Follow the inspiring journey of Pooja Sharma, R & D Engineer in FPGA, as she shares the challenges she’s overcome, her career advice for women in engineering, and her growing role in this ever-changing industry.
Women in Engineering with Pooja Sharma
FPGA Insights has conducted an exclusive interview with Pooja Sharma, R & D Engineer in FPGA at Logic Fruit Technologies, to gain valuable insights into her experiences as a woman in engineering
What’s your Name, job title & area of research/work?
My name is Pooja Sharma, and I am an R & D Engineer in the FPGA department at Logic Fruit Technologies.
What sparked your interest in engineering? Can you describe the moment you realized this was a field you’d like to pursue?
At first, I was not even sure if engineering would be my career or what. However, as I began to tackle more problems and face new challenges the process of it all seemed like such an interesting scenario. I was interested in understanding how things work and became increasingly excited to immerse myself deeper into the field. Problem-solving and creativity, with a little technical wracking of the brain, is where I belong in this engineering realm.
What are your experiences of being a female engineer?
My experience as a female engineer has been positive overall. While it’s clear that the field is male-dominated at times, I find strength in recognition and value placed on my work. It’s rewarding, though a bit disappointing to see a few females around. I hope to see more females in engineering, contribute to a more inclusive and balanced environment.
Can you tell me more about your career path so far?
After completing my schooling, I decided to pursue engineering as I was the second topper in my district, which motivated me to aim higher. I began preparing for the JEE to get into IIT, a prestigious institution for both my family and the community. Being the first in my family to be selected for IIT was a proud moment for us.
I earned my degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Goa. During my graduation, I joined LFT as an RnD intern. Within the first month of my internship, I was fortunate to secure a pre-placement offer (PPO). I am currently working as an RnD Engineer at LFT.
What has been your most challenging experience as an engineer?
The hardest thing I found was adapting to a company’s real-life working environment. It was different from what we were able to learn in college. I had to start learning from the most elementary level, work with a team, and always ask questions even when they were trivial, making me feel somewhat at sea initially. However, it made me grow and feel more sure of myself in time.
What is the most exciting thing about your job?
The most exciting thing about my job is facing complex problems that require innovative solutions daily. Each new day delivers fresh challenges that compel creative thinking. The fast-moving nature of engineering continues my learning and development, maintaining a heightened sense of fulfillment and excitement through constant evolution.
What kind of impact would bring you great satisfaction in your work?
I think the most rewarding thing is when something difficult takes you a long time to accomplish because it requires much complexity and allows your brain to work hard, but once done correctly, it’s like nothing else. And I feel satisfied when people appreciate my work. It is an added sense of fulfillment when I know that effort and time put forth, are appreciated.
What do you think needs to be done to improve the statistics in terms of women’s participation in engineering?
In engineering, encouraging women to participate starts with the early cultivation of STEM skills and the presence of female role models. Challenging stereotypes and promoting diverse representation of women in the field can help shift societal expectations. Mentoring programs offer valuable guidance, and schools should cater to the needs of all learners. Companies should implement flexible work policies to retain female employees and foster a more diverse workforce.
What do you enjoy most and least about engineering?
What I enjoy the most about engineering is the creativity in solving complex problems and seeing real-world results.
The least enjoyable part for me includes bureaucratic hurdles as well as occasionally slow and frustrating processes such as debugging and troubleshooting issues.
Who has been your greatest support, coach, and mentor across [Industry], and why?
My strongest support network includes my family, friends, and mentors. My family is my strongest anchor, fueling my motivation and allowing me the freedom to follow my heart. My friends offer constant support. My mentors offer guidance that has been instrumental to my personal and professional development. Collectively, they make up an ideal support network that fuels my success.
What is it like to be a woman in engineering? Do you feel that your gender gives you a different perspective and experience from your male counterparts? Any advantages?
Being a woman in engineering gives me a unique perspective and diverse problem-solving skills. With the growing emphasis on diversity, valuable opportunities are emerging for women, allowing us to bring our distinct experiences and insights to the forefront.
What advice do you have for women interested in engineering? What kinds of practical experience should they have? What technical skills should they pick up?
Explore different areas in your field to gain more confidence and find your passion. Pursue opportunities and seek help from mentors regarding what comes next. Focus on broadening your technical and communication skills, and get advice from experienced individuals on how to monitor your progress. To come up with new creative ideas, use the lens of uniqueness and self-belief.
I guess that learning is integrated with experience, which you get by working and not so much on books. I also started from scratch, I had little experience when I began but while working on real projects, the connection clicked and practical knowledge came as well.
It’s important to focus on your courses and build a solid foundation. If you study well and believe in yourself you will gradually learn the skills and knowledge needed.
