From a love of logic to engineering the future of food production
Oct 8, 2026
Liudmila Antonova has always enjoyed solving problems.
Growing up in Tambov, Russia, mathematics and physics came naturally to her. She liked logic and the satisfaction of working through a problem until she found the answer.
“Maths was what I liked and what was easy for me,” she says. “You solve logical things. I like that.”
That interest led her to study automation of technological processes at a technical university. At the time, automation and computer-controlled systems felt new and full of possibilities.
“New technology was always interesting to me."
After university, Liudmila moved to Moscow, where she spent nine years building her engineering career. Later, life took her to the Netherlands, where she entered a new industry: food production.
Today, she works as a hardware engineer at Hotraco, part of Speria, formerly known as Munters FoodTech.
And although the industry has changed, what first attracted her to engineering remains the same: finding solutions.
Seeing an idea become something real
As a hardware engineer, Liudmila develops electrical schematics and layouts for control cabinets used in automated systems.
Her job is located in the same building as the engineering team, allowing her to follow a project beyond the computer screen.
“We’re close to the workshop, so it’s easy to talk to the engineering team, ask questions and see how things come together in practice,” she says.
For Liudmila, seeing the physical result of her work is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.
“What I like is that you don’t just develop paperwork. You can see what you designed.”
Her work also gives her a close-up view of the growing role automation plays in food production. Sensors, controls and connected systems can help producers monitor conditions such as climate and temperature and manage increasingly complex processes.
For Liudmila, one of the challenges is finding the right balance between efficiency and quality.
“We want healthy, good-quality food,” she says. “At the same time, it is a business. Food producers have to make money. Finding that balance is not easy.”
Learning beyond the textbook
One of Liudmila’s biggest career lessons came when she left university and entered working life.
“At university, you study a lot of theory,” she says. “Then when you come to work, you see real life.”
Technical knowledge provides a foundation, but working with real projects taught her the importance of understanding what customers actually need.
It also taught her that engineers need to keep learning as technologies, components and standards evolve.
“You have to keep educating yourself,” she says. “Don’t just wait for somebody to say what you need to do.”
For Liudmila, curiosity is not simply what led her into engineering. It is part of being an engineer.
Showing more women what engineering can look like
During Liudmila’s career, engineering has remained a field where women are underrepresented.
“I still don’t see a lot,” she says.
She believes one way to change that is to make technical careers more visible to young people and show that engineering is not as intimidating as people might think.
Seeing women already working in these roles can also make a difference.
“If they see more, read more and get more information, I think it will make them more confident.”
For Liudmila, however, it is not about convincing everyone to become an engineer. What matters is giving young people the confidence to explore what genuinely interests them.
Choosing your own path
Choosing what you enjoy is a theme that runs throughout Liudmila’s story.
Because she was good at mathematics, becoming a math's teacher was one path suggested to her when she was younger. But Liudmila knew it was not what she wanted.
Instead, she chose to develop new technology.
Her advice to young people today is simple:
“Choose what you really want to do, where your heart is."
Her own journey has taken her from Tambov to Moscow and eventually the Netherlands, across industries and technologies. Along the way, she has continued to follow her curiosity and learn new things.
That includes learning new languages, such as English. Liudmila did not start learning the language until she was an adult. It was something she had wanted to do for years, so when she started working and could pay for lessons herself, she decided to pursue it.
Today, it is another example of a philosophy that has shaped both her career and her life: stay curious, keep learning and pursue what matters to you.
“Dreams come true if you don’t stop and keep believing in them."
About Liudmila
- Liudmila works as a hardware engineer at Hotraco, part of Speria, formerly known as Munters FoodTech.
- She has a background in automation engineering and has worked with industrial and food production applications in Russia and the Netherlands.
Curious about working at Munters? Check out our careers section.
