Interview with Valerie Grasser, process engineer at Rosendahl Nextrom

In the middle of all these crises, we want to celebrate all the women out there, doing incredible work. One of these women at Rosendahl Nextrom is Valerie Grasser, a process engineer at our Austrian headquarters. She recently joined the team and helps make sure our production lines are ready to go!

In this short interview she gives insights on her job, traveling to foreign countries and why everyone should be free to pursue their dream job.

Hi Valerie! Tell us something about your job! What’s it like working as a process engineer?

In this position we work on in-house commissioning and in-house testing, as well as on remote commissioning projects. If the situation allows it, we also travel to customers’ sites. All in all, it’s a very versatile job. It won’t get boring. That’s why I’ve chose it. It’s a perfect mix of theoretical and practical work. Classic computer tasks are part of it, as is direct hands-on work on the machines.

Careful documentation is also an important part of the job. With every commissioning, we gain valuable know-how and experience that we can use for future projects. So next time, the same processes and materials can be set up significantly faster and more efficiently. I’m happy to learn from a skilled and experienced team. The support during my onboarding has been fantastic.

What’s your educational background for this position?

I studied polymer engineering and science at the Montanuniversität Leoben, so I have a rather theoretical background. The practical part, however, is something I have to learn on the job. I have always admired people who create something with their hands. You do not learn the basics of craftsmanship at university. No one shows you how to cut off a thread, for example. Some things can only be learned directly at the machine, or on site. I learn something new every day. That’s what makes this job so exciting.

At the moment Valerie is working on the commissioning for a production line located in China. She is monitoring the process remotely, analyzing data and supporting the local operators with technical instructions and know-how.

Having remote access to a complex machine thousands of kilometers away is impressive, but a strange feeling at the same time. I’m really looking forward to traveling more in the future. It’s one of the most exciting parts of the job. I generally like to travel a lot. I have a soft spot for untypical destinations, off the beaten path - places you won’t ever see as a tourist. Being able to combine my love for traveling and foreign cultures with my job, is something I’m really grateful for.

Quite often you are the only woman in a male-dominated field. How does that feel?

I am often confronted with that. People ask me why I chose this job, because they find it rather unusual for women. My typical answer is “Why not?” Why not pursue a job that you’re interested in? Just because it doesn’t fit outdated gender stereotypes? For me the gender of my colleagues doesn’t matter. And it shouldn’t. There should be no limitations. The same applies if you’re new to a field or lack experience. Don’t hold yourself back. Just because you don’t know something yet, doesn’t mean you can’t learn it. You can learn anything.