In this edition of our People Powered Profile series, we sat down with Jessica McCafferty, Performance Manager at EcoPowerSoft.
Jessica has had an inspiring career path, starting in energy from waste and evolving into a role that blends engineering with software development, where she plays a key role in advancing sustainable solutions within the sector.
She shared her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated field, the challenges she’s faced, and the importance of creating more inclusive environments for women in engineering and technology.
Tell us about your career journey and how you’ve arrived at your current role
I began with an environmental science degree because I enjoyed all sciences and couldn’t decide on just one.
After that, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, so I applied to various graduate schemes.
One of the responses I got was from FCC Environment, where I ended up interviewing for a Performance Engineer role, despite not fully knowing what engineering involved at the time.
Engineering was never something I was exposed to in school or university, and with no family in engineering, I hadn’t realised it was a career path I could pursue.
I worked as a performance engineer and then a process engineer for five years at Allington Energy from Waste.
This role gave me invaluable hands-on experience, including night shifts and technical projects like improving the plant’s throughput and fluidised beds.
Eventually, I took on a dual role as a Performance Engineer at Grain Power Station and a Product Owner for Uniper Technologies, where I worked closely with developers.
When the pandemic hit, my focus shifted even more toward digital products, and I eventually became a product manager, leading the vision for various digital tools.
In January 2023, I joined EcoPowerSoft, combining my digital and energy from waste experience.
What are some of the projects and power stations you’ve been involved in?
At Allington, I worked on projects like increasing the throughput of waste.
Because the Energy from Waste sector is paid for the fuel, throughput is especially important and we constantly made small tweaks, tested them, and measured the impact.
Another project I worked on involved improving the fluidised beds, where the sand can sometimes stick together and stop working as efficiently.
There were also unique projects like switching from Dutch to English sand for the fluidised beds due to Brexit concerns.
At Grain Power Station, I was part of a project to digitise a morning meeting process for tracking KPIs and operational changes across two sites, Enfield and Grain.
How much has the industry changed since you joined the power sector?
Over the past decade, ownership structures in the energy from waste sector have become more complex.
Previously, one company might own and operate a plant, but now there are often multiple stakeholders, investment firms, operators, and contractors, all with different goals.
This adds layers of complexity to how plants are run and what each stakeholder wants.
Another significant change is the pressure to decarbonise. Energy from waste addresses an environmental issue by preventing waste from going to landfills, but it still produces emissions. This is becoming a bigger challenge as budgets in this sector are smaller compared to traditional power stations, making it harder to implement needed changes.
What challenges is the industry currently facing?
There’s a lot of pressure to decarbonise and keep up with where the world is going. While energy from waste addresses landfill issues, it’s still emitting gases.
This sector often doesn’t have the same budgets as traditional power stations, which makes it harder to implement technologies to reduce emissions.
Are there any skill sets that are particularly in demand in the industry right now?
There seems to be a general shortage of engineers. Part of the problem is that apprenticeships weren’t encouraged for the past 15 years, so there’s a gap between those coming from university and those with hands-on experience.
We’re also seeing many older, apprenticeship-trained engineers nearing retirement.
Additionally, we’re looking for people who can combine engineering skills with digital and customer-facing abilities.
It’s rare to find engineers who are comfortable in a customer-facing role, so it can be tough to find the right fit for certain positions.
What advice would you give to your younger self or someone starting out in the engineering sector?
I’d tell my younger self not to put so much pressure on knowing everything immediately.
It’s okay to be a beginner and to ask for help.
In my early career, I felt overwhelmed because I thought I had to have all the answers.
The reality is that you learn more by being open to asking questions and admitting what you don’t know.
What challenges have you or other women faced working in a male-dominated industry?
One of the first challenges I faced was finding PPE that fits.
I’m 5’1″, and the first set of overalls I got were men’s, with arms that were far too long and a crotch that hung down by my knees.
It took a while to get tailored gear that actually worked for me.
Another challenge is dealing with inappropriate attention sometimes and being asked out while at work, which is something my male colleagues wouldn’t have to face.
Things like that can undermine your professionalism.
There’s also the issue of isolation.
In many roles, I’ve been one of very few women, and at times, it’s been difficult to find someone who understands the specific challenges I face.
Over time, I’ve built a network through groups like STEMAZING and “Bold as Brass,” which supports women in heavy industry.
How do you encourage more girls and women to consider careers in STEM, particularly in the energy sector?
I do a lot of STEM outreach, mainly to primary schools.
It’s not necessarily aimed at getting girls into energy, but more broadly to encourage them to consider STEM careers.
I run a science club where we do fun, hands-on experiments like making balloon-propelled cars or paper spinners to explain basic science concepts.
I also work with the STEMAZING “Inspiration Academy,” which helps women gain the confidence to see themselves as role models in STEM.
It’s important for girls to see women working in these fields so they know it’s an option for them.
Have you seen any feedback or positive impact from your outreach work?
I’ve had girls tell me they didn’t know women could be engineers, which is really rewarding.
Even if they don’t pursue STEM careers, it’s important that they know it’s an option.
I want them to make informed choices about their futures.
