Empowering Women: A Spotlight on Bright Machines' Female Engineers

March 8, 2024 | 4 min read

Keren Kagan, VP Human Resources, Bright Machines

The landscape of advanced manufacturing has undergone significant transformation in recent years, particularly in terms of gender diversity. Historically underrepresented in this field, women are now challenging industry stereotypes. For instance, the percentage of women earning engineering degrees has steadily increased over the past few decades. In 2020, women earned 22.5% of bachelor’s degrees in engineering, compared to just 9% in 1979. These advancements highlight the growing impact of women in engineering and their potential to shape the future of the field.

At Bright Machines, we’re dedicated to promoting gender diversity. We believe that women can pursue any career path they desire. And we’re proud to share that our executive leadership team is ~50% female. Bright Machines offers flexible work arrangements to employees for caregiving responsibilities or other obligations outside of work. It is also important to the company that all employees receive dedicated training to foster a positive and inclusive work environment.  

In honor of International Women’s Day, we asked our talented female engineers from offices around the world for their perspective on working in manufacturing technology. 

What inspired you to pursue a career in advanced manufacturing?

Tori Colthurst, Robot Perception Engineer, United States: “I have always been interested in space exploration and robotics, and I later found myself drawn to the effort of replacing human labor with machines in conditions that are hazardous to humans, such as places lacking an atmosphere. Automation takes on the challenge of mimicking the human intelligence that allows us to be multi-purpose, generalizable, and teachable machines, with the goal of replacing human labor in manufacturing. Solving this problem in the automation field would be a huge step towards a generic intelligent robot solution, and I am inspired to contribute in any way I can.”

Regina Vega Francia, Software Application Engineer, Mexico: “I’ve always liked challenges, and I’ve always been interested in computers and robots. I love this field, and the work done here at Bright Machines feels like being in a movie or a book, so I wanted to be part of this!”

How do you see the role of women evolving in the advanced manufacturing industry?

Ana Hernandez, Project Manager, Mexico: “Thirty years ago, women represented 19.1% of the workforce in manufacturing. In three decades, it almost doubled due to foreign economic opportunity, the implementation of public gender equality policies, and women’s interest in professional segments previously considered masculine. More women take the risk to know and engage in the technological world, and it is exciting. Women have the intelligence, discipline, and passion to work with technology. It is no longer only a man’s world. It is gratifying to see more and more women each generation taking on roles in engineering and manufacturing processes. Women can contribute a lot of knowledge in this area.”

What advice would you give to young women aspiring to enter the advanced manufacturing industry?

Meirav Goffer, NPI (New Product Introduction) Engineer, Israel: “There are many pieces of advice I could give to younger women aspiring to join the manufacturing industry, but the main ones I truly believe in and promote the most are to always be open to continuous learning and to be confident and assertive. Confidence plays a crucial role in every job you get; it allows you to navigate the challenges and opportunities within the job. Believe in your abilities, voice your opinions, and contribute your unique and diverse perspective to projects and discussions. The importance of being open to continuous learning allows you to stay ahead of the curve. I highly encourage young women to sharpen their skills in emerging technologies, industry trends, and best practices through ongoing education.”

Marta Mucek, DevOps Engineer, Poland: “Seek opportunities that challenge you, and don’t shy away from asking questions. Embrace guidance from experienced coworkers. The value I gained over the years from those I worked with has been irreplaceable. Don’t hesitate to present your ideas – your voice matters, regardless of your level of experience. Remember, you are more than capable of thriving in the tech industry.”

We are grateful to the women on our team for their creativity, teamwork, and dedication. Their hard work fuels Bright Machines’ ability to be an industry leader in manufacturing transformation. To join our team of incredible employees, check out our career opportunities! 

To learn more about our capabilities in building the backbone of AI, visit Bright Machines.