How a Childhood Hobby and Ongoing Learning Shaped This Developer’s Career

Meet Marina: a seasoned developer and manager at Cadence (formerly Beta CAE). Marina’s journey is a compelling example of how pursuing a career that blends various fields can lead to success. Armed with a solid background in production engineering and management, she has skillfully leveraged her engineering expertise to excel in programming and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). 

Here, we explore her inspiring story and notable projects and gather valuable insights for those looking to build a unique career trajectory.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I grew up in Veria, a small city near Thessaloniki, Greece. My interest in programming was ignited at a young age. I vividly recall writing my first piece of code on an old ZX Spectrum computer when I was just 10 years old. Little did I know that this lighthearted endeavor would pave the way for my career.

At 18, I enrolled in the Technical University of Crete to pursue an undergraduate degree in production engineering and management in Chania. While my studies provided a solid foundation in engineering, my true passion remained in programming. A changing moment in my journey came through my supervisor, Dr. Nicholos, who introduced me to captivating topics like fluid dynamics, turbomachinery, and design optimization. These areas became the backdrop for my involvement in CFD.

During my postgraduate studies, I became interested in evolutionary algorithms and devised techniques to parallelize these algorithms to optimize solutions. This work was a natural progression from my undergraduate thesis, which focused on converting 2D to 3D meshing. Over the next four years, I collaborated with Dr. Nicholos on genetic and evolutionary algorithms, which allowed me to merge my love for programming with my engineering studies. This experience sharpened my technical skills and deepened my passion for programming in the field of CFD.

Can you share how your career journey began and describe your current role at Cadence?

After graduation, my career began as a junior developer with Beta CAE (now Cadence). At that time, the company was smaller, and roles were not clearly defined. We took on various tasks, often encompassing multiple areas of responsibility. As the company has grown, roles have become more distinct, yet we still prioritize collaboration across departments.

Currently, I manage the mesh generation team, focusing on 3D modeling and related processes. Although my responsibilities expand beyond the CFD discipline, I always find CFD projects fulfilling. In the last 18 years of my career journey, I’ve experienced many ups and downs, but my passion for my job and programming remains strong. It’s a field that continuously piques my interest and promotes constant learning.

Can you share any project highlights from your tenure at Cadence?

I’m proud of many projects that I’ve participated in throughout the years. I was one of the first developers involved in 3D modeling at Beta CAE (now Cadence). Some highlights from my early years include designing the architecture to support 3D meshing and creating the initial generators for structured mesh modeling in our software.

Over the years, I have been involved in so many projects that I sometimes struggle to remember them all. I’ve become so immersed in the work that I feel deeply connected to the code.

Have you contemplated pursuing an alternate profession at any point in your career, including during your earlier years?

I envisioned a path toward becoming a teacher during my early career years. However, after becoming a mother, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the complexities and challenges of teaching. I’ve also considered other career options, such as event management or working in human resources, as I find great fulfillment in organizing and supporting individuals.

Additionally, I have a strong passion for crafts and DIY projects, which reflects my creative abilities. While I recognize that I could have thrived in various fields, I find great satisfaction in my current role as a developer and am grateful for the opportunities it presents.

What activities do you engage in during your leisure hours?

I love biking, walking, and diving into a good book, although I haven’t read much lately. Spending quality time with my son and traveling abroad also bring me joy. I’ve explored various destinations in Europe, and I truly enjoy immersing myself in different cultures, exploring new cities, and meeting fascinating people along the way.

Given the challenges women face, what strategies could be implemented to encourage more women to pursue careers in engineering or technical fields?

It’s important to make technical universities more welcoming and accessible for women. We must also challenge the outdated notion that certain jobs are exclusively for men. There is no such thing as a “man’s job” or a “woman’s job”—anyone can excel in their chosen field.

Collaboration between male and female professionals is essential. Both men and women bring unique perspectives, and this diversity can foster innovation and improve problem-solving. Working alongside men in this field has been incredibly rewarding; it has allowed me to demonstrate my capabilities and learn from our teamwork.

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