Anatomy of Restlessness by Bruce Chatwin could well represent the first chapter of Ingrid Sarmiento’s life: a true “citizen of the world” thanks to the many places she lived in before joining Leonardo’s Cascina Costa (Varese, Italy) site. Today, she works in the Next Generation Fast Rotorcraft Programs Department, serving as Program Manager for the NATO military Next Generation Rotorcraft Capabilities (NGRC) programme and collaborating in the department's programmes, which include the Next Generation Civil Tiltrotor (NGCTR), the research and innovation programme for the development of a new-generation tiltrotor, and the EDF European Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies (ENGRT) programme; she is also a member of the Leonardo's Sustainability Committee.
Ingrid graduated in Aeronautical Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Madrid. After completing a specialisation in Aerospace Engineering at the University of León, she spent time in the United States to further improve her English skills. However, what Chatwin described as “the terror of settling” was never destined to define the life project of this young engineer, who worked on the construction of a dam in Ethiopia, known as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Project.
In 2017, she moved to Italy where, as Ingrid recounts, “holding two degrees in the aeronautical and aerospace sectors offered me a wide range of opportunities when looking for a new job.” Her first months in Italy were dedicated to learning the language through books, films, and opera – Puccini’s Madame Butterfly proved especially helpful. Shortly thereafter, Ingrid resumed her professional ascent, initially securing a position in data management and business applications. From 2019 onwards, she began collaborating with Leonardo, focusing on the planning, monitoring, and control of the NGCTR programme. “My formal employment with Leonardo began in 2023, coinciding with greater responsibilities assigned to me within the NGRC project.”
Ingrid is the youngest member of a team comprising two men and two women. What she finds most rewarding is “the broad range of opportunities a company like Leonardo offers: if you are curious, you can explore a great deal and shape a career aligned with your skills.” Furthermore, she adds, "those passionate about research will find many opportunities here." In her spare time, Ingrid remains an avid reader: “In January alone, I purchased 24 books, some in Italian, others in English and Spanish.” Perhaps for Ingrid, it is now time to continue her travels across the world, this time through the pages of Chatwin’s books.