Women in Engineering: From outsider to expert

“A woman? In engineering?” – This reaction followed Karin Stadler from the beginning of her journey as an engineer. But instead of backing down or becoming discouraged, she met the challenge and made space for herself in this male-dominated field.

Growing up in the mountainous region of the Canton of Uri, Karin developed a fascination for machines early on. She was especially drawn to packaging machines - so much so that, at 15, she decided to study mechanical engineering. Emotionally, moving to Zurich for her studies felt like a journey to another world - not just because of the distance and new dialect, but also because she had to find her footing as a woman in a male-dominated field.

After graduating, she spent 13 years working at Bosch Power Tools in Solothurn - a world full of jigsaws, hammer drills, and circular saws.

“At the time, it was a challenging situation; how do you integrate as a woman in that environment?” she recalls. Her solution: she saw herself as a kind of outsider - a perspective that helped her find her place and forge her path.

Today, Karin is our Head of Engineering in the Polymer Technology department. She leads a team of specialists in elastomers, such as seals and dampening elements, using her expertise to tackle complex technical challenges.

Karin supports customers with demanding projects that go beyond standard solutions. “Effort estimation, resource management, and creating added value for the customer are key to success.”

She applies the Design for Six Sigma (DfSS) approach in her work, with close collaboration being essential: “During the identification phase, we hold weekly meetings with the customer, forming a cross-company development team,” Karin explains.

Her projects are as diverse as they are demanding. One example is the optimisation of an energy-efficient shower drain, which was successfully improved through innovative sealing lip geometry and advanced surface treatments. She also contributed her expertise to the development of seals for a cargo ship. The challenge? A custom solution for an extremely slippery environment with tight deadlines. “The narrow 24-hour port turnaround left no room for error during installation,” she says.

Another project required a compliant rubber-metal connection for drinking water systems. Through targeted testing and carefully selected surface treatments, her team succeeded in creating a permanent bond that met all regulatory requirements.

Karin’s career is a powerful example that success in engineering isn’t about gender - it’s about passion, commitment, and expertise. She’s learned to claim her place and always give a little extra to achieve the best results.

Her advice to young engineers: “Follow your dream, let your curiosity guide you, and dive into the fascinating world of engineering. It’s a wonderful journey into a world that only reveals itself at second glance.”