Information magazine of the Department of Industrial Engineering
Università di Trento
Information magazine of the Department of Industrial Engineering
Università di Trento
From the very first university “open day,” Virginia Caldara realized that the world of materials science would be the right path for her. Her interest was sparked during her first lab analyses, simple experiments that revealed the potential of this discipline.
“During my studies I was always interested in all methodologies of material analysis and especially in production technologies, but I never imagined I would pursue the career I eventually chose. I was always undecided about my professional future; there were many fields I could have moved into, but also fear about how to adapt my theoretical knowledge to the practical needs of companies.”
The turning point came with her thesis, which allowed her to test herself in a new and international context. She chose to collaborate with an Italian multinational at its foreign branch, engaging with the topic of chemical recycling of nylon and related production processes.
“For my thesis I decided to collaborate with an Italian multinational at its foreign branch, for two main reasons: first, to experience a completely different environment from university and get closer to the world of work, and second, to live abroad. The company dealt with chemical recycling of nylon and yarn production; my thesis aimed to identify and analyze the various impurities from depolymerization in the different reactors in order to optimize the polymerization process.”
The transition from university to the corporate world was demanding but highly formative. Entering the workplace meant facing complex problems, tight deadlines, and the need for quick decisions.
“In the corporate world problems are more complex, ambiguous and urgent; there are no perfect solutions, and decision-making speed and adaptability matter a lot. At the beginning you feel frustrated, underprepared and useless, but eventually you realize that learning continues every day: you learn from colleagues, from mistakes, and from processes.”
After graduation, her professional career developed in the automotive sector. Today she works as a Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) at Tesla, after holding the same position in another company in the industry.
“An SQE manages suppliers, industrializes components with them from design to production, ensuring all materials meet the required quality standards. It’s a job that satisfies me every day because it allows me to discover new products and technologies and because it allows me to interact with different roles, from design and manufacturing to purchasing and project management.”
Responsibilities are high, as are the daily challenges. The fast pace of production and issues related to supplier quality require quick thinking, organization, and resilience.
“Challenges and difficulties are part of daily life: meeting very tight deadlines for the launch of a new product or the daily nonconformity issues from suppliers, which require quick root cause analysis, are certainly the two main aspects to highlight, since internal production pressure is high and constant. This role definitely requires resilience, quick thinking, and strong organizational skills.”
For Virginia, working at a company like Tesla means being immersed every day in continuous innovation. And this is precisely the aspect that motivates her most.
“The automotive sector faces daily innovation challenges, and I am grateful to work at a cutting-edge company like Tesla, which can undoubtedly be considered a leader in innovation. I really like to think that one day cars will no longer be just mechanics and engines but real computers capable of taking us anywhere we want without effort; autonomous driving is certainly an innovation that will revolutionize the way we live.”
In her role, technical preparation is essential, but it is not enough on its own. Over time, Virginia has learned to give more importance to transversal skills, especially communication, in order to adapt to all her interlocutors.
“Of course you need a solid technical base to understand and solve daily problems, but it is crucial to explain technical concepts clearly to the whole team. In my role, clear and direct communication and organizational skills are very important: very often problems are simultaneous, and it is essential to keep track of all project phases, responsible people, and related deadlines.
I’ve always been a very precise and organized person, so my biggest challenge was to develop good communication skills. The key thing I’ve learned is that you have to adapt your language to your interlocutor; with a technician you can go into detail, with a manager instead you need to communicate impacts, risks, and project status.”
To young people approaching this sector, Virginia leaves a simple but essential piece of advice: be curious, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
“Only by asking questions and not being afraid to make mistakes can you learn. I believe that beyond technical skills, organizational and communication abilities are two fundamental aspects to improve quickly every day and to face daily challenges under pressure.
For the future, I hope it remains dynamic: I want to always work in companies that invest in innovation, be part of transformation projects, and keep learning, even outside my comfort zone.”
