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Meet Breanne Rohloff, a 24-year-old engineer who drives NASA rockets to their launch sites

Ever wanted to design an out-of-this-world spaceship? How about develop the software behind the next viral app? Or maybe you want to build an eco-friendly stadium for your fave hometown sports team. No matter your STEM goals, get ready to explore them—bc Feb. 24 is Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day! And we're celebrating by sharing some out-of-this-world inspo.

We're always here for fearless women that follow their passions. That's why we were stoked to chat with Breanne Rohloff, a 24-year-old mechanical engineer for NASA contractor Jacobs. She is not only one of the youngest people to ever drive a NASA crawler (a super heavy and expensive piece of machinery for transporting rockets—we're talking 6.6 million pounds!), but she's also one of the only women to ever do it.

Breanne dishes on all the deets about her pathway to a STEM career, tips for staying motivated and advice on how real girls like you can get involved in engineering.

GL: What made you want to become a mechanical engineer?

Breanne: I grew up watching space shuttle launches. I thought of astronauts as superheroes when I was a little kid—and I still do! It got me fascinated with space and what I could do with it. I was really interested in science, math and physics in school, and that pointed me towards engineering. I decided that I wanted to pursue it in college.

GL: How did you end up working for a NASA contractor?

Breanne: The summer before my senior year of college, I got an internship with Jacobs. I was able to work with several different groups, so I became familiar with the crawlers and engineers here. While I was finishing up my senior year, a job opened up in the crawler yard. I applied to it, and they remembered me and thought I had done a good job. I ended up getting that position, and I've been here for over two years.

GL: What really is a crawler?

Breanne: A crawler is a vehicle that we use to transport rockets from the assembly building to the launch pad. It has a flat top, roughly the size of a baseball field, with four independently operated corners—so the rocket stays level and we don't have to worry about tipping. We pick up the rocket and transport it along four miles of road. That path leads us to the launch pad.

Breanne inside of a NASA Crawler

GL: What does a typical day look like for you at work?

Breanne: It's pretty normal, actually. I have some meetings and emails, and I keep everyone up to date about processes. There are 70,000 pieces and parts that have to work together for the crawler to move, so we do lots of checks and maintenance—like filters and oil.

GL: What is your favorite part of your job?

Breanne: Getting to move the crawlers. Just being in the cab, driving and having that responsibility and excitement of getting to move something...there's nothing like it! 

GL: How do you stay motivated and confident when things get challenging?

Breanne: It's really important for me to remember that I'm always learning. I do my best to make sure that I'm prepared for every situation, but at the same time, I don't know everything. I just try to keep a level head and remember that there are people around me that I can learn from and use as mentors, especially because the other engineers have a lot of experience.

GL: What advice would you give to a girl who is interested in pursuing a STEM career?

Breanne: Work hard in your classes and utilize your teachers as resources. Talk to them about their experiences and see if they know anyone in the field that you can connect with. Information is key: knowing what the field is like and talking to people in the field, especially with job shadowing. I had a job shadowing experience at my high school that cemented my interest in engineering.

Other than that, pay attention in your science and math classes...but also your English classes! I write so much more than I thought I was going to, so shoutout to some of my English teachers who helped me with that. You're writing reports and so much stuff in STEM, so don't ignore that side of your education. 

GL: What's the most important thing for young girls in STEM to remember?

Breanne: Build a support system. Especially as young women—there's not a ton of us (and thankfully, we are growing), but having mentors that can help boost your confidence is so important as you go on this extremely rewarding journey.


Wanna keep up with the latest news in the STEM field? Follow @womeninstemsociety for more inspo!

Heart STEM and space? We bet you'll love these related posts:
🪐 Check out these *super* inspiring women in STEM fields
🪐 Plan a future that is literally out of this world
🪐 Wally Funk makes space history

Top image: NASA/Ben Smegelsky
Middle image: NASA/Ben Smegelsky
Slider image: NASA/Ben Smegelsky
Parts of this interview were edited and condensed for clarity.

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by Olivia Brown | 2/24/2022
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