Tara Baker: A Soaring Star in Engineering

Meet Tara Baker, the FY24 Society of Women Engineers Trailblazer awardee! When she learned about the award, three words summed up her feelings: "I was shocked!"

This prestigious honor recognizes Tara's incredible contributions to the field of engineering. It's an Ascent level award in the Academia, Management and Technical track and Accomplishments in the Academia, Management and Technology sub-track within the Society of Women Engineers.

This award honors one who has been actively engaged for five to ten years in the fields of engineering, engineering management, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related to engineering. The nominee must have demonstrated outstanding technical performance and/or leadership in a technical field, as well as leadership in professional organizations and the community.

Tara says she was surprised early in the nomination process. "One of the areas was on community involvement. I felt like I didn't have much, but I received letters of recommendation from different organizations. I didn't realize how much I had dedicated to the community," Tara said.

For nearly a decade, Tara has blazed a trail in the aerospace industry. Currently, she's an Advanced Product Engineer in the Manufacturing Research and Development department, focusing on composites fabrication at the Kingston, North Carolina facility. You can find her solving problems and ensuring top quality on the Airbus A350 fuselage. "I like that no two days are the same," said Tara. "I enjoy mixing up my schedule by having some time at my desk and spending time on the floor doing hands-on work."

Earning both a bachelor's degree in polymer and fiber engineering and a master's in mechanical engineering, Tara's educational background is as impressive as her career. She's consistently recognized for her relentless drive and ability to get things done. As Tara herself says, the Trailblazer award "re-energized" her and gave her a confidence boost.

We'll celebrate Tara's achievements at WE24: Together We Rise, Oct. 24-26, at the world's largest conference for women in engineering and technology.

Tara isn't your Average Engineer

She has a knack for spotting inefficiencies and a drive to improve things. This became clear right after graduating from Georgia Tech in 2014, when she landed a job on the 787 Dreamliner in Charleston, S.C.

She supported a team that prepped the fuselage for non-destructive inspection. She quickly saw how it required multiple shifts and was labor-intensive. Tara knew there had to be a smarter way. She dug into the requirements and realized a change to the inspection process itself could eliminate some of the grueling steps. Within six months, her solution was implemented, saving time and resources and even improving the quality of the inspections!

In 2017, Tara's talents led her to become the project manager, where she collaborated with NASA and universities. She was responsible for ensuring budgets, schedules and experiments met or exceeded expectations.

Her skills caught the attention of top engineers, and she was chosen for a special project: finding a new way to dampen sound in nacelle structures.

The goal? Deliver a test part to NASA with lower costs, faster processing times, and equivalent sound-dampening abilities.

It was a team effort, but Tara's relentless tinkering with materials and techniques led to a breakthrough - a solution that not only worked but earned her three patents!

In 2021, Tara joined Spirit AeroSystems, diving back into production on the Airbus A350 fuselage. "I'm glad that Spirit's work culture supports being part of a team. It definitely helps in identifying challenges," she says.

But her thirst for innovation wasn't quenched. She started work on the HondaJet HJ2600 and built out manufacturing processes from scratch.

She tackled a persistent defect issue, leading a team to methodically test different possibilities and identify the real culprits. With data in hand, she convinced the team to focus on the right areas, leading to a significant increase in compliance and quality.

Tara isn't afraid to challenge the status quo either. She used data to propose more realistic quality standards and even championed a reduction in inspection frequency, all while ensuring part quality remained top-notch.

Building Bonds at Work & Beyond

Now, mid-career and brimming with experience, Tara is passionate about giving back.

She established a thriving young professionals group, The Kingston Young Professionals Group. This group became a place for these new hires to network outside the office, explore the city, and navigate the sometimes complex world of a new company. Tara's commitment to building community extends to a couple of co-working mentees, helping them navigate the industry.

Knowing the importance of support networks, Tara also mentors new aerospace engineers, helping them navigate the industry.

Giving back extends to furry friends as well. She enjoys spending time with her two rescue dogs, Moose and Mia.

While in Charleston, Tara and her husband were foster parents with Eunoia Rescue, opening their hearts and home to countless dogs in need. Even after relocating to North Carolina, they continue to support Eunoia and other animal rescue organizations.

Faith also plays a big role in Tara's life. She's a dedicated member of her church's young choir, "Voices in Praise," where she reconnects with her musical roots and gives back to her community.

Outside of work, you'll also find her in the garden or traveling. Some of her favorite trips have included visits to Italy and Thailand.

A champion for women in engineering, Tara was actively involved with the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) during her time at Boeing, attending conferences and building a strong network. This dedication didn't fade with a change of workplace. She's back in the fold, playing a key role in Spirit's SWE chapter. "I plan to reach out to other women engineers to increase the circle of SWE members," Tara said.

Success will Continue

Throughout her career, Tara hasn't been unafraid to challenge the status quo and is always looking for ways to improve processes.

She's a champion for her team members and a strong advocate for those on the shop floor. As for her future? "My goal is to be a technical fellow. At that point, you are considered an expert in your area," Tara said. "I feel like I will be ready for this challenge later in my career."

She's built a solid technical background in composite fabrication and is emerging as a key player in both manufacturing support and research and development. The impact of her work can be seen across multiple customers, such as Boeing, Airbus, and NASA, over a variety of product types, including fuselages, nacelles, and stringers.

Congratulations, Tara! You're a true Trailblazer.