Aisling O’Connor started as an intern and now works as a project engineer. She encourages more young women to consider STEM roles. Aisling initially hesitated to pursue engineering as a woman, but seeing female engineers removed her doubts.
What sparked your interest in engineering?
I always enjoyed maths and physics, but quickly realised I preferred practical, experiment-based learning rather than pure theory, which led me to engineering. I had reservations about becoming a female engineer, but those disappeared during my internship at Ethos.
How did your internship help shape your career?
In school, engineering was just lectures and coursework. At Ethos, I saw how those principles influence buildings people use daily, which helped me understand the impact engineers can have. I was drawn to Ethos given its focus on helping to shape and design buildings. I quickly realised that the engineering principles I’d been learning could be applied to building services.
I joined Ethos after college and gained valuable experience alongside structured training. Over time, my responsibilities increased, and I progressed to Project Engineer.
Why are programmes like TY outreach and STEPS important?
These programmes give students real exposure to engineering. TY students can shadow teams and see what engineering roles are like, and STEPS helps us introduce younger children to engineering.
Many students don’t realise the opportunities engineering offers. These programmes help bridge that gap by giving them a chance to meet engineers, ask questions and see what a STEM career can look like.
