My “Intro to Physics” professor, Dr. Juliet Brosing, was a strong inspiration. I took her course for fun as I’d always enjoyed math/physics but didn’t think I belonged in that field. Towards the end of my first semester she said, “You can do this! I’m not letting you choose otherwise.” She became an important mentor, cheerleading and challenging me throughout my university years.

I am responsible for assessing needs and identifying gaps in optical-engineering expertise across research pillars at Meta. This involves working with various teams and stakeholders to gain a deep understanding of their requirements and challenges. Another important aspect of my role is supporting the career development of my team members, providing guidance, mentorship, and opportunities for growth and advancement. I also establish strong relationships with other teams, organizations, and disciplines within the company, so that we
effectively collaborate and work toward common goals.

One of my greatest achievements is learning to be courageous. Having faced various obstacles that could have sent me down a completely different path, I chose to take the leap whenever I had the chance, whether it was choosing a degree I didn’t think I was good enough for, moving across the country for my first industry job, or leaving Microsoft to move to Germany for my master’s degree at 29. These decisions have impacted who I am as well as how I approach engineering.

One of the biggest challenges in my career was finding a job after my master’s program when the world had shut down from Covid. Happily, I had developed a great network, and that moved me forward.

The most common theme I’ve come across in women’s advocacy work and have struggled with myself is confidence: “Do I belong here?”, “Will they take me seriously?” etc. I encourage young girls and women to take up space. You belong here. You deserve respect. Your opinions matter. Your work matters. You are valued. Don’t ever stand for letting anyone make you feel otherwise.

I hope to have a positive impact on the women in my organization, changing the culture so that they feel empowered and don’t have to spend energy fighting for respect or to be seen.

Simone Carpenter
Optical Engineering Manager, Meta
Born in United States / Resides in United States
Educational Background: BS in Physics, Pacific University, United States; MS in Optics and Photonics, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, Germany