Meet Debora Manther

Debora Manther is an Engineering Manager in Mechanical Design, based at Ricardo’s Detroit Technical Centre.

During a career spanning more than three decades, she has worked across automotive, aerospace, industrial products and furniture design, and is named on a multitude of patents focused on improving product performance, manufacturability and cost.  

“I was always the person who wanted to understand how things worked, take things apart and make them better. That curiosity led me into mechanical engineering, studying at MIT.  

"What attracted me to engineering was the combination of creativity and problem-solving. People often think of engineering as being all about calculations and analysis, but at its heart, it’s about finding new ways to solve problems and turning ideas into reality.

Throughout my career, I've had the opportunity to work across a wide range of industries and applications. While the products were different, the engineering challenge was always the same: understanding a problem, identifying opportunities for improvement, and creating practical solutions that deliver value.

Seeing an idea evolve into a real solution that helps solve a problem is really satisfying, it’s evidence that your work has made a difference.

Engineering is never static, there’s always a new challenge to solve, a new technology to understand, or a better way of doing something. That constant opportunity to learn, innovate, and make an impact is what drew me to engineering, and what keeps me excited about it today.

Q: Can you explain a bit more about your job at Ricardo, and your key responsibilities?  

"My role involves leading engineering activities, supporting project delivery, working with customers, and helping teams develop practical solutions to complex technical challenges.  

"I work alongside talented professionals who bring decades of expertise to their respective disciplines, creating an environment where collaboration and technical discussion drive the best solutions.  

"Much of my role is focused on helping the team succeed by removing obstacles, connecting people and resources, managing priorities, and ensuring we stay aligned with our customers' objectives." 

Q: What's the most enjoyable part of your job and working at Ricardo?  

"What I enjoy most is the variety of the work. Every project presents a different challenge, whether it's improving an existing design, developing a new product, or helping a customer solve a difficult technical problem.  

"Working collaboratively with talented people across different disciplines and regions is very rewarding - no two projects are exactly alike, which keeps the work interesting and creates constant opportunities to learn.

"For me, satisfaction comes from day-to-day progress. I like knowing that I've done something meaningful to help keep a project moving forward, support the team, or solve a problem for a customer."  

Q: What challenges are Ricardo helping its customers find solutions for?  

"Our customers are being asked to deliver more capability, better performance and greater efficiency, while also managing cost, schedule and evolving technical requirements. In my experience, the challenge is finding a solution that best balances all of those priorities.  

"Customers often come to us with a specific objective and sometimes an initial idea of how to achieve it. One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is working with them to evaluate alternatives and develop solutions that are more robust, cost-effective, manufacturable, or efficient.

"While there are regional differences, the engineering challenges are often remarkably similar. Customers want innovative products that perform well, can be manufactured efficiently, and remain competitive in the marketplace."

Q: How has the industry changed since you started your career?  

"When I started my career, product development cycles were generally longer, and much of the design and validation work relied on physical prototypes and testing. Today, engineers have access to powerful simulation, analysis and digital development tools that allow us to evaluate designs much earlier in the process and make better-informed decisions.  

"Customers continue to expect higher performance, greater reliability, lower cost, and shorter development timelines than ever before. As a result, engineering teams are working across more disciplines and collaborating more closely.

"Although some things haven't changed at all. Good engineering still comes down to understanding the problem, applying sound engineering principles, and making thoughtful decisions. Technology has given us better tools, but experience, judgment, and creativity remain just as important today as they were when I started my career.

"What has kept the profession exciting for me is that there is always something new to learn. The tools, technologies, and challenges continue to evolve, which means engineers are constantly adapting and finding new ways to solve problems."

Q: What advice would you give to others who are carving a career path in engineering? 

"My advice to anyone pursuing a career in engineering is to stay curious, keep learning, and have confidence in your abilities. Engineering is a profession that rewards problem-solving, creativity, tenacity, and technical expertise. Focus on building those skills and let your work speak for itself.

"The best engineers don't give up when they encounter obstacles. They continue asking questions, exploring alternatives, and learning until they find a way forward.

"Some of the most valuable experiences in my career came from taking on unfamiliar problems or working in industries where I had to learn something new. Growth often happens outside your comfort zone. Don't be afraid to ask questions and learn from the people around you." 

Q: Any other thoughts?

"One of the things I've learned throughout my career is that engineering is ultimately an optimistic profession. Every day, we're presented with problems that don't yet have solutions, and our job is to find them.

"Whether you're developing a new product, improving an existing design, reducing cost, increasing reliability, or solving a manufacturing challenge, engineering is about making things better than they were before.

"As engineers, we don't accept problems as permanent obstacles—we view them as opportunities to apply creativity, experience, and tenacity to find a better way forward. If there's one thing my career has taught me, it's that there is always a solution—you just haven't found it yet."