The Science Museum Group’s mission to inspire futures drives our work to ignite curiosity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and this involves working to break down the barriers that make access to science unequal in society.
Women and girls are underrepresented in STEM. Only 27% of graduates with STEM degrees are women and the empowerment of women and girls in the engineering community is essential. Women account for a significantly smaller percentage of professionals in many fields: while 21% of engineering graduates in the UK are women, they make up only 16.5% of the engineering workforce.
To celebrate the 12th annual International Women in Engineering Day on 23 June, we are honouring women that make up the UK engineering workforce by spotlighting some of the amazing talent among the National Railway Museum’s corporate partners. We hope sharing their stories inspires more women to pursue careers in engineering.
Grand Central
What is your role and what does a typical day look like?
I provide administrative coordination and control for all documentation and processes utilised for the safe technical operation of all related fleets. Day to day I update and maintain records, databases and documentation related to fleet operation and asset management, along with providing resource organisation in line with train standards.
A recent project I have worked on was an interior refresh project for the GC 180 fleet.
I could be in the office, a train depot, or working from home.
How did you start your career in engineering and what inspired you to take this route?
I have been working in the train industry for a year, previously I worked in the science industry after graduating and fancied a change but still wanted a somewhat technical role in a different field.
What is your favourite part of your job?
Working with different people and contractors. Every day is different, and learning about the train infrastructure and engineering side is very interesting.
What advice would you give other women and girls who might want to go into engineering?
It is a male dominated industry, but do not let that put you off. It is very interesting, rewarding work. There are many jobs within the sector and every day you learn something brand new.
Angel Trains
What is your role and what does a typical day look like?
I manage a team of five Fleet Engineers, who look after the Angel Trains Alstom trains. Every day is different, I might be looking at improvements to the trains, working to help improve train reliability and performance, overhaul or refurbishment and working with suppliers. I also like to ensure the trains are as accessible as possible and support Angel Trains in areas such as mentoring, Mental Health First Aid and co-chair the EDI Committee.
How did you start your career in engineering and what inspired you to take this route?
I completed a degree in Mechanical Engineering and applied for a graduate role with AtkinsRail. I completed placements within Atkins following the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) Monitored Professional Development Scheme (MPDS) to become a Chartered Engineer. My Dad is an Engineer and his job always looked really interesting, so I thought it worth giving Engineering a try—it was definitely the right decision!
What is your favourite part of your job?
I love getting involved in improving the trains. I really enjoy working with the Angel Trains team, our operators, suppliers and maintainers too.
What advice would you give other women and girls who might want to go into engineering?
Please don’t be nervous about considering Engineering as a career, we would love you to join us, and there are so many opportunities! The Railway has always been incredibly welcoming and supportive to me, and the diversity of thought female engineers bring is an asset to any team.
Resonate
What is your role and what does a typical day look like?
I work as a Software Developer at Resonate, a technology company that delivers smart traffic management solutions for the UK’s railway. Day-to-day, I work on a close-knit development team with other developers, testers, and business analysts. I’m a fullstack developer, so I get a good variety of tasks ranging from the UI to the infrastructure. Software development is not just about writing code—it requires teamwork to collaborate on requirements, support others, and share knowledge.
How did you start your career in engineering and what inspired you to take this route?
I always enjoyed maths and science at school, but didn’t get any opportunities to learn about programming. At university, I met other female students who were studying STEM degrees, and they encouraged me to take some courses in computer science. I found the material so interesting and fun that I decided to pursue a career in software after finishing my studies. I later did a coding bootcamp to round out my skills, and was hired at Resonate through that program.
What is your favourite part of your job?
My favourite part of the job is hearing positive feedback from our users on the railway. It’s encouraging to know that my work is making someone else’s life easier, and hopefully making the railways run smoother, since I do frequently take the train! I also really enjoy the technical challenges we face and solving them with both logical thinking and creativity.
What advice would you give other women and girls who might want to go into engineering?
My advice to other women who want to go into engineering is to take every opportunity that comes your way to learn something new and support other women who you meet and work with.
Porterbrook
What is your role and what does a typical day look like?
My role is strategic, directly focused on supporting the business and our industry partners to achieve their long-term goals both commercially and technically. I work closely with train operators on a variety of engineering projects, ranging from helping them shape their decarbonisation strategy by looking at innovative upgrades to traction systems, through to fleet investments which tackle safety or performance issues to key systems like braking. My longer-term strategic focus ensures the engineering solutions I develop make our fleets fit for the future.
How did you start your career in engineering and what inspired you to take this route?
During my school education, I always enjoyed studying the STEM subjects and subsequently studied Physics at University. At the start of my degree, I was unsure what career path I wanted to take, however whilst studying, I realised that I wanted to go down the engineering route as I enjoyed solving problems and understanding how things work. Upon completing my degree, I found an opportunity in the railway and have since been in the industry for almost 8 years and completed my MSc in Railway Systems Engineering and Integration. I achieved my IEng status with the IET a few years ago and I am working towards chartership.
What is your favourite part of your job?
I am still quite new to my role, having joined at the start of the year, so I am continuously expanding my industry knowledge—I love learning, so this is great for me! I really like the variety in my role so far; I could be undertaking a piece of work on a specific system to then taking a holistic longer-term view of a fleet and the future investment.
What advice would you give other women and girls who might want to go into engineering?
Never shy away from asking questions and being inquisitive, it’s the only way you learn. Always be your authentic self and don’t feel like you need to change who you are to fit in.
Telent Technology Services
What is your role and what does a typical day look like?
As a System Test Engineer at Telent, I work on SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems that power the UK’s rail infrastructure. These systems monitor and control critical operations, like power distribution and station management, ensuring safe and efficient travel for thousands daily.
My role involves planning and executing rigorous tests to validate the system. From developing test plans and traceability matrices to conducting System Integration Testing (SIT), Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), I ensure every component—from field devices to operator interfaces—works seamlessly. I also manage defects using tools like Bugzilla & Azure DevOps and collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve issues swiftly.
A typical day starts with a morning stand-up, followed by setting up test environments and running scenarios like power failures or system switching. In the afternoon, I analyse logs, triage defects, report and update documentation. Meetings with Client, design and commissioning teams help align on system behaviour and upcoming milestones.
How did you start your career in engineering and what inspired you to take this route?
My journey began with childhood curiosity. A college internship at a metro rail control centre sparked my fascination with SCADA. After earning an engineering degree in Computer Science and an MBA in HR & IT, I transitioned from software QA to real-time system testing.
What is your favourite part of your job?
What keeps me inspired is the impact, knowing my work contributes to public safety and infrastructure reliability.
What advice would you give other women and girls who might want to go into engineering?
For aspiring engineers: stay curious, explore different fields, and remember—engineering isn’t just about machines; it’s about solving real-world problems that matter.
What is your role and what does a typical day look like?
My typical day includes producing electrical schematics using AutoCAD, creating design documents and completing surveys out on site to support the designs we produce.
How did you start your career in engineering and what inspired you to take this route?
I began my career at Telent as a Business Administration Apprentice after completing my A Levels and I was unsure what I wanted to do with my career long-term. Through working in the business support team, I built up relationships with the engineers and became interested in pursuing a career in engineering.
What is your favourite part of your job?
My favourite part of my role is that you will never run out of different things to learn. This means that throughout your career you will progress in so many different areas, building up a multitude of experience and opening doors to varied opportunities.
What advice would you give other women and girls who might want to go into engineering?
My advice to other women and girls considering a career in engineering is to go for it. It’s such a broad industry with so many sectors to explore. It will also enable you to form different working relationships and each person you meet will be different. The main thing I have learnt is how important it is to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and that you will never grow if you don’t leave your comfort zone.
AtkinsRealis
What is your role and what does a typical day look like?
I’m currently responsible for operations, win work and client relationship management of a £13m/year portfolio of multidisciplinary railway design projects, working directly for Network Rail, Local Authorities and multiple D&B contractors. Every day is completely different, which is why I love my role! I get to engage with such a broad spectrum of our workforce ranging from Apprentices to Chief Engineers across our Transportation business. My day consists of leaning into live projects, checking in on bids, strategising my next client interactions and discussing various engineering problems/solutions/innovations—today it was how do we modify a retaining wall design to suit a contractor’s construction methodology and can we install solar panels along the railway!
How did you start your career in engineering and what inspired you to take this route?
I showed an interest in Civil Engineering during my A-Levels in Maths and Physics. I gained work experience at FaberMaunsell (now Aecom) among other various part time jobs, including a summer job at Winson Green Category A Prison. I completed a Masters of Civil Engineering with Management degree at the University of Birmingham and gained a Graduate Engineer position at AtkinsRéalis, where I’ve worked for the last 20 years. My inspiration was my Mum! She wanted to be a Mechanical Engineer (like her Dad, my Grandad) but unfortunately she was not offered a place at her local Technical College in Devon because they didn’t have a Female Toilet! She went on to become a Laboratory Technician and was always my biggest supporter when I wanted to pursue a career in Engineering.
What is your favourite part of your job?
Firstly, I love being able to show my family and friends what I’m working on, whether it’s a bridge I’ve designed, a signal or OLE base on a stretch of railway that I’ve upgraded, the stainless-steel facade of Birmingham New Street or the overground stations in Dubai Metro. Secondly, I have the privilege of traveling with my job and last year I visited our Global Technology Centre in India where I met so many inspirational colleagues who I now work with and mentor. And thirdly, I get to work with my local secondary school as a STEM Governor, encouraging the next generation of Engineers.
What advice would you give other women and girls who might want to go into engineering?
Say yes to every single opportunity that comes your way! Never be afraid to do something different and outside your comfort zone. Find a “Sponsor” who says amazing things about you when you’re not in the room.
Find out more
To find out more you can visit the International Women in Engineering Day website.
Find out more about supporting the museum as a corporate partner.