Engineering careers rarely follow a straight path. For Technical Engineer Elif Cakir, a fascination with understanding how things work developed into a career designing precision aerospace components and specialist tooling used in demanding applications around the world.
Today, Elif is part of the engineering team at Carter Manufacturing and UNASIS, helping transform complex technical requirements into practical, manufacturable solutions.
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A passion for engineering from an early age
Elif’s interest in engineering began during childhood, where curiosity about mechanical systems and how individual components worked together naturally evolved into a passion for design and manufacturing.
After studying Industrial Engineering in Turkey, she continued her education in the United Kingdom, completing a BSc in Engineering Product Design at London South Bank University before earning an MSc in Engineering Management from Brunel University.
This combination of engineering design and manufacturing knowledge provides a strong foundation for solving real-world engineering challenges.
Bridging design and manufacturing
Joining Carter Manufacturing in 2024 allowed Elif to work in an environment where design, manufacturing and quality operate closely together.
Rather than focusing solely on CAD modelling, her role covers the complete engineering lifecycle, including:
- Product design and development
- CAD modelling
- Engineering calculations
- GD&T application
- Manufacturing documentation
- Design validation
- Production support
- Continuous product improvement
Working alongside production engineers means designs are evaluated not only for performance, but also for manufacturability, helping reduce development time while improving product quality.
Engineering precision for aerospace applications
One of Elif’s key responsibilities is supporting the development of specialist aerospace tooling designed for the installation and servicing of aerospace bearings.
These projects demand exceptionally high levels of precision, repeatability and quality. Every design must satisfy demanding engineering standards while also being practical to manufacture and use in production or maintenance environments.
Close collaboration between engineering and manufacturing teams enables rapid prototyping, testing and continuous refinement throughout the development process.
Learning through manufacturing
One of the most valuable aspects of working within a manufacturing business is seeing how engineering decisions translate onto the shop floor.
Understanding machining processes, material behaviour, inspection techniques and production constraints allows engineers to create more practical designs and identify improvements much earlier in development.
This hands-on experience builds technical confidence and strengthens collaboration across engineering, quality and production teams.
Encouraging more women into engineering
Manufacturing continues to offer exciting opportunities for people from a wide range of backgrounds.
Reflecting on her own experience, Elif believes practical manufacturing exposure is just as important as academic achievement.
“Understanding how products are actually manufactured gives engineers a different perspective. Seeing designs become real components improves technical decision-making and creates better engineers.”
Looking ahead
As manufacturing becomes increasingly digital, engineers are combining traditional engineering principles with advanced manufacturing technologies, precision inspection and continuous improvement.
For Elif, the opportunity to work across design, manufacturing and aerospace innovation continues to provide new challenges every day.
By bringing together technical expertise, practical manufacturing knowledge and collaborative engineering, Carter Manufacturing continues to develop high-precision solutions for customers operating in demanding industries worldwide.
