Explore Vidya’s journey as a female Design Verification Engineer. Uncover challenges, advice for women in engineering, and insights on her evolving career in this dynamic field.
Women In Engineering with Vidya
FPGA Insights has conducted an exclusive interview with Vidya, who is working as a Design Verification Engineer at Wipro, to gain valuable insights into her experiences as a woman in engineering.
What’s your Name, job title & area of research/work?
I’m Vidya, a Design Verification Engineer at Wipro. I work in SoC design verification.
What sparked your interest in engineering? Can you describe the moment you realized this was a field you’d like to pursue?
From a young age, I was curious about how electronic devices work. The turning point came in school when I first learned about logic gates and digital circuits, it fascinated me how something so small could control complex systems. That curiosity led me to pursue electronics and eventually specialize in VLSI design and verification.
What are your experiences of being a female engineer?
Being a female engineer has been both rewarding and challenging. In a male-dominated field like VLSI, I’ve often had to prove myself more but it’s also been a journey of growth. Supportive mentors and inclusive teams made a big difference. While I’ve faced biases at times, I’ve learned to speak up, stay confident, and let my work speak for itself.
Can you tell me more about your career path so far?
I started my career after completing my degree in electronics with a strong interest in VLSI. I joined the industry as a Graduate Engineer Trainee, where I got hands-on experience in RTL design and verification basics. Over time, I specialized in SoC design verification, working with SystemVerilog, UVM, and other industry-standard tools. Currently, I’m a Design Verification Engineer where I work on complex chip-level projects across domains like automotive and consumer electronics.
What has been your most challenging experience as an engineer?
One of my most challenging experiences was debugging a critical SoC-level failure just days before a major project deadline. The issue was buried deep in the testbench and took long hours of simulation, waveform analysis, and teamwork to isolate. It tested my technical skills, patience, and ability to stay calm under pressure but solving it was incredibly rewarding and taught me the value of persistence and collaboration.
What is the most exciting thing about your job?
The most exciting part of my job is seeing a complex chip come to life knowing that my verification efforts helped ensure it works flawlessly in the real world. Catching a critical bug before silicon tape-out feels incredibly satisfying. Plus, every project brings something new to learn, which keeps the work dynamic and intellectually stimulating.
What kind of impact would bring you great satisfaction in your work?
Bringing out a high-quality chip that functions perfectly in end-user products gives me immense satisfaction. Knowing that my work contributes to the reliability of devices people use every day whether in cars, phones, or medical equipment makes it meaningful. I also feel proud when I mentor juniors or help build a more inclusive team culture.
What do you think needs to be done to improve the statistics in terms of women’s participation in engineering?
To increase women’s participation in engineering, we need to shift both mindset and environment. It’s important to highlight real success stories of women in core technical roles, not just in support functions. Providing internships, scholarships, and targeted skill-building programs for women can boost confidence early on. Within companies, creating peer support networks and leadership pipelines specifically for women helps them stay and grow in the field. Representation matters when young women see others like them in technical leadership, they start believing they belong there too.
What do you enjoy most and least about engineering?
What I enjoy most about engineering is the problem-solving, breaking down complex systems, finding bugs, and knowing my work directly impacts real-world products. It’s intellectually rewarding and keeps me learning constantly.
What I enjoy least is when tight deadlines leave little room for innovation or proper work-life balance. Sometimes, the pressure to deliver quickly can take away from the creative side of engineering.
Who has been your greatest support, coach, and mentor across [Industry], and why?
My greatest support has been a senior colleague from my first project, she was one of the few women in a technical lead role and really inspired me. She not only guided me technically but also taught me how to navigate workplace challenges with confidence and grace. Her mentorship gave me the courage to speak up, take ownership of tasks, and aim higher in my career. Having someone who believed in my potential made all the difference.
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 comes with its unique set of experiences. At times, I’ve felt the need to prove my competence more strongly than my male peers. There are moments when you’re the only woman in the room, and that can be intimidating initially. But over time, it builds resilience and confidence.
I do think gender brings a different perspective, women often bring a collaborative, detail-oriented, and empathetic approach to problem-solving and teamwork. As for advantages, standing out in a male-dominated field can open doors, especially when companies are actively supporting diversity. But more than that, the advantage lies in offering fresh viewpoints that contribute to stronger, more inclusive engineering solutions.
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?
My advice to women interested in engineering is: believe in your abilities and don’t let stereotypes define your path. Be curious, stay consistent, and never hesitate to ask questions that’s how real learning happens.
For practical experience, internships, hands-on projects, and student competitions are invaluable. They teach you how theory applies in real-world scenarios.
Most importantly, build a strong foundation and keep updating your skills the industry evolves fast, and staying current is key.
