Kitron strives to create an environment where everyone is valued and seen as an equal team member, bringing their unique ideas and perspectives. The increasing number of women finding their passion in engineering is encouraging. Among our true inspirations is Kitron Lithuania's Product Engineer, Paulina Kilnaitė, who unexpectedly discovered her passion for electronics engineering.
In this interview with Paulina, we explore her career journey, following her dreams and challenging the outdated notion that engineering is a male-dominated field.
What inspired you to pursue an engineering career?
This may sound very boring, but I was a real numbers geek at school and always did well in maths and physics. After graduating from art school, my parents thought I would combine my two skills and become an architect. However, I decided to pursue a career in science instead. I later realised that I had not strayed too far from the arts—engineering always requires out-of-the-box thinking, so there is definitely a creative component to engineering.
How did you start your career at Kitron?
I studied Aviation Engineering at Kaunas University of Technology. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the aviation sector was quite closed to protect employees and prevent outbreaks inside companies. Therefore, university representatives advised me to seek internships in other engineering fields. This was how my journey at Kitron began unexpectedly. I had been searching for an internship when a Camp Kitron trainee programme ad caught my attention. After a few interviews, I was delighted to receive an invitation to join Kitron.
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How did your career develop from there?
The initial plan was to stay here for only four months of the trainee programme. However, after completing the program, I was offered a position in the Technical department as a Junior Product Engineer, and I thought, why not?
So that's how the first month, quarter, and entire year flew by. In the meantime, I was promoted to Product Engineer, taking on new customers, new projects, and, most importantly, an endless amount of knowledge, both from my day-to-day work activities and from my colleagues, who are always willing to share their experiences. Time flies by, and it's bittersweet that I'm about to celebrate my third anniversary here at Kitron.
In your experience with Kitron, what opportunities have you encountered for professional growth and development?
Coming from a completely different engineering sector, I had to experience and learn a lot of new things from the first day at Kitron. I have received a very broad range of knowledge, including both hard and soft skills, from component identification and understanding electronics standards and manufacturing processes to personal skills such as business communication, public speaking and teamwork. Moreover, I am only referring to things that have naturally developed as a result of my daily work.
What still amazes me is how much Kitron is willing to invest in employees, both in terms of Kitron Academy training and development opportunities in general. Tell them what area you wish to improve, and you will instantly be given the opportunity to gain new knowledge. Perhaps initially, just a variety of materials from previous training, but in the long run, you will be able to practice your skills in real projects related to your area of interest.
How do you see women's role in engineering evolving in the coming years?
"Engineering? It must be very difficult. How did you come up with that?", "Are there many women?", "It's a man's profession." I usually get comments like that whenever I mention that I am studying and working in engineering. You hear this from both younger and older people, so the stereotype that engineering is a male-dominated field has not disappeared yet.
However, in my environment, I notice that more and more girls or young women are choosing to study or work in engineering-related positions, so I believe that the number of women in this field will continue to increase, although perhaps not at a rapid pace, but slowly.
Again, Kitron itself is a great example. A couple of years ago, I was the only female Product Engineer; now, there are three of us. We also have a young female Test Engineer among many men, and women are increasingly taking on positions such as Team Lead or SMT Process Engineer.
Is there any advice you would like to give to women engineers who are considering a career at Kitron?
From my own experience, Kitron is an excellent place not only to learn but also to apply your skills. I would advise you not to be afraid and go for it, even if you have no previous experience with electronics. Kitron is an electronics manufacturing services company, but it is a fusion of all possible fields, including electronics, the manufacturing industry, logistics, computer/software skills, teamwork, international relations, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and leadership.
Remember that if things do not work out, there is always help and advice available, and if things go well, you will be encouraged to continue moving forward.
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