Do you remember the days when winding down the car windows was a workout or when you had to fumble with the ignition key to start your vehicle? Those nostalgic moments seem quaint now, considering the advances we’ve seen in car technology. Today, it’s all about push-buttons and swivel controls—our cars are smarter, more intuitive, and in many ways, more enjoyable to drive. For Dr. Stella Clarke, an engineer at BMW Group, these changes are just the beginning. Her work has not only contributed to the evolution of modern car interiors but has also led her to develop groundbreaking technology that could redefine how we view our vehicles.
Stella’s journey in automotive engineering began with a fascination for the sciences and design. Hailing from Australia with New Zealand roots, she has carved out a remarkable career at BMW, where she now works on cutting-edge innovations like the colour-changing technology seen in BMW’s iX Flow. It’s a technology so advanced that a simple swipe on a smartphone touchscreen can change the exterior colour of a car—transforming the vehicle in real-time. This achievement, part of BMW’s forward-thinking approach, places Dr. Clarke at the forefront of automotive innovation.
We caught up with Stella to find out more about how her career and the path she’s been on so far, and what excites her most about being an engineer in the automotive industry.
Describe a typical day in your job?
Being in early-phase research at BMW is exciting. Our “Flow Technologies Lab” is situated on the first floor of a building which houses numerous labs, all working on promising advancements for the future of automotive. I start my day in our lab making myself a coffee, there’s a bit of small talk with my colleagues before diving into meetings. We’ve recently finished our last project, the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA, and now we’re ramping up our next project. In these initial stages, there’s more emphasis on “engineering” than “building,” though prototyping has always been a strong focus of this project from the very beginning. Our lab is filled with lots of hardware, and we’re often discussing topics and challenges with prototypes on the table.
Beyond the technical work, we also help plan events for our expanding fleet of colour-changing cars. While these logistical meetings might be less exciting for us engineers, the chance to travel and present your concepts around the world is more than worth it.
We collaborate closely with other workshop downstairs, and as the concept car project progresses, you’ll find us spending more time in the workshop than in the lab. For anyone passionate about tech and innovation, it’s a dream work environment.
What has been your career path so far that lead you to this role?
In general, I never really planned much; but rather tended to follow what I enjoy. My love for maths, the sciences, and design and technology in school pretty much got me into engineering. During my bachelor’s in mechanical engineering, I got my first taste of research, and was pretty much hooked – it became clear that I wanted to stay in research. Also, with me wanting to broaden my horizons, I pursued my masters in the USA followed by a doctoral degree in Germany. My thesis topic in Munich focused on controlling robots using haptic input devices, which ultimately lead me to BMW, where they were looking for a haptic specialist for series development.
Series development was awesome – it’s very satisfying seeing the stuff you work on going into customer products. However, my true passion was – and still is – innovation and creativity. So, without any intentional planning, I slowly migrated away from series development towards projects that were further in the future, and projects where I could contribute to concepts, and have my own ideas. Colour change in cars through E Ink was one of these ideas that slowly grew with time, and after the iX Flow, became my fulltime topic.
Have you met any women or had any mentors along the way in your career that were particularly inspiring to you? If so who and how have they had an impact on you?
Absolutely, I’ve had incredible female and male mentors throughout my career. Currently, I have two amazing female mentors within the company who are helping me improve my networking skills and demonstrating how valuable this can be, even for solving technical challenges. Their ability to manage their networks while thriving in high-pressure roles is truly inspiring.
During the development of the iX Flow, our first colour-changing car, a mentor named Michi had a significant impact on me. I’d describe his working style as ‘disruptive’—in the best way possible. He constantly challenged the status quo and fought for what he believed was right. I think this spirit of disruptiveness has become a core part of our team’s culture, and I’m really proud of that.
What is the most exciting achievement in your career to date?
I’m proud of all our colour-changing concept cars. At the same time, I’m equally proud of my earlier ideas that didn’t succeed. Those failures were crucial to the success that followed. If I had to pick one achievement, it would be the iX Flow, a concept car built with immense dedication, even though we had no idea how it would be received. Despite the doubts, we persevered, and our efforts were rewarded with multiple innovation awards, including Time magazine’s Best Inventions award.
What is the main advice you would give to women considering a career in tech or engineering?
Being an engineer can be incredibly fulfilling. The process of creating and bringing joy to others through ideas and innovations is truly rewarding, no matter your gender. If you’re a curious person who loves understanding how things work, enjoys asking questions, creating new solutions, and has an affinity for maths and science, then engineering could be a source of great joy for you.
