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In high school, Helena Cristobal wanted to invent the “infinite battery.” She now works at the forefront of the electric vehicle (EV) charging industry.
Carley Mollica was 13 when her parents sent her to an engineering camp, and she became hooked. She now works in robotics.
Tambre Paster has known since she visited NASA in seventh grade that she wanted to work in the aerospace industry. She is now involved in making Lockheed Martin’s supply chain more resilient.
Today, these three women engineers are not only leaders in their fields, but are also strong advocates for STEM education who are dedicated to mentoring the next generation of women in manufacturing. For their effort and commitment, Manufacturing USA has named them Modern Makers, individuals whose sense of purpose embodies Manufacturing USA’s mission to secure the future of U.S. manufacturing through innovation, education, and collaboration.
Electrical Engineer Innovating EV Charging, Helena Cristobal
Helena Cristobal is a senior electrical engineer at Atom Power. She is working on improving EV charging infrastructure through projects with PowerAmerica, the Manufacturing USA institute dedicated to wide bandgap semiconductor technology.
Helena started her career in the automotive industry, designing electronics to transfer energy from batteries to electric motors in electric vehicles. In 2023, she joined Atom Power, where she leveraged wide bandgap semiconductors to make EV charging safer and more reliable.
“Stay curious,” Helena encourages young women interested in STEM. “Be open to continuously learning new concepts, techniques, and perspectives, not only in your area but in different areas. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and challenge the status quo.”
Materials Science Engineer at the Forefront of Robotics, Carley Mollica
Carley Mollica is a program management manager for Lockheed Martin who is passionate about robotics. A member of the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Institute (ARM), she leads efforts to incorporate advanced robotics into the military’s defense capabilities.
Carley has a Ph.D. in materials science engineering and has been working in the manufacturing industry for more than 10 years. When she was at engineering camp as a 13-year-old, she visited Lockheed Martin in Syracuse, NY, where she got excited by the challenging nature of the work. From that day forward, all of her career and personal growth decisions were focused on building her skills so that she could join the Lockheed team.
Carley’s advice to girls interested in technology is to “be comfortable being uncomfortable. After all, some of the best ideas are born through creativity, ingenuity, and confidence in yourself.”
Cybersecurity Engineer in Supply Chains, Tambre Paster
Tambre Paster is an associate technical fellow at Lockheed Martin. She is working on a doctoral degree in engineering and has more than 20 years of experience in the manufacturing industry. She recently joined Lockheed’s Supply Chain Risk Management team, where she will help develop the company’s strategy for making its supply chains more resilient.
Tambre has participated in many projects at CyManII, the Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute. She is a member of the Women in Cybersecurity organization and mentors young women who are interested in pursuing careers in cybersecurity.
Since her seventh-grade trip to NASA in Houston, Tambre has always marveled at the collective good people can accomplish when they work together. “We unlock the secrets of the universe, fly heavy machinery through the air with pinpoint precision, and travel faster than sound itself!” she says.
Learn More About Modern Makers and the Manufacturing USA Network
Helena, Carley, and Tambre are inspiring women engineers who are making a difference in the world of manufacturing. To read more about them and the exciting work they and other Modern Makers are doing, please visit the Manufacturing USA website, where you can also learn about the Manufacturing USA network of institutes and the many opportunities they provide to learn, network, and make a difference.
Supporting Content
This episode of Diverse: a SWE podcast is brought to you by Modern Makers — a program that honors individuals whose sense of purpose embodies the Manufacturing USA mission to secure the future of U.S. manufacturing:
