Airbus engineer urges other young women to take up roles in engineering
Date: August 14, 2026
Amber Wilkes, 25 is successful engineer at Airbus, a role she is thrilled to be in following the successful completion of the company’s two-year graduate training programme.
Originally from Abergele in North Wales, Amber studied product design before enrolling onto the Broughton based graduate programme at Airbus where she learned about the different areas of the business. She is now also studying part-time for her Masters in Engineering (Mechanical Manufacturing) at Wrexham University and is urging other young people, especially women, to consider a career in engineering.
“I've always had an interest in engineering,” said Amber. “I've always been interested in trying to push the boundaries of what's possible, to explore and learn as much as I can, and to understand how things work, and turn ideas into reality. For me, engineering is the perfect bridge between conceptual problem-solving and physical creation.
“I started at Airbus in September 2023. I rotated around different areas of the business and was fortunate to do a three-month placement in Alabama in America, where I got to work at the final assembly line. Then in July last year, I came into my final role which is as an industrialisation engineer. I work within manufacturing engineering for both the single aisle A320 and wide body A350 commercial aircraft, where we essentially industrialise major modifications into the industrial system, see if they're feasible, and then work out how to implement them.
“I decided to apply for a Masters, because alongside this role which allows me to build technical knowledge, it’s the next step towards becoming a Chartered Engineer.
I chose Wrexham University as its proximity to Broughton’s Airbus facility made it the ideal place to support my role within aerospace manufacturing. It also has brand new facilities. I attend uni once a week, the strong technical foundation and practical skills I’m learning have really boosted my confidence.
“I believe it’s important that engineering is seen as a career choice for a wide range of people from different backgrounds, and that there is a diverse representation of people in the sector.
“I want to help inspire the next generation of female engineering talent because it’s such an interesting and rewarding field!”
Wrexham University offers a wide range of engineering undergraduate and post graduate courses, including degree apprenticeships. Find out more here. Clearing places available now for courses beginning in Autumn 2026.