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FLIR’s Moreira Aspires to Inspire Others to Change the World via Engineering
Since joining Wilsonville, OR-headquartered FLIR Systems, Inc. in 2010, Julie Hoy Moreira has been an integral part of the company’s research and development group of the OEM and emerging division.
Through her role as a systems design engineer, Moreira helps maintain FLIR’s reputation as a leader in the design and production of thermal-imaging cameras, components and imaging sensors.
“Systems engineers operate as technical leads for thermal-imaging camera core products from the design concept phase all the way through transfer to production,” she explains, adding that her current projects are focused on cooled mid-wave infrared (MWIR) camera cores.
She further points out that the intradisciplinary aspects of her job allow for an endless array of engineering technologies to learn and master.
Moreira honed her skills - both technical and leadership - during her time at University of Texas at San Antonio where she earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, as well as during her graduate coursework at University of California Santa Barbara, where she obtained her master’s degree in the same field.
In addition to her coursework, Moreira held internships at various tech companies and institutes in the Southwest, and worked as a research and teaching assistant - experiences that she credits with guiding her toward the facet of engineering about which she’s most passionate.
Among the most influential experiences during her time in academia was her final internship with the Goleta, CA location of the company for which she’s currently a systems design engineer.
“My final internship was at FLIR working on infrared camera cores in the systems engineering group, and it was a perfect fit - challenging, intradisciplinary and collaborative,” she notes.
An avid supporter of Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Moreira further encourages young engineers entering the industry, especially women, to make the most of the knowledge held by senior coworkers with decades of experience in their field while maintaining the belief that the search for innovation opportunities in an industry as dynamic as engineering should never cease.
Moreira puts this belief to practice by taking part in FLIR’s mentorship program, through which two vice presidents of engineering are mentoring her while she’s mentoring a new engineer.
Though she initially considered a career in academia, Moreira found herself drawn to the more tangible aspects of what she could accomplish in industry.
“I’m highly motivated by the quick turn-around on product development and realizing the end application - our infrared camera systems, something I contribute to - directly benefit society, and save lives and livelihoods,” she indicates.
She continues to remain engaged in academic endeavors outside of FLIR - which recently announced its opening of a second headquarters in Arlington, VA - by way of giving quarterly presentations to students enrolled in the introduction to engineering class at Santa Barbara Community College.
Moreira uses these presentations to not only offer insight into her path to engineering as a career choice and to her current position at FLIR, but also to inspire an increasingly diverse group of students to pursue degrees in engineering.
“I’d love the opportunity to build up and enable the next generation of engineers, especially women, which make up such a small percentage of this important profession,” she shares.
Learn more about FLIR at flir.com and flir.com/about/careers, and connect on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.
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