Q&A with Lorena Amoroso, Materials and Processes Engineer at Rolls-Royce

Lorena Amoroso graduated in Chemical Engineering and afterwards decided to study for an Engineering Doctorate (EngD) at WMG, University of Warwick with the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing. Lorena's EngD looked at the Design and Fabrication of Novel Materials for Sensor Applications, sponsored by industrial partner Honeywell. Lorena wanted a unique opportunity to combine doctoral-level education with real industrial relevance. Here, she talks about what inspired her journey into engineering and her experiences working in industry.

Tell us a bit about your time at WMG

My time at WMG was simply amazing. It was a great four-year journey that has undoubtedly helped me grow, both professionally and personally, and made me who I am today.

During this journey, not only did I have the opportunity to acquire and develop the most in-demand skills and sought-after knowledge and mindset from both industry and academia, but I also had the honour of meeting fantastic people from all over the world, from scientists and pioneers in the engineering community, to colleagues who have become friends for life.

I will always be grateful to WMG and the University of Warwick for the unparalleled opportunities they have offered me. Travelling abroad to conduct my research in advanced facilities and sharing knowledge during important international conferences was certainly the icing on the cake.

Tell us a bit about your current job role

I currently work in the field of civil aerospace as Materials and Processes Engineer at Rolls-Royce. I am based at the Composite Technology Facility (CTF) in Bristol where composite fan blades and cases are manufactured. I work in an integrated product team within the Compressor Components organisation to deliver composites material technology to Rolls-Royce within the business unit. My main focus within the non-metallics materials team is on OMCs (organic matrix composites). I joined Roll-Royce as a permanent employee last March and I have been working in the CTF for one year now.

Prior to March, I was working as an external contractor on a number of work packages in my previous role as a Project Engineer for Alten UK Ltd.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

What I really enjoy about my job is the excitement of being challenged every day. I work for a well-known company which is "trusted to deliver excellence”. We share the same principles, and I believe that sharing the same principles with the organisation you work for is essential to feeling inspired and motivated to do a good job and perform well. The number of tasks and activities I carry out every day allows me to build the required experience that most companies in my sector are looking for in a fairly short time. This, I believe, will allow me to quickly move up to higher roles to pursue the brilliant career I have always dreamed of.

What inspired you to get into engineering?

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I like challenges. Initially, I was inspired by the love of science and maths, as well as good career prospects, but then after starting my chemical engineering course, I realised the importance of engineering. I discovered how fascinating the manufacturing processes of creating finished products from raw materials was, and how the design and optimisation of final products and processes for applications could solve real-world problems. Over the years, my passion for science has grown exponentially and with it my vision of how beautiful the chemistry behind polymers (and matter in general) is.

What advice would you give to women looking at getting into engineering?

My advice would be to first understand your personal passions and inclinations and, above all, ask yourself the key question of “what do you really want for yourself and your future career?”.

Engineering is undoubtedly a beautiful world but also a complicated one. Without a strong motivation to get into engineering you could easily find yourself in the wrong place. This field requires a willingness to study and a commitment to make sacrifices and work hard.

Over the years, I have personally encountered various difficulties and I must admit that there have been times when I have felt somehow out of place, either because of feeling "not good enough" or simply because I’ve felt tired and too stressed from the high workload. What made me always continue and never give up was, apart from my personal determination and ambition, the passion for what I was doing. I strongly believe that you must like what you are doing to be ready to face any difficulties you may encounter in your career path.

What are the most important skills in your job role?

Definitely a practical mindset and a strong background in composites as well as a good knowledge of composite manufacturing processes and technologies. Problem solving skills through cause analysis tools are crucial in my role. Timely decisions must be made every day to respond quickly to any production supply problem. Finally, confidence in identifying and implementing permanent solutions using preventive and corrective action techniques is also a requirement in my job.

What do you think needs to be done to encourage more women into STEM?

I think there should be more involvement of young women in school in STEM-related programmes and activities with more mentorship and education/career planning. Discussions and initiatives focused on empowering women through successful female role models who can share their experiences should be promoted at every stage of growth, especially early on. Examples of practical knowledge should also be promoted in order to provide an engaging understanding of the impact each woman can potentially have by participating in innovative projects in the engineering industry.

What is the most important thing you’ve learnt during your career?

The most important lesson I have learned is that nothing is impossible and, by working hard, you can really achieve all the goals you want. Sacrifices are always rewarded and repaid even if not immediately.

Who would you say is the most inspiring woman to you and why?

I have never had specific role models to follow, but over the years I have met many women who have inspired me to improve myself both as a woman and as an engineer, and from who I have drawn the strength to never give up. I grew up inspired by high-value women who, no matter what job role or context they were in, could somehow teach me how to become a better version of myself. My first inspirational woman was actually my mother with her strength, positive attitude, determination and courage – I believe I inherited some of these qualities from her. She has always provided me with strong support and encouragement even when failure was inevitable. An inspirational woman to me means a woman with certain qualities: strong, intelligent, honest, passionate, professional, competent, independent and self-confident. The women who then manage to balance career and family inspire me the most and I admire them so much.

Hear other stories from women in engineering here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/education/wmgmasters/alumni-profiles/wunmi_ogunde_msem