After starting her career in defence, system safety engineer Jennifer Del Mastro is now a leading figure in aviation safety engineering.
As told to Lachlan Haycock
The trajectory of my career could have been quite different. I vividly remember the turning point, a moment that reshaped the path ahead. After completing my four-year degree in electrical engineering, I decided to take a break and travel to Europe before diving into the job market. Upon my return, I eagerly began applying for positions, only to experience frustration when the responses didn’t come as quickly as I had hoped.
At one point, I was on the verge of joining the Air Force, a decision that had intrigued me due to my fascination with aviation. However, this decision would ultimately be made for me, as I had been offered an exciting job opportunity before sending the application through.
Hands on
My first professional role was as a systems engineer working on the design, installation and commissioning of a satellite communication system for a naval base. This was the first step of my defence career. Over time, I would find myself working on complex and exciting military projects, including navy ships, battle tanks, and medium and heavy recovery vehicles.
Following the commissioning of the satellite communication system, I transitioned into an electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) systems engineering role, where I tested electrical equipment against Australian standards for compliance. While this work introduced me to EMC standards, and EMC compliance for commercial communications and rail transport systems, over time I realised this wasn’t a field I wanted to pursue.
From there, I applied for a systems engineering role with the Defence Materiel Organisation, now known as the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group. I worked on Leopard tanks, overseeing systems such as the laser rangefinder, thermal sight, grenade systems and machine guns – each task providing exhilarating challenges.
This challenge went up a notch when the government decided to upgrade the capability to M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks from the aging Leopards. I was fortunate to travel to the United States to witness the tanks being built. As the project’s systems engineer, I had to ensure the systems on board complied with Australian standards, met user requirements and integrated into the Australian Defence Force environment.
During this time I had one of the most memorable moments of my career when I drove a Leopard tank from Graytown to the Puckapunyal training facility in country Victoria. It was an unforgettable experience, heightened when told I was the first woman to drive one.
At a crossroads
While my career progressed steadily, I decided to find my next challenge, this time as a senior systems engineer overseeing combat systems on the ANZAC-class navy ships. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to crawl around the ships and contribute to the design of complex combat systems. During this time, there were limited practising system safety engineers in Australia, so I expanded my role to conduct safety assessments on the ANZACs.
I really enjoyed this work, and this soon led to a crossroads in my career between combat and safety engineering. After some deliberation, I chose a path to specialise in system safety engineering.
I saw great potential in this choice. Safety engineering is an engineering discipline that focuses on assuring engineered systems provide acceptable levels of safety. It aims to identify, evaluate and mitigate hazards associated with physical environments and systems, in accordance with a raft of respective national and international standards.
I grew as a safety engineer, working between army and navy projects, including battle management systems, Pacific patrol boats and offshore patrol vessels. I’ve never regretted my shift to safety and have thoroughly enjoyed the challenging projects I’ve worked on.
Now, as Leading Assurance Specialist at air navigation service provider Airservices Australia, I conduct safety assurance activities on projects to monitor compliance and performance, and manage changes across the business. I ensure safety specialists deliver these programs to meet the safety management system, in conjunction with the safety objectives of the respective projects, which cover aviation technology, aerodromes and airspace.
Sounding board
In addition to my professional development, I’ve always believed in the importance of continuous learning. I became Chartered in electrical engineering during maternity leave, a decision that significantly enhanced my career opportunities. Later, during COVID, I applied to also become Chartered in risk engineering.
Several years ago, I joined a formal mentoring program as a mentee, which proved transformative. Having someone to discuss career plans opened my eyes to new possibilities and perspectives, marking a significant shift in how I approached my work and career path. Upon completion, I re-engaged with the program as a mentor to support the younger generation of women in defence and engineering, hoping to make even a small change.
Balancing my career and personal life has always been a priority. As a mother of three boys, I made the conscious decision to work part-time after my eldest was born. This was a challenge, especially in a time when flexible working arrangements were not the norm. However, this commitment to work-life balance has been invaluable.
While it may have delayed certain career milestones, it has allowed me to prioritise my family during their formative years – a choice I hold dear.
Read more: Engineer Mona Shindy on what serving in the navy taught her
New chapter
At present, I’m focused on realising my leadership ambitions. I am currently Chair of the Engineers Australia Risk Engineering Society and Chair of the RISK2025 Conference committee. I now seek roles that offer a balance between leadership and technical expertise, where I can make a broader impact across industry barriers.
I would encourage emerging engineering leaders not to fear change. Moving between projects or companies – embracing new challenges – is a crucial part of professional development. Each transition brings new insights and opportunities for learning and growth, advancing both career and personal development.
Looking back, I can say every decision has been a reflection of a continuous effort to find a balance between my career ambitions and personal life. I look forward to the next chapter, where I will continue to evolve as both an engineer and a leader, contributing to projects that shape industries and improve safety standards worldwide.
This article was originally published in the May 2025 issue of create with the headline “To greater heights”.
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