Meet Camille, a cybersecurity software engineer at Airbus

Hear from Camille

Camille works as a cybersecurity software engineer at Airbus. In this interview, she discusses her academic background, her experience at the company and the challenges she has faced. She also shares some advice for young cyber experts looking to join our team. 

Discover her interview below!

What is your professional journey? 

I attended an engineering school specialising in aeronautics and space. During my final years of engineering school, I specialised in embedded systems, particularly in cybersecurity, where I became very interested in cryptography courses.

Following that, I decided to steer my career towards cybersecurity by joining Airbus for my end-of-studies internship. After my internship, I was offered a permanent position, which I accepted.

Why did you choose cybersecurity?

 I think the turning point came when I was an intern and I truly discovered that what I was doing actually mattered. What drew me in, was thinking of a solution, concretely building that solution and seeing it applied immediately, serving a real purpose, securing technologies so that people no longer have to worry about certain threats.

What is your job within Airbus?

I am a Cybersecurity Engineer for critical communication solutions. Essentially, my tasks fall into two types of activities. On one hand, development, meaning developing security functions for embedded components, and on the other hand, standardising security architecture for critical communication systems.

What do you appreciate the most about your job?

What I enjoy most about my job is learning new things every day. I think I’m speaking more broadly for all cybersecurity roles, but with the emergence of new threats, cybersecurity must constantly adapt and evolve. That's why everyone working in the cyber field must continue to learn new things.

What challenges did you face when you entered the cybersecurity field?

The challenges come from joining a company with products already in development for a long time, cutting-edge products, where I don’t necessarily have all the technical basics yet.

It feels like it takes a lot of experience to truly provide an expert perspective on a technical solution. However, even with little experience within this specific company, I still manage to contribute my part and I have value to add to the projects I work on.

What advice would you give to people wishing to work in the cybersecurity domain?

I have three pieces of advice for those looking to enter the cybersecurity field. Firstly, be curious. Cybersecurity rewards those who love to learn.

Secondly, there is no "perfect" path to enter the field of cybersecurity. On the contrary, I believe diversity is a strength, and every new perspective is valuable.

And finally, don't wait until you feel "qualified" to start. Imposter syndrome can happen, but it doesn't define your place in this field. For anyone who wants it, there is a place for you in the world of cybersecurity.