inTERNATIONAL WOMEN IN ENGINEERING DAY FEATURE
91ɫ alumna Randa Qashoa’s journey from the to a career advancing space technology highlights the growing impact of women in shaping the future of engineering.
Today, Qashoa (BEng ’21, PhD ’25) is a systems engineer at Honeywell Aerospace, where she works on the assembly, integration and testing of quantum communication payloads. While still early in her career, she is already contributing to technologies that could play an important role in the future of secure communications in space.
Her path into the industry was shaped by the people and opportunities she encountered at Lassonde.
"My experience at Lassonde was instrumental in helping me pursue a career in the space sector," Qashoa says. "The main driver was the wealth of experience in space engineering that Lassonde faculty carry."
Exposure to faculty-led research gave her firsthand insight into how engineering can tackle complex challenges and create meaningful impact beyond academia. Seeing professors lead innovative projects inspired her to pursue a career that contributes to advancements in the field.
That goal became reality when she joined Honeywell Aerospace – one of the world’s largest suppliers of aviation and defense systems. Among her proudest accomplishments is the opportunity to work on flight hardware that is planned for future operations in space.
Her experience also highlights the importance of mentorship and community in the study of engineering. Throughout her time at 91ɫ, and now early in her career, she noticed she was often the only female on a project team or in a meeting. Rather than viewing this as a barrier, she stayed focused on contributing her skills and expertise while building a network of mentors and peers with shared experiences.
One of those mentors was Professor Regina Lee, who supervised Qashoa’s PhD studies and helped her navigate the transition from academia to industry.
That support, says Qashoa, provided valuable insight into the realities of the engineering workforce – and continued in a new way after graduation.
Through Honeywell Aerospace's mentorship program for women in engineering, she was paired with a more senior colleague who offers advice and career guidance.
Together, those experiences reinforced the value of strong support networks in helping women thrive in technical fields.
As more women enter engineering and space-related professions, Qashoa expects the industry to benefit from a wider range of perspectives and experiences. Increased diversity, she believes, will help drive innovation and bring new ideas to some of the sector's most complex challenges.
For students considering a future in space engineering, her message is simple: persevere.
“My advice to current students is to never give up no matter how impossible the challenge,” she says. “Even if you are the only woman on your team now, you are bringing something valuable to the table.”
She encourages students to stay confident, embrace challenges and recognize the impact they can make. As the industry continues to evolve, she sees increasing opportunities for women to help shape the future of space exploration.
Her path from Lassonde to work in aerospace highlights how education, research and mentorship can shape careers in emerging areas of engineering – especially for women.
Watch Qashoa discuss her Lassonde experience and what it means to contribute to the future of the space sector.