From shipyards to solutions: an interview with AEGIR-Marine’s Technical Engineer Sheila Reig

Sheila Reig’s engineering career has taken her from shipyards in Spain to the heart of the Netherlands’ maritime industry. Growing up in Spain, she was drawn to architecture and engineering, fascinated by structure and design. A bachelor’s degree in naval engineering brought those interests together. “Instead of building houses,” she says, “I thought: why not vessels, yachts and ships?”

Sheila began her career at a refit shipyard in Valencia, where she worked for nearly five years. The work was demanding and practical, focused on efficient schedules and real time problem-solving. Over time, she began to ask herself new questions. “I started to think: is this what I really want? Can I do more?”

An unexpected opportunity answered that question. A recruitment agency contacted her about a position at AEGIR-Marine in the Netherlands. Although this hadn’t been part of her plan (she had always thought she would go back to university to study for a master’s degree in naval engineering) she decided to explore the opportunity. After all, “I had heard from lots of the Dutch customers at the shipyard in Valencia that the Netherlands played such a central role in the maritime industry”.

From shipyard to technical engineering

She joined AEGIR-Marine in February 2021 – her first time living and working abroad. Her job title is Technical Engineer in the product group stern tube seals, one of two technical departments at AEGIR-Marine alongside propulsion.

The stern tube seal team consists of five people. “We work closely with the sales department,” she explains. “They come to us with customer questions: is a retrofit possible, what are the options, how long will it take?” From there, the technical scope of work begins.

This consists of feasibility checks, preparation of designs, coordination of purchasing and production, and sorting out class approvals when required. They also work closely with the in-house assembly team, overseeing testing to ensure that the seal housing fits the vessel correctly before shipment.

Fun is important too

Project timelines can vary widely. Sometimes there are months to prepare; at other times, a vessel is already in dry dock and the client needs a solution within days. “It can be stressful,” she admits, “but I really like that. I’m good at adjusting, switching between tasks.”

What Sheila enjoys most about her role is the challenge. “I like facing problems and coming up with solutions. It’s very dynamic.” That dynamic nature is one of the reasons she feels at home at AEGIR-Marine. Work is taken seriously, but so are relationships. “It’s important to have fun at work,” she says. “The company organises social events, we have coffee together every morning, and there are activities outside working hours too.” She recalls the company’s 25th anniversary celebrations, when the entire team went away for a weekend together. “Good relationships with colleagues really matter,” she notes.

Defining success

Sheila’s definition of success is pragmatic. Professionally, it means doing the work properly and supporting customers in the best possible way. “For us, quality is key,” she says. “When everything in the chain works as it should, when the customer receives the right solution without problems – that’s success. You need engineering knowledge, of course, but you also need other skills to grow. For me, it’s important that there’s no end point: you can always learn something new.”

On a personal level, success looks different at different stages of life. “Sometimes growing means moving forward in your career,” she says. “Sometimes it means slowing down, focusing on family, or taking care of yourself. Looking after your personal battery is very important. AEGIR-Marine is very protective of that.”

Visibility and choice

Her advice to young women considering a career in maritime engineering is simple: “Just do it. If it’s something you like, don’t hesitate. Don’t be scared of challenges – no matter what you do in life, there will always be challenges. So don’t let them stop you. Sure, you will make mistakes, but people learn from their mistakes. In the end, I regret much more what I didn’t do than what I did.”

Turning her attention to International Women’s Day, Sheila says that visibility matters. “International Women’s Day is about showing what’s possible for women,” she says. “Yes, there are still industries that are very male dominated. When you look at the numbers, that’s clear.” Her own experience, particularly in shipyards, is a prime example of this: “It depends on who I was dealing with, but sometimes people are just not used to having a woman in front of them working on these kinds of engineering subjects. Therefore, it’s important to show that you can work there, that it’s an interesting and dynamic industry.”

Sheila’s story is a reminder that embracing challenges and learning from experience can open doors to opportunities in any field.