What does an Entegris employee look like? What do they do all day, and what do they like about their jobs? This is part of a series that will take a deep dive into a variety of careers at Entegris. We’ll highlight several employees and their valuable contribution to the organization. What do they do, how are they succeeding, and why do they think Entegris is a great place to work?
Can you briefly describe what your role at Entegris entails?
I’ve been on our new product development team since I started at Entegris in 2014. In my current role, I lead a team that’s focused on the design of our liquid filters. This includes the mechanical engineering aspects of building the filter, designing the components that go into it, and looking at all the customer requirements associated with bringing new products to market.
Did you always know you wanted to pursue a career in the tech sector? If not, how did you become interested in the field?
I figured it out while I was in high school. I was always strong in math and science, but unlike many of my peers, healthcare wasn’t a draw for me. I started looking into technology and engineering and decided to attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Massachusetts. After graduating, I came to Entegris, and I’ve been able to keep growing my role in the decade since. Being at the same company for my entire career so far, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the technology, continually building my knowledge base and learning details about our products and technologies, which helps me in my leadership role.
What’s the best piece of career advice you would offer to someone?
The main thing I would advise is to find good mentors. I’ve had great mentors in my career, both male and female, and being able bounce ideas off them and gain insight into how others see your skills is invaluable. Then, you can become a good mentor in turn to others entering the company. I enjoy mentoring new engineers and passing down the guidance I’ve received.
What challenges have you faced being a woman in an engineering profession? How have they differed from what you may have anticipated?
I haven’t faced many specific challenges, but WPI’s enrollment is 30% female, so I got used to things like being the only female in a class, which sometimes happens here in meetings as well. It doesn’t hinder my ability to communicate, but you can’t help noticing it. It has been logged in my memory bank and adds to my desire to increase mentoring of female leaders in the company.
What are some projects you’ve worked on or developed that you’re especially proud of?
Recently, I’ve been heavily involved in the startup of our Kaohsiung Science Park facility in Taiwan. Being engaged with the global team – in Taiwan, Japan, and the U.S. – has helped me learn a lot and make new connections. The team has evolved so much, just in the past couple of years, and it’s been great to see and participate in that. And I’ve always enjoyed working on our new products—it’s a long list, almost too many to count. It's exciting when we launch something, to know that you’ve been able to solve a customer problem and to see the results of your work.
How have you observed opportunities for women evolve over your decade in the industry? How does Entegris support women in engineering?
The number of women has greatly increased since I've been in the industry. When I started, there was a very small group of women within Entegris, or at least in the area that I worked in. I had one other female engineer on my team who’s been a great resource for me, as she's been at Entegris for about 25 years. But I've definitely seen that number grow; on my team, it reached 50/50 at one point. One of the main things that Entegris does is remove barriers—to advancement, participation and contribution. I haven’t faced the kinds of challenges that some women may encounter coming into a tech company. I’ve been able to communicate with people at all levels of the company, and that’s made it easier for me to grow into leadership.
What do you like best about working at Entegris?
There are two key things, in addition to the culture:
Thanks to Christine for sharing this great information about her role at Entegris. Learn more about Entegris careers!