roadmap, lifecycle and strategy, provide sales support, and help the company prioritize engineering efforts.

Who is your engineering hero?

I come from a family of engineers, and my father has been my inspiration. My father often took me to the company he worked for, and it was always very inspiring to see a room with several engineers, working on projects using drawing boards (I know, it was a long time ago!) or visiting the factory and seeing how everything works. My father's dedication and love for work made me want to follow the same path—I grew up wanting to be just like him.

What do you enjoy the most about working in a STEM field?

I love it because it's a very dynamic area and the work never feels tedious. It is always necessary to be up-to-date by learning new technologies to keep pace with the ever-evolving market as technology continues to transform the way we live, work, and learn.

What advice do you have for a young woman considering a career in STEM

Your gender doesn’t have to determine your career. Do not be afraid to follow your heart, your mind, and your dreams! As more women enter STEM careers, it serves as inspiration and opens new pathways and opportunities for young girls wishing to follow in their footsteps. Also, with more women working in STEM careers, it will become more evident to women that they can do whatever they want, no matter what.

What is your role and responsibility at Landis+Gyr?

In my current position as a Firmware Engineer I at Landis+Gyr, I am responsible for designing, developing, testing, and maintaining firmware for wireless communication and networking devices. I contribute to the development of product design specifications and to the design verification testing processes and procedures. Moreover, I contribute to code reviews and product and system-level test efforts. I also assist with planning and support of field installations of Alpha and Beta phase.

Who is your engineering hero? Why?

My engineering hero is roboticist, entrepreneur, and educator, Dr. Ayanna Howard. Throughout my undergraduate and professional career, Dr. Howard has been a phenomenal leader that I have looked up to for her contributions to academia, engineering, and technology startup businesses. She is supportive, inspirational, courageous, and a life-changing mentor.

What do you enjoy the most about working in a STEM field?

I enjoy the teamwork, the gender equality, and career potential benefits of working in a STEM field.

What advice do you have for a young woman considering a career in STEM?

My advice is to identify and speak with mentors/role models that are in careers that interest them, research and explore different types of STEM careers that suit their interests and strengths, take advantage of STEM-focused programs, work hard, learn from mistakes and move on, and build a positive self-image.

What is your role and responsibility at Landis+Gyr?

As Director Global Technology Strategy and Innovation, I lead innovation initiatives to drive value internally and externally.

Who is your engineering hero? 

My father. As an electrical engineer in the transmission and distribution field in Ecuador, he brought electricity to underserved regions in the country for the first time.

What do you enjoy the most about working in a STEM field?

The inspiring fast pace and the collaborative spirit to use technology to create innovative solutions.

What advice do you have for a young woman considering a career in STEM?

Do not underestimate the impact that you can have combining your passion, your technical know-how, your critical thinking, and your skills. Speak up – you bring a lot to the table!

What is your role and responsibility at Landis+Gyr?

I am a Technical Service Representative, responsible for providing first contact support to our customers by processing any issues/requests they may be facing. We help mitigate the challenges they face by drawing on our technical expertise or connecting them with the right resources at Landis+Gyr.

Who is your engineering hero?

My dad inspired me to enter the STEM field. He did not have the opportunity to go to college, but that never stopped him from learning about engines, renewable energy, chemistry, and so on. Ever since I can remember, he was always reading when he had the chance and applying his knowledge. His interest and hard work led me to this path.

What do you enjoy the most about working in a STEM field?

As our technology evolves, it gets more complex, which adds the challenge of learning (which I love). I also feel I am making a difference towards a better future for our society.

What advice do you have for a young woman considering a career in STEM?

I would say do not be so hard on yourself and keep pushing forward! The STEM route challenges you, but it is well worth it.

What is your role and responsibility at Landis+Gyr?

I am a Product Support Specialist at Landis+Gyr. We serve as experts on the product line, assisting customers when they need technical help. We analyze the functioning of our business applications and products from the front-end and back-end to propose solutions to help the customers overcome any technical challenges they face. I work closely with other departments including development, engineering, SQA and product management

Who is your engineering hero?

My uncle inspired me to enter the STEM field.

When I moved from Bangladesh to the USA in 2009, everything here was new to me! The language, the education system, the market, and so on, so, I was at a loss at deciding what to pursue a career in. One day I had a conversation with my uncle about this and he suggested that I join a STEM field. He explained to me that it offers plenty of opportunities and has a very bright future.

What do you enjoy the most about working in a STEM field?

I love the fact that the STEM field allows us to work from home sometimes. It helps me manage my professional and personal life very smoothly, providing a healthy work-life balance.

What advice do you have for a young woman considering a career in STEM?

The two main reasons why I would encourage young women to consider a career in STEM are that it offers them a wide variety of high-paying career choices and more women entering the STEM field helps to narrow down gender inequality and change stereotypes.

What is your role and responsibility at Landis+Gyr?

I am a Technical Implementation Engineer (TIE) and I provide support for the deployment of Landis+Gyr's smart grid solutions, including head-end system software, network devices, and field endpoints (such as electric meters, gas/water endpoints, streetlight controllers). My team serves as an initial escalation point for solving complex technical issues escalated by the program support team, and we often collaborate with our developers and the customers to reach a resolution.

Who is your engineering hero?

My grandmother, Vennie Bigham, who had a successful career as the manager of a lab at a large carbon fiber manufacturing plant. She was responsible for all quality assurance testing of their product and worked closely with the engineers who called the lab "Vennie's Lab," after her. Growing up, I often practiced my multiplication tables to prepare for school quizzes and solved various other puzzles (i.e. sudoku) with her guidance. This instilled in me a love for math and problem solving, which eventually led to an education and career in engineering.

What do you enjoy the most about working in a STEM field?

The endless opportunity for innovation. There is always something new to learn or to be developed, as long as you enjoy taking on a challenge.

What advice do you have for a young woman considering a career in STEM?

Just because a woman has never done something before, does not mean you cannot be the first. Do not be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone and try out things that interest you.