Our Lead(H)er series features impressive women leaders in the tech industry. In this Q&A, we are featuring Stephanie Waite, Director of Systems Engineering at Symbotic.
Where did you grow up and how would you describe yourself as a child?
I grew up in a small town in upstate New York. When I was little, looking back, I’d describe myself as adventurous, outgoing, and competitive – growing up it was all sports all the time!
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I’m still active in competitive sports and use competition as a healthy way to manage stress. I’ve played volleyball since I was in college and have only taken one year off – in 2020, during the height of the pandemic. These days I also incorporate board games into the roster as well.
What did you study in college and what was your first job out of school?
I decided to get my bachelor’s degree in physics and math at a liberal arts college in New York. I thought a liberal arts college would be more well-rounded and that I’d have a clearer picture of different career paths than if I went somewhere for a specialized degree. After I completed my undergrad studies, I knew I wanted to continue my education and decided to focus on engineering. I went to Boston University and graduated with my master’s degree in electrical engineering. It was a lot of school, but I didn’t mind putting off the real world for a bit longer to truly determine what I wanted to do. My first job after graduating from BU was at Raytheon, working on the Patriot missile defense system where I tested electro-optical beam steering units.
Can you share more details on your career path and – specifically – what were the critical moments that got you to where you are today?
My career path has been predominantly driven by relationships as opposed to ‘moments’. It’s been my connections that have led me to almost every opportunity I’ve had. I got my first job at Raytheon thanks to a connection who worked there and gave me a tip that they were looking for a greater number of qualified, female candidates, so I applied. I’m not sure I’d have known about that role if my connection hadn’t told me about it – and given me the confidence to apply right out of my master’s program. After Raytheon, it was another referral that led me to interview at Global Foundries. I was one of the youngest applicants, but my contact assured me I was right for the role, and it led to several years of success before I made my way to Alert Innovation and Symbotic through similar connections. I’ve kept in touch with many of the people I’ve forged relationships with throughout my career to this day. You never know where your next opportunity could come from!
What is your current role and responsibilities?
As the Director of Systems Engineering at Symbotic, I manage a variety of things, but my primary focus is to produce clear concepts of operations that define and document how our complex systems function. With the full scope of our systems and customer needs in mind, I produce deliverable requirements to guide our engineering teams to deliver solutions that not only uphold, but exceed our customer expectations.
Looking back, is this where you thought you’d be professionally? Was it always your goal to be in this position?
No, this is not at all where I thought I’d be professionally, nor is it what I set out to do. When I decided to get my master’s in engineering, it wasn’t with the goal of becoming a director of engineering. At the time, I simply wanted to continue school, and it seemed like a logical next step. I believe it’s my liberal arts background that has served me most to get me to where I am today. It didn’t just give me a well-rounded education, it made me a more well-rounded person, especially as a thinker and leader.
For people who are looking to be in a similar position, what advice would you give to others in terms of helping them achieve their career goals?
Communication is key. It’s a cliché, but it’s true. Cultivate a broad understanding and ask questions to truly understand the “why” of a situation. Don’t just accept the answer that is given: dig in further to understand all the little pieces and to get the full view. Beyond that, 50% of the job is helping the organization to move in a more cohesive direction, so it’s important to figure out how to positively influence at all levels, from entry level to the CEO: how to communicate in their language, ensure you understand all the moving parts, and determine or recommend the best course of action based on that full view.
Relationships are so important, too, in terms of who and how you influence. With that in mind, make friends and help support others whenever you can – you never know where it will lead you.
What are the most important skills that you need to do your job well?
Communication and influence are non-negotiable when it comes to required skills. Furthermore, truly understanding the end-to-end vision from all angles is critical to being as efficient as possible and avoiding any oversights while delivering against often tight timelines. Always be curious and ask lots of questions. I find by maintaining a “tell me more” attitude that keeps the conversation flowing, you can often glean critical additional details that greatly help your understanding.
What do you find most interesting/rewarding about your work? What’s the most challenging?
Unintentionally, the theme for me is ‘connections’, again. The most rewarding part of my work is the relationships I build across my network. Some of the smartest, most dedicated and passionate people that I know are the people I work with and learn from every day.
The most challenging aspect is figuring out how to influence business leaders at the highest level. It’s truly an art of tailoring needs and questions in a way leadership understands – and delivering information in quick pitches to capitalize on the limited time they have to give.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment?
I’m quite proud of the work I’ve done to advocate for the value that systems engineers provide – something which can often be overlooked. A particularly meaningful memory was when a former manager, who now speaks on building and leading successful startups, shared that he emphasizes the importance of hiring strong system engineers early. He said that he initially underestimated the scope and value of my work, and that working with me helped reshape his entire perspective of the role. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that my impact has inspired him to champion the value of system engineers to entrepreneurs and emerging founders, especially as this message creates a pathway for new talent to make significant contributions earlier in their careers.
What advice do you have for recent college graduates?
Be open to different opportunities than you were expecting. Your life can go in so many different directions. Make friends and see where it goes. It really can be as simple as that.