#AmazingJobsAtSafranNacelles - Perrine - “I am solution orientated, and I always keep moving forward”

Already at high school, her taste for mathematics and science led Perrine towards engineering studies. She didn't restrict her career path and chose a generalist school, but she already felt that she preferred the field of research and therefore selected optional subjects dedicated to production systems and logistics. “I like what is down to hearth” she says, with a smile. 

After an internship focused on finance, data and business tools in the banking sector, then another in production in an automotive parts factory in China, it is a final internship in logistics at Safran Nacelles that will define her career. Delighted with the experience and having proven herself, she was hired as a manufacturing engineer in the Operations Department of the Le Havre site. “I had no particular passion for aerospace,” she says, “but I was seduced by this group with products as varied as they are innovative and offering development prospects throughout its employees' career. "

Baptism of fire

In fact, at the age of 30, Perrine has already changed positions several times, through activity developments and the opportunities that presented themselves. "I arrived at Safran Nacelles just before COVID and the programme I was in charge of in Manufacturing Engineering was interrupted." she explains. “I then switched to the Pearl 700 nacelle ⁽¹⁾, whilst its development was in full swing. I was working on the assembly of test pieces intended for fire certification. I then widened my perimeter to fan cowls."

After three years in Manufacturing Engineering, Perrine joined the Design Office of the Engineering Department as a stress engineer. But as she started, she was called back to the Pearl 700 programme. “As I had already worked on the programme, I was offered a support role for the flight test campaign that was taking place in Savannah (United States) at Gulfstream.” she recalls. “This was a rather rare experience, because I was very close to the plane and the customer." After the end of the test campaign in November 2023, Perrine returned to the Design Office, where she worked on the structural design of the Airbus A330neo nozzle. 

Keeping up the pace

But a new turn of events happened: her activities were put on standby, and Perrine was tasked with supporting the team in charge of processing non-conformities on the Boeing 777X nozzle. A flagship programme for Safran Nacelles, with production resuming after four years of post-COVID interruption, which led to an overload of concessions for the Design Office. 

Perrine’s rigour and her sense of organisation enabled her to quickly set up an efficient management of the task, thus allowing the Stress team to focus on technical aspects. “It’s one of my greatest professional prides.” she explains. “I have the feeling that I made things happen, even if at the time things were not necessarily easy. I was always "solution orientated" and kept up the pace and ensured that everyone remained motivated. It’s kind of my secret: when I doubt my ability to succeed, I remain constructive and keep moving forward."

A new R&T challenge 

Since February 2025, Perrine has joined the Engineering team on the RISE programme, the open rotor engine demonstrator developed by CFM. Again, she seized an opportunity, as the position had just been created. “It is a matter of coordinating the various technical activities that contribute to the modules for which Safran Nacelles is responsible: design, stress, heat, materials, integration, etc.” she summarises. “All in collaboration with the customer to keep up with the schedule. I have always been attracted to Engineering for the overall vision it provides, and the diversity of interconnections that my previous industrial and technical experiences taught me to understand.” Once again, Perrine will be able to count on her listening skills to unite and bring along her colleagues in this challenge… 

(1) Gulfstream 700 engine.