As part of our WISE coverage and to celebrate International Women in Engineering Day, Machine Design spoke with Ondine Beaufils, a senior system and project engineering manager at Safran Electronics & Defense, Avionics LLC.
With more than a decade of diverse experience in the Safran Group, Beaufils has played a critical role in designing and certifying pilot controls for both commercial and military aircraft. Her journey offers inspiration for present and future generations as they navigate the engineering landscape.
We learn in this first of a three-part video series that with a background in aerospace and electrical engineering, Beaufils believes an engineering degree is versatile and can open doors across multiple industries, including aerospace, automative, biomedical and more. “There are so many roles that you can explore, from project management to technical positions,” she said. Once that foundation is established, transitioning into other fields such as business management or marketing is much easier, she says.
Despite her passion for engineering, Beaufils acknowledges the challenges women face, particularly considering the backlash DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) initiatives are currently facing in the U.S. “I may be a bit pessimistic in the short term due to governmental obstacles,” she admits, “but I remain optimistic for the long-term future.”
She stresses the importance of informal networks and mentorship opportunities that women can cultivate outside of formal initiatives. Women need to be drivers of change, she says. Even if formal support systems falter, women can still foster relationships that empower each other to succeed.
Editor’s Note: Machine Design’s WISE (Workers in Science and Engineering) hub compiles our coverage of workplace issues affecting the engineering field, in addition to contributions from equity seeking groups and subject matter experts within various subdisciplines.
