Amanada N. Wegner

 

THESE ENGINEERS DRIVE INNOVATION, SECURITY ON THE HOME FRONT, AND BEYOND

 

NO MATTER WHAT YOUR ENGINEERING SPECIALTY, UNCLE SAM WANTS YOU! THE GOVERNMENT AND ITS CONTRACTORS ARE IN NEED OF MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERS, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS, CIVIL ENGINEERS, COMPUTER SCIENCE ENGINEERS, AEROSPACE ENGINEERS—THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.

 

THE GOVERNMENT, MILITARY AGENCIES, AND FEDERAL CONTRACTORS ARE IN GREAT NEED OF TOPNOTCH ENGINEERS WHO CAN WORK FAR AFIELD, IN BOARDROOMS, AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN. HERE, FOUR WOMEN WITH ENGINEERING BACKGROUNDS TALK ABOUT THEIR WORK TO KEEP GOVERNMENT GEARS TURNING, KEEP NATIONS SAFE, AND DRIVE INNOVATION FOR PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

 

DEVELOPING BREADTH AT VENCORE

 

Despite being from a family of engineers, Vencore’s Alissa Redding wanted to take a different route and become a patent attorney.

 

But that never happened.

 

“To be a patent attorney, you need an engineering degree, so that’s what I initially did,” says Redding. “But I loved working in engineering, so I got a master’s in computer science instead of going to law school.”

 

With Vencore (formerly part of Lockheed Martin) for almost 15 years, Redding began her career writing code and building applications. Today, she’s program director with Vencore’s Intelligence Systems group, helping win new government business, overseeing engineers and other technical staffers, and serving as project manager for contracts.

 

Headquartered in Chantilly, VA, Vencore provides information solutions, engineering, and analysis to the US intelligence community, Department of Defense, and federal and civilian agencies. Vencore and its Applied Communication Sciences subsidiary employ 4,000 dedicated professionals located in 17 states across the US and in select foreign countries.

 

In addition to having a strong engineering background, early in her career Redding had the opportunity to participate in an engineering leadership development program where she supported diverse clients over a few years.

 

The experience gave her depth in working with multiple clients. “This helped me understand their needs and the challenges they faced, which is something that helps me still today,” she says.

 

That skill was especially helpful when Redding recently developed a proposal to capture a new segment of business for the company. The entire process took about a year from start to finish, resulting in a new contract and client for Vencore.

 

“The whole experience was great, culminating with an exciting win and transition to a new contract,” she says.

 

While Redding initially didn’t plan to stay long in the field or with the company, the varied experiences that Vencore offers is one of the many reasons she’s stayed.

 

“There’s so much long-term career opportunity and potential,” Redding comments. “You could spend your whole career here.”

 

She also appreciates the company’s flexibility and culture and that Vencore’s leadership team has a clear vision for where the company is headed.

 

“This is an open environment where you’re encouraged to bring forward new ideas, and that helps drive the great culture we have here,” she remarks.

 

In fact, encouraging people to push their limits, take on stretch projects, push new ideas, and grow professionally has become Redding’s passion at Vencore. It also speaks to a key piece of advice she offers.

 

“If you’re always looking at your next job, you’re not going to do well in your current job,” she says. “If you do great in your current job, push yourself, and build a good reputation for yourself, then your managers will tap you on the shoulder for new roles. Don’t be so focused on how to get to the next step on the corporate ladder.”

 

Sometimes, she adds, lateral moves are good, especially early in a career. “It helps you develop breadth, which makes you more valuable for more diverse opportunities later.”

 

DIVING RIGHT IN AT BATTELLE

 

It’s all about water for Emily Gyde, a research scientist working on mechanical engineering challenges and projects in the maritime field for Battelle.

 

The company, headquartered in Columbus, OH, serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries.

 

“I work on a broad spectrum of client challenges, from battery packaging, thermal conductivity of components, testing of electrical components to be used in water, lab and parts management, and oil spill recovery, just to name a few,” says Gyde. This involves everything from the initial review of a problem and brainstorming to designing hardware and getting it fabricated and assembled, to writing test plans, performing them, writing reports, and making presentations. She is currently involved in designing a battery system for an underwater vehicle.

 

While in high school, Gyde’s interest in robotics led her to mechanical engineering. Her science teacher introduced her to underwater engineering when she was a high school senior, and the rest, as the saying goes, is history.

 

“He gathered a group of students together to compete for the first year in the Marine Advanced Technology Education Center’s International ROV competition,” she says. “I never thought I’d be able to build things that would explore and help us know our planet better. I was hooked.”

 

Gyde continued participating in the Marine Advanced Technology Education competition while at college. The team’s senior year advisor found mentors for the team at Battelle’s Maritime Systems department. Gyde learned of a job opportunity at the organization through these connections, and applied.

 

“I was drawn to Battelle by both the friendliness and character of the mentors I worked with and the opportunity to work on so many of the diverse projects they talked about,” she explains.

 

That opportunity has become a reality for Gyde, who appreciates that she’s been able to work on a variety of projects in her three years here.

 

“In one week I could be working on four different projects that have little or nothing to do with each other. I like that I’m not doing the same task over and over,” she says.

 

She also appreciates Battelle’s workforce; over 22,000 employees work at more than 60 locations globally.

 

“We have some of the best people in the industry, and if they say we can fix a problem, it will be fixed,” she says. “There is a drive to get things done, work hard, stand by our work, and give our customers the best product we can give them.”

 

To succeed in the field, says Gyde, you need to be able to ask questions, keep learning, and not be afraid to speak up. People skills are also important.

 

“You hardly ever work on a full project by yourself. Having a little bit of experience — a project team and/or internship — will help you find a job.”

 

From her own experience, she also encourages college students and young professionals to explore any and all opportunities that come their way.

 

“I already had a job lined up at another company when I was made aware of this job … I was afraid of even looking at the job description for Battelle,” says Gyde. “But when I did, I found out it was so much closer to my dream job. And it has been my dream job. I can’t imagine where I would be if I hadn’t looked when the opportunity was dropped in my lap.”

 

FOSTERING BIG IDEAS AT SRA INTERNATIONAL

 

Sandra Ambrose’s job is equal parts people skills and technical skills.

 

As chief technology officer for SRA International’s Homeland Security & Intelligence business area, Ambrose meets with customers to share SRA’s capabilities and understand their challenges, all with an eye to new business development.

 

SRA delivers innovative IT solutions and professional services in support of the toughest mission and operational challenges of the US government. Headquartered in Falls Church, VA, it employs over 5,600 professionals.

 

“Being CTO for a large, diverse portfolio of programs requires a broad understanding of technology, business acumen, and people skills,” says Ambrose, who has a master’s degree in computer engineering and originally joined the company as lead enterprise architect. “I’ve had the great fortune to work in many different process and technical areas, which enables me to see the big picture and put all pieces in place to be successful.”

 

This big-picture understanding is important for college students and professionals alike.

 

“Technical skills are important, but to really succeed, you have to understand what customers want and need,” explains Ambrose. “There’s an old saying in business: ‘I gave them what they asked for, but that’s not what they wanted.’ The why, how, and value that they’ll get from what you can offer, that’s what’s really important, and that doesn’t come from the technical skills – you need business understanding as well.”

 

Ambrose also provides support and technical oversight for projects. She recently led a team to build AcuITy, an award-winning analysis and planning tool that incorporates an agency’s unique objectives, current environment, budget, and priorities into its calculations to establish a solid business case for solution recommendations.

 

“AcuITy provides clarity in the IT solutions you implement and builds a road map to get the greatest value from your solutions,” says Ambrose, who has been with SRA for eight years. “We had very senior technical people to new college hires and interns on the project and worked in a war-room type of environment. Everyone contributed … it didn’t matter their seniority.”

 

Additionally, Ambrose provides career development for employees, which includes mentoring, identifying opportunities to support development initiatives, and helping staff build their networks.

 

While the nuances of government work — such as budget constraints and increasingly competitive landscape— can make her job challenging, Ambrose enjoys helping customers succeed and ensuring the health, wellbeing, and security of the US.

 

To achieve that, SRA fosters a corporate culture where “the best idea wins. It doesn’t matter who it comes from,” says Ambrose. “We have great people with really good ideas who are committed to doing a great job for our customers. I thrive off of that and working with people who have that knowledge, passion, and commitment.”

 

And passion, she advises, is important in the workplace.

 

“We spend so much time at work that you have to do something that you enjoy,” she tenders. “It’s also important to know your strengths, but to not solely rely on them. Playing to your strengths is really important, but so is building your network. I wanted to believe when I was young that what you knew would get you somewhere. But it’s not what you know, but what you do with what you know and who you know. That’s why I like mentoring other people.”

 

As one of three woman in her graduating class for computer science and working predominantly with men in her career, Ambrose offers an additional piece of advice to fellow woman engineers: “Always be confident in your abilities. Being too humble is probably one of our biggest mistakes. Let your voice be heard, deliver quality work, and be recognized for the great things you love to do.”

 

PUSHING BOUNDARIES AT AECOM

 

A prominent face for AECOM’s government engineering business and the industry, Jane Penny attributes her success to getting out of her comfort zone — and home state of Illinois.

 

“I highly encourage people to push their own boundaries,” says Penny. “Don’t live with the regret of ‘If only I had taken that job…”

 

Penny’s own story mirrors that advice. Offered a promotion with the US Air Force 30 years ago, Penny debated whether to leave her family and support network in central Illinois and move, with her husband and two kids, to Atlanta. Today, as AECOM’s group chief executive for national governments, Penny helps the company grow its business with the US Federal Government and international governments, aligning the company’s various business units with large contract opportunities. She is also the first woman president of the Society of American Military Engineers.

 

Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, and with revenues of $19.5 billion, AECOM designs, builds, finances, and operates infrastructure assets around the world for government and private industry. Its global staff — including architects, engineers, designers, planners, scientists, and management and construction services professionals — serves clients in over 150 countries.

 

“The projects that we deliver for our clients every day and the global reach we have with local talent is what’s rewarding to me and keeps me here,” says Penny, whose career at AECOM spans more than two decades. She recently helped secure the bid for a classified $4 billion integrated program that includes master planning, design, construction, operations, and maintenance – an entire life cycle program – for a high-profile, overseas client.

 

But this may have never happened had Penny not heeded the advice of a trusted advisor.

 

“The best advice I ever received was to take the promotion, move your family, and that if it didn’t work out, I could always move home,” says Penny. “There was a lot of truth to that, and I didn’t want to live with any regrets.”

 

She finds the re-location question is a constant struggle for her fellow engineers.

 

“The engineers in the US are pretty stuck in place, settled on a city or geography, or don’t want to travel or move,” she says. “But AECOM is truly a global company, and I strongly encourage young engineers here to be mobile and consider global assignments.”

 

In addition to a willingness to be mobile, the ability to collaborate and work on a team is critical to success in engineering.

 

“Teamwork and collaboration are key,” says Penny. “Engineering is problem solving, and in the work world, you’re on a team of many. You have to be very collaborative and play off the strengths of the others on the team. That’s where success comes from in engineering.”