Tucked behind an unmarked door past the grand stairwell of Damen Naval’s head office sits a department few can point to, hidden with a level of discretion that rivals the company’s restricted zones. Yet, from that remote corner, the Research, Development & Innovation (RDI) team is shaping the future of naval engineering. One of its desks belongs to Electrical and Automation Designer Dalia Casanova Mombiela.

Early Focus on Electrification
“I didn’t directly come into this field,” Dalia says. “But I’ve always been interested in ships and how complex systems come together.” She grew up in Spain and chose marine engineering for its range of specialisations: hydrodynamics, structures, and electrical automation. The discipline offered variety and room to explore. She gravitated to electrical systems early, guided by a professor who told her, “Keep going because electrification on ships will continue to grow.” He was right. Electrification and digital control are now central to the move toward smarter, more autonomous ships.

Always Building Knowledge
While completing her bachelor’s degree, she gained practical experience with electrical installations, ranging from outdoor lighting to a thesis on the power systems of a cathedral. She later returned to the maritime sector with a master’s in marine technology in Norway. “Studying and working in Norway made me realise how enjoyable learning can be,” says Dalia. Here in Vlissingen, she now focuses on simulation, control systems, and automation. These are the puzzle pieces of a modern naval platform, and they demand constant upskilling. “I recently started an online course in software engineering,” she says. “With new technologies, even specialists run into new problems every day.”

Putting Research to Work
Her path has blended academic research with real-world engineering. She wrote a conference paper (Integrated Design and Control Approach for Marine Power Systems Based On Operational Data; “Digital Twin to Design”) during her master’s program and now applies that insight to practical projects. One of her primary tasks is to find ways to integrate data-driven simulations into daily workflows. “It’s not just about using Matlab or Simulink,” she explains. “We want to integrate simulation, so people understand how systems behave before they build them. It’s about using real ship data to make better decisions.”

This is also demonstrated in her work on the DSS Galatea, a vessel being studied for conversion to partial autonomy. “We are looking at a real ship, testing how to retrofit it for remote or autonomous operation.”

“Everything we build was designed by people. That means we can design it better if we bring in different perspectives.” Dalia Casanova Mombiela

Designing for Reliable Automation
Her role also allows her to address the real challenges of automation. There is a clear gap between what technology can do and what the sector is ready to adopt. “Autonomy has two sides,” she says. “You need smart algorithms that make decisions. But your onboard systems must be ready to carry out those commands safely. That’s a big change.” Replacing a human operator is not a trivial task. Safety signals alone are not enough; systems must act independently when things go wrong. That means rethinking design, building backups, and bridging the gap between human judgment and code. “We already use autopilot onboard for many years. Adding automated features for simple operations, like a transit mode optimized for energy or emissions, is the next step,” Dalia says. “Eventually, systems must switch between autonomous and manual modes. That’s complex.”

Supporting Women in Engineering
Being a woman in this field of engineering, specifically in electrical, automation, and control systems, means standing out by default. She has spent years in teams where she was the only woman making technical decisions. “At first, people listen when you ask questions,” she says. “But once you start making decisions, it gets harder. You have to work twice or three times as hard, with no room for error.”

Her time in Norway proved that inclusive environments do exist. Diverse teams, less hierarchy, and more trust created space for new ideas to emerge. She believes better support for women and more diversity are not nice-to-haves but essential for the work itself.

“Everything we build was designed by people,” she says. “That means we can design it better if we bring in different perspectives.” She wants to see management lead by example, pushing for more open, reflective cultures. One colleague behaving differently can change a whole team’s approach. “Support from colleagues and good projects keep you going,” she says. “That makes the hard work worth it.”

Looking ahead, she plans to keep trying out new approaches and make simulation a regular part of the workflow. Dalia’s advice to young women starting out in the field is to stay curious. “Respect what has been built,” she says, “but don’t be afraid to question it. Anything can be redesigned.”

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