Women shaping engineering

For FLTLT Sarah Welsh, an aeronautical engineering officer, the journey into engineering began not in a classroom, but in a backyard shed in Macksville on the mid-north coast of NSW.

Growing up, FLTLT Welsh spent countless hours alongside her dad, learning the fundamentals of problem solving while tinkering with tractors, lawn mowers and chainsaws.

“Somewhere along the way, I decided to make a career of it,” she said.

That early curiosity and hands-on learning laid the foundation for a career built on technical thinking and practical outcomes.

Her decision to join Air Force was driven by a strong sense of service, combined with the opportunity to experience new places and roles.

Since joining, she has lived in Canberra and Richmond, while travelling across Australia and internationally.

She now works as the flightline maintenance officer with 37SQN at RAAF Base Richmond, a role she describes as her favourite so far, complete with an office view overlooking the flightline.

FLTLT Welsh’s day-to-day work involves overseeing the maintenance planning and execution for the C-130J-30 Hercules, ensuring the aircraft are safe and ready to undertake missions domestically and internationally.

As part of a 24/7 unit, her responsibilities extend beyond standard hours, including nights, weekends and deployments. Engineering plays a crucial role in this work, particularly when dealing with complex or unexpected issues.

“Sometimes the solutions aren’t straightforward and we need to think outside the box, especially when an aircraft breaks away from home base and resources are limited,” FLTLT Welsh said.

Her career so far has included some unforgettable experiences, from flying over the Whitsundays and Papua New Guinea highlands to working alongside international partners on Exercise Pitch Black.

She’s also found it rewarding to mentor junior aviators.

To the young people considering engineering, FLTLT Welsh acknowledged the challenges, but emphasised the pay-off.

“Studying can be tough, but once you graduate, the opportunities are endless and it’s incredibly rewarding seeing real-world outcomes from what you do,” she said.

FLTLT Welsh described herself as just a very small cog in a much larger machine, but one that played an important role in keeping operations moving.

Whether supporting humanitarian missions, disaster response or overseas deployments, she sees firsthand how engineering makes a tangible impact.

International Women in Engineering Day is celebrated globally on June 23 every year, with this year’s theme being ‘Engineering Intelligence’.