Whether you choose to keep growing in a specific field or choose to become competent in many fields, Airbus has the resources to provide the knowledge, the tools, and the path for it to happen.
Sema is a senior engineer based in Wichita, Kansas, currently working on the A321 XLR. We sat down with her to learn more about what she values most about working for Airbus, and the importance of growth and development opportunities within the company.
What do you enjoy most about working at Airbus?
I feel valued as a person and also as an employee at Airbus. Airbus provides endless resources for growth, development and learning.
Is there anything you would like to share about your experience working for Airbus?
Even though I didn't take part in it, I cannot speak highly enough of the AGGP (Airbus Global Graduate Program). This two year rotational program invests in the training and development of the new graduates joining Airbus. This is a testimony of Airbus putting people at the heart of the company with a long-term investment into their careers. Empowerment radiates from those who are given the power to choose their career path and role.
Being an international company, Airbus provides travel opportunities. In addition to the shorter work trips taken to various Airbus sites across Europe, I was on a 90-day assignment in Augsburg, Germany working on the support for the A350 fuselage integration. This not only allowed us to build better working relationships across the team, but also gave me the opportunity for immense cultural exploration. My three months of work in Germany truly became one of the highlights of my career.
I have worked in two different departments while at Airbus - this is a career path I chose for myself to pursue growth. I was working as a design engineer in 2017, when an opportunity to work as a stress engineer opened up. Whether you choose to keep growing in a specific field or choose to become competent in many fields, Airbus has the resources to provide the knowledge, the tools, and the path for it to happen.
What made you want to work at Airbus?
I am so proud to be a part of the Airbus family - a place where I am not just another employee within the company, but am treated as a valued person. While working at Airbus during these past 11 plus years, I got married and had 2 children. The company provided the different types of support I needed during the changes in my life. Airbus truly knows how to invest in its people and support them through various seasons of life.
What advice do you have for people starting out in the industry, etc?
If you are just starting out, please know that "learning" will be a far greater goal to achieve than "knowing". I am humbled by being in the presence of very experienced engineers still striving to learn every day; it is a never-ending process. So don't be afraid to be a beginner - whether you are truly just starting out or you are bringing a fresh perspective to an old problem.
Sema’s Career Path
Senior Engineer
Airbus, Wichita, KS, United States
Expert in Static Stress and Composite Design
Airbus, Wichita, KS, United States
