“I’m a big Girls’ Day fan”
Maria Büttner decided on a career in digital engineering after her studies due to the opportunity to work on varied tasks and specific technical questions and the chance to collaborate on sustainable solutions. The naval architecture and maritime engineering graduate has worked at TECOSIM since 2017 and started her career there as a project manager. She has been responsible for statics/dynamics and multi-body system simulation as a team manager since 2021, leading a team of twelve employees. She is also involved in a cross-branch working group for Girls’ Day, in which TECOSIM is participating across Germany again this year. We spoke to her to mark the event.
Why did you decide on a career in engineering?
I loved technical subjects and logical thinking back in school. I was very interested in physics and mathematics. My career was in my blood in a way. My father is also an engineer. He was and still is my role model. I have always asked him about his work, which he is happy to talk about.
What appeals to you about your management role?
I enjoy working with people. I easily recognise their strengths and also recognise areas where they could develop more. It is my objective to assist my employees in their professional development and assemble the work team in such a way that everyone can contribute their talents to an optimum extent.
What approach do you take to management?
Clear communication is important for me. My employees have the opportunity to develop freely within the scope of the agreed goals. I adapt my management style to the employee’s needs.
Why did you decide on TECOSIM?
Because I can develop my professional passion here – calculation and simulation.
Why did you opt to pursue a career in digital engineering?
I had other goals initially. I first discovered my passion for the field of structural strength during my bachelor studies. As a result, I decided to focus on the specialisations strength and design for my master’s.
Why is digital engineering not yet commonplace in many sectors?
I think the possibilities and the potential that simulation and technical calculation offer are still not fully recognised in some industries or in small and medium-sized enterprises. The method may also seem somewhat expensive at first glance. A licence needs to be obtained for high-grade software, for example. However, the investment soon pays off. You not only save money but also time and materials. Things are different in the automotive industry, where manufacturers are currently considering whether to conduct individual stages of preliminary development completely virtually in the future.
Why is it that there are still so few women working in scientific professions?
That’s difficult to answer. I can only speak from my own experience. In my case, a precedent had already been set in my family as my father had entered a technical profession. It may also be a question of traditional role models and a difference between generations. Hopefully, attitudes will change. You need courage and determination to hold your ground in male-dominated professions.
How do you help to increase the percentage of girls and women who enter STEM professions?
I’m a big Girls’ Day fan. As a schoolgirl, I took part in such an event myself at an IT company. The experience had a positive effect on me, which is why I form part of the organising team at TECOSIM. In 2023, we’ll be taking part at all locations across Germany for the second time. I also get involved in mentor programmes whenever a suitable opportunity arises.
What needs to improve to get girls interested in technical professions?
We need to help girls overcome their fear of technology and make female role models more visible. Girls’ Day is a great platform to accomplish this. My recommendation for young women is: if you love technology, make it your profession, even if you are the only one woman or one of the few.
Many thanks for talking to us, Maria.
