Bethany Sheppard: Mission Operations Engineer

Job title:

Mission Operations Engineer at Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd

Location:

Cornwall

What inspired you to go into engineering?

My engineering job is in the space industry (spacecraft communications). Space has always been my passion, which I why I did a Physics degree, and I knew I wanted it to be part of my job.

What do you love about your job?

It's unique, and I feel lucky to be able to use my skills while staying in Cornwall. It's a good company.

How did you get your job?

I heard about the job opportunity from a family friend. I had another job at that time but it wasn't in the space industry, so I applied to Goonhilly and eventually got the job.

What advice would you give to a young person looking to start a career in your industry?

Look for work experience and internships with companies in the sector you're interested in. If they're not advertised, ask on LinkedIn or by email. If there aren't any you can get to, trying doing your own project, as it looks good to future employers to have done something off your own back. Most technical jobs in engineering involve programming, so if you have time, learn to code. There are free lessons on codecademy.

What do you think will be the most exciting developments in your industry over the next 5-10 years?

In the space industry, there will hopefully be more lunar missions with the development of the lunar gateway that we can be involved. This will be exciting, especially with potentially crewed missions.

Why would you encourage more girls to pursue a career like yours?

In any workplace, it's always good to have different perspectives. The space industry is a majority male workforce, so having diversity of thought with female voices is useful.