Phuong Dang: Life as an Integration Engineer

Phuong Dang remembers the moment clearly. After weeks of work and cross-team collaboration, the final stage of a large-scale network update was complete.

It was her first major assignment after joining Ericsson as a graduate engineer. When the system came back online smoothly, she felt a quiet sense of pride. Not just in the technology update, but in her part in something bigger.

“Knowing that our work helped deliver a seamless experience for around two million users, that feeling has stayed with me ever since,” she says.

While that project stands out for Phuong, it’s often the smaller, less visible moments that have shaped her career the most. The conversations, the lessons and the gradual build-up of confidence.

Being inspired every day

Phuong first joined Ericsson as an intern in her fourth year of university and soon realised it was somewhere she could see herself growing technically and professionally.

After graduation, she returned as a full-time Integration Engineer, with every project teaching her something new.

“I always find something to learn from everyone I meet here,” she says. “Whether it’s a colleague from another team or someone I work with daily.”

Her role involves coordinating with project managers and customers, attending technical meetings and ensuring everything stays on schedule. She’s also responsible for building and maintaining data center infrastructure. But beyond the tasks, it’s the environment that stands out.

“People are very open to sharing their knowledge and always willing to help each other. That kind of supportive culture makes the workplace not only productive but also very inspiring.”

Phuong is also directly involved in periodic infrastructure upgrades to keep systems stable and up to date. In a fast-moving industry, where networks are evolving from 4G and 5G towards 6G and AI-driven systems, the ability to keep learning matters. The skills she builds, from troubleshooting to large-scale system thinking, extend beyond single projects.

Finding her voice

Phuong also attributes her growth to the open culture at Ericsson.

“It’s a place where your voice is truly heard, and that makes a big difference, especially early in your career” she explains.

When asked whether she faces any challenges as a female engineer, Phuong is direct.

“I see myself first as an engineer,” she says.

Like anyone in a technical role, her challenges include solving incidents, meeting customer expectations, handling pressure and making sure things run smoothly.

“Being a woman doesn’t really change that much,” she says.

What has made a difference is knowing that her perspective is valued. Because, she says, when people approach problems from different angles, solutions improve. And in systems integration, that difference in thinking can be what turns a good solution into a great one.

“When the culture values equality, respects differences and gives everyone the same opportunities to grow, it really helps women, and actually, it helps everyone perform at their best,” she says.

The small moments—being listened to, being trusted, being encouraged to contribute—are the ones that quietly build belief.

Making an impact

Having gone through many large projects and taken on various roles over time, she still considers the large-scale system upgrade the most memorable experience. It was more than just a successful deployment, it marked a significant milestone in her journey.

“It made me realise how meaningful our work is, not only for the company but also for society. And it’s also helped me discover new strengths within myself that I didn’t know I had.”

For Phuong, that sense of purpose is motivating.

Behind every network are people, families calling each other, businesses staying connected, vital services relying on seamless communication. Remembering that gives her work a deeper sense of meaning.

“Every role has pressure. But when you care about the impact and you’re surrounded by people who help you learn, it doesn’t feel like pressure. It feels like progress.”

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