What’s it like to be an aviation engineer working behind the scenes on the passenger experience, and how can this role lead to a global career in aviation? Senior Interior Engineer Sinem Toprak shares how her career took off and why Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO) and Design Engineering opportunities in the Philippines are worth exploring.
In aviation, not all careers begin on the runway. Some start with a decision to follow curiosity, such as a student looking into university departments on a school trip. That’s what started it all for Sinem Toprak. A trip to Istanbul Technical University was the turning point.
“When I was in high school, I visited Istanbul Technical University on a school trip,” she recalls. “While checking out engineering departments there, Aerospace Engineering was the area I most wanted to study.”
After a short period in design engineering during her final year at university, she began working at Turkish Technic in 2018. “I was fortunate to be assigned to the Cabin Interior Projects within the engineering department. On multiple occasions, I realized how well it suited me compared to other engineering fields. I really enjoy working as a cabin interior engineer.”
Now a Senior Interior Engineer at Avion Express, part of Avia Solutions Group, Sinem works in a job that is both technical and human. Cabin engineers focus on one of the most visible parts of an aircraft: the passenger space. From lighting to layouts, seats to signage, it’s a place where design, engineering, and regulation meet.
It isn’t only about looks – it’s also about the passenger experience. “I like working on the aircraft’s most passenger-related area,” she says. “I feel confident about my work, as I can see and experience cabin interiors as a regular passenger, and having technical knowledge of it all makes me proud.”
As part of the aviation engineering ecosystem, Sinem’s work ties directly into aircraft safety, compliance, and reliability. The cabin may be where passengers relax, but for engineers, it’s also a critical zone that demands precision.
“All my mentors in all the companies I worked in have taught me to pay attention to details and achieve the highest in-cabin quality,” she explains. “That detail-oriented mind helped me a lot during the document reviews for the cabin modifications, making sure the aircraft is in the best condition possible.”
Her career has taken her beyond the cabin floor. One of the highlights she mentions is working on the line-fit cabin definition for Turkish Airlines’ A350s during her very first year in the field. It was a fundamental lesson in responsibility and the global nature of aviation engineering.
“The main advantage of this position, and all professions in aviation, is the global opportunities,” she states. “I always wanted to expand my worldview by meeting and working with people from different countries, histories, and cultures. Being a cabin interior engineer has provided me with the best opportunity to do this.”
This is also what makes CAMO and Design Engineering roles valuable for engineers in the Philippines. With Avia Solutions Group Global Services Philippines hiring for multiple positions, aviation professionals now have the chance to take their local expertise to a global level without relocating, unless they want to someday.
Sinem says, “I experienced a lot of discussion, negotiations, and compromises during my aircraft cabin inspections. They all improved my relationships with the new people I meet. Aviation is dynamic. There are always changes, challenges, and compromises. You learn not just to inspect aircraft but to negotiate, adapt, and collaborate. That shapes you both professionally and personally.”
Would you like to explore aviation engineering roles that shape you and connect you to the world? If so, there are openings at Avia Solutions Group Global Services Philippines for both CAMO and Design Engineering positions at different levels of seniority.
Learn more about the positions here: https://careers.aviasg.com/en/aviation-business-group/avia-solutions-group-global-services-philippines
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