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At Volocopter, we have engineers from many disciplines working on a host of projects. One of those projects focuses on software verification and flight control software. That’s where our colleague Nermin comes in. She’s a qualified software engineer with computer-forward skills that make her a fantastic addition to our team. That’s crucial as we harness our energies to create our urban air mobility (UAM) ecosystem, the VoloIQ. This is the story of Nermin, a software engineer with a passion for aviation.
Nermin, thanks for speaking with us today. Let’s start with an easy question: what do you do at Volocopter?
I’m a Software Verification Engineer. My job involves helping software engineers to develop flight control software (FCS). We also work with a verification supplier. In a previous role, I led my own verification team, and at Volocopter I’m responsible for managing suppliers. My background in software engineering gives me a solid basis to do this. In fact, it’s a field I discovered back when I was 14! One class at school was all it took to get me hooked. Of course, the tech back then was less sophisticated than it is now. I mean, we were writing code in GW-BASIC software. At the time I was developing games that others played. It’s hardly surprising that I went on to study computer engineering.
So you discovered your passion early on! What’s your day-to-day Volocopter life like?
Well, it revolves around the FCS: the brain of our VoloCity air taxi [Volocopter’s launch product]. You may be wondering how it works. Basically, our software takes the input from the pilot control stick and the feedback provided by our aircraft sensors and sends commands to the motors to control the aircraft’s direction and altitude. Besides the pilot’s input, the process is fully automated. The software uses pilot and sensor inputs to issue commands to the aircraft. As for my role in verification, in avionics I’d say 50% of software development concerns verification. We need to ensure an aircraft is safe to fly in every way. It's an ongoing process, but also a very rewarding one.
On any given day, my colleagues and I develop software, test it, and review its performance to ensure everything is working as expected. As the ones developing this software, we need to define the technical requirements. EASA (the European Union Aviation Safety Agency) provides the guidelines for us to follow as we develop, auditing us to ensure our compliance with its DO-178C guidelines.
Inspiring! So, what is it about aviation that has kept you hooked?
Two things: software and computer engineering. I also studied computer graphics, adding another layer to my skill set. My first-ever task was to map out a 3D flight path on real-life terrain, which I tackled using my computer graphics knowledge. I worked on a range of defense projects after that, but ultimately switched to avionics, where I discovered my real passion. It may be a niche, but it allows my skills to shine.
In aviation, obtaining any kind of certification is no easy feat. I used to work for Turkish Aerospace Industries, on a project that took over 6 years to complete. Iterations were the order of the day, to create a working prototype. Certification itself is a long process (sometimes lasting up to several years!) and can necessitate structural changes.
As a company, Volocopter appealed to me due to its startup nature and the chance to focus on avionics. I'm creating a product from scratch, and using and developing brand-new and cutting-edge technologies. In avionics we often still work with existing tools to produce these new technologies due to the lengthy nature of our projects and the difficulty of changing a tool partway through the process.
Excellent! As a woman in aviation, do you feel more women are finding their way into the industry, or is it still a very gender-traditional field?
There have definitely been few women in aviation during my time. In my computer engineering classes, for example, I’d estimate around 15-20% female representation. You do notice the gender divide initially, but your focus quickly shifts to the work at hand. Besides, I don’t define myself by my gender, but by the work I do as Nermin, an engineer. That percentage did fall once I started working in the industry though.
Do you think women are shying away from a career in aviation? If so, why?
I know they’re pursuing different paths. Perhaps that’s related to how we’re raising our daughters. Maybe we should be buying them toy drones as well as dolls – that's my strategy, at least! (smiles)
My parents always treated my brother and I as equals, encouraging us to pursue careers in any field of our choosing. Without any sort of stigma. And I do believe major corporates are now searching for more female engineers. There are facts to back up this assertion: the number of women in technical and management roles is tracked, and KPIs are worked toward with a view to boosting these numbers.
Do you think women in aviation today have it easy? Or would you say you had to work harder than your male counterparts to get to where you are?
I worked really hard, especially in the early days. I wanted to prove myself and gain experience. But the same applies to most colleagues. I don’t believe I had to work harder just because I’m a woman. However, I would say it’s harder for women to climb the ladder when it comes to management and C-level positions.
Does that mean you have C-level aspirations?
I used to run my own company, so I’ve been there, done that, and got the proverbial T-shirt. Still, I’d prefer to be part of a more overarching goal, instead of a high-flier in a small business.
Have there been any women in aviation you’ve looked up to during your career?
My superiors have always been men. But, I did take some cues from their management styles, adopting the best practices I deemed particularly effective. I’ve not worked under a female boss to date, but I would welcome the experience.
What’s the best professional advice you’ve received so far?
A manager once told me to keep my eyes trained on the big picture when making decisions. We all tend to focus on our respective areas of responsibility during our daily work, but it’s important to not lose sight of our overall goal. Otherwise, it can lead to poor, misaligned decision-making.
What advice would you give to young women keen on entering aviation?
They should take their destiny into their own hands. While it isn’t easy to pursue our dreams, I believe our passion and curiosity will guide us. We're usually told to do things, but we’re not always told why. I encourage all women to ask questions, to speak up, to consider the big picture. And, if they’re not satisfied with a response, I urge them to challenge the status quo. There are always new ways to be creative and achieve results. Don't just follow the crowd.
Sage advice indeed. To wrap up, can you tell us why you love working at Volocopter?
I’m a big fan of the startup mentality. My colleagues are a very dynamic bunch, and having access to new technologies motivates me to achieve. It makes work so much fun. I believe old technologies have had their day in the sun, they no longer inspire me. I appreciate the international environment here at Volocopter – it's definitely one of the perks! Everybody joins with their own experiences, but we work together toward common objectives. New people, new cultures, and new perspectives are what keep me smiling.
Thank you, Nermin, for sharing your story with us.
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