Evelyn N. Bailey was bit by the engineering bug when she went on an eighth grade field trip to Washington University School of Engineering.
“I knew I wanted to be an engineer at 13,” Bailey said.
The path, however, was not smooth. Bailey became a teen mother, yet still graduated from Kirkwood Senior High School with her eye on the prize of becoming an engineer.
“I guess I have a determined personality. I knew it would take a lot to take care of him properly,” Bailey said of her son.
Bailey stayed in school, earning a Bachelors of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Missouri–St. Louis and a Masters Degree in Engineering Management and a Graduate Certificate in Project Management from Washington University.
Now at age 31, Bailey is the youngest female engineering manager at the company and the only African-American female K-Level Manager for a technical team. About two percent of K-Level managers at Boeing are African-American, and it is very rare to be under age 40 with a K-Level managing position.
K-Level managers are front line managers responsible for various teams within the world’s largest aerospace company. Bailey is the K-Level Manager of the F-15 Navigation/Identification Integrated Product Team at the Boeing Company, reporting to Bob Zuehlke, manager of the F-15 Crew Avionics and Network Systems.
Bailey and her team are responsible for designing and developing the GPS system on the F-15 platform.
Prior to this position, she was a lead Avionics engineer who supported multiple F-15 international and Flight Management System programs.
“It’s important how Boeing is approaching minorities with management,” Bailey said. “Their process is racially ambiguous.”
Bailey recently helped with recruiting interns at Boeing and noticed how Boeing administrators concentrated on the resume and if the specific requirements were met, rather than by race or gender.
Bailey started six years ago as a Level 1 engineer and worked her way up four levels.
“I think it’s good for the youth to see that corporate America is receptive to people who work hard no matter what their color is,” Bailey said.
Bailey gave advice to youth on how to succeed. Hard work, she said, does pay off.
“Don’t go to work just to work. Have a strong work ethic and be a team player. Do engineer internships,” Bailey said.
“I want for our youth to set goals. Do something that is achievable, and stick with it.”
Bailey is a recipient of the national Women of Color in Technology Rising Stars Award by Boeing, which recognizes significant accomplishments of minority women in the field of technology.
Bailey goes by the motto, “Without struggle there is no process.”
“I’m trying to be a well-rounded person, and at the same time I’m a mom. It can be tough, but it takes a lot of time management and prioritizing,” Bailey said.
“It’s shocking, a blessing and good to know that hard work pays off. I put in a lot of hours.”
