Julia’s Path: From FIRST Robotics to Pioneering Offshore Wind Technology
Julia’s Path: From FIRST Robotics to Pioneering Offshore Wind Technology
When Julia Meisser talks about her work, it’s easy to see that her passion for robotics isn’t just a career – it’s been a part of her life for as long as she can remember. With degrees in mechanical and robotics engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Julia is now making strides at Triton Anchor, LLC, a company focused on advancing subsea technology for offshore wind energy.
Julia’s fascination with robotics took root in elementary school, thanks to her involvement in the FIRST Robotics program. “My first exposure to robotics and SOLIDWORKS was through FIRST Robotics,” she recalls. She started with the FIRST Lego League in fifth grade, where she learned about the engineering design process, basic programming using motors and sensors, and how to create small mechanical attachments out of LEGO parts. By the time she reached high school, she was fully immersed in competitive robotics, where students design and build industrial-size robots to tackle complex challenges.
Julia started using SOLIDWORKS as a junior in high school with her FIRST Robotics team. She went on to earn her CSWP certification as part of a summer internship at MilliporeSigma.
This love of sharing knowledge is something she brings to her work at Triton Anchor, where collaboration is a key part of the job. Triton Anchor, a spinoff of Triton Systems, is at the forefront of developing mooring and anchoring systems for floating offshore wind turbines – a field that combines Julia’s interests in mechanical engineering and underwater robotics. The company’s work is crucial as the world looks for more sustainable energy solutions, and Julia is excited to be part of that effort.
Her day-to-day tasks at Triton Anchor are diverse, ranging from cleaning up documentation and ordering parts to engaging in design work that refines tools to be more manufacturable and user-friendly. She’s also been involved in research projects to create self-sustaining vessels for offshore installations. “The system we’ve developed is essentially silent and much more versatile than traditional anchoring methods,” she explains. This innovation reduces the environmental impact of installation and makes the process more scalable and cost-effective.
Julia’s interest in underwater robotics extends beyond her current role. During her time at WPI, her senior capstone project was focused on developing a robot designed to autonomously harvest lionfish, an invasive species harmful to coral reefs. The project combined her love for robotics with a real-world environmental challenge, echoing the work she’s now doing at Triton Anchor.
The idea of merging different engineering disciplines – mechanical, electrical, and programming—has always fascinated Julia. It’s one of the reasons she chose to double major in robotics and mechanical engineering at WPI. The school’s strong connection to the New England FIRST Robotics community and its curriculum, which leans heavily on mechanical engineering, made it the perfect fit for her. “WPI’s robotics program lent itself to my interests,” she says.
Like many students, Julia faced the challenge of finding internships during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. She secured a position at MilliporeSigma, a manufacturing company that manufactured medical-grade filters that made COVID-19 vaccine production possible. “It was summer 2020, very early on in COVID, and I was lucky to still be able to do that program,” she remembers. Although the experience was valuable, it helped her realize that her true passion lay in the design process rather than manufacturing.
Julia is optimistic about the future of engineering, particularly in AI and biomimetics. She sees AI becoming a useful tool in design and data analysis, though she believes that the role of human engineers will remain irreplaceable.
“I think biomimetics is going to become much bigger,” she says, referring to designing solutions inspired by nature. “There’s a lot we can learn from the natural world that we haven’t yet mastered.”
Julia is excited about the continued push towards clean energy and sustainability. She sees Triton Anchor’s work as a crucial part of that movement, not just in developing renewable energy sources like wind power but in a way that minimizes harm to marine life.
“We’re supporting a clean energy source, but we’re also doing it in a way that minimizes the impact on marine environments,” she notes. The innovations she’s working on, such as using smaller and more cost-effective vessels for anchor installation, are steps toward making offshore wind energy more accessible and sustainable globally.
Outside of work, robotics continues to be a central part of Julia’s life. She spends her free time mentoring a FIRST Robotics team in Merrimack, New Hampshire, finding joy in guiding young engineers as they navigate the challenges of design and competition.
“It’s great to see young people passionate about engineering and want to go into it,” she says. She shares her knowledge of SOLIDWORKS and engineering with her team. “I’ve been a mentor for several years now, teaching SOLIDWORKS to the next generation,” she says. The satisfaction she gets comes from the moments of shared discovery.
“It’s always fun showing somebody something I’ve known for years and seeing their reaction—like, ‘What? This is a SOLIDWORKS feature? This is life-changing!’”
Julia has blended passion, skill, and a continuous desire to learn and share knowledge throughout her career. From her early days tinkering with robots in school to her current role at the forefront of renewable energy technology, she has followed a path that aligns perfectly with her interests. As she continues to explore new challenges and opportunities in the engineering field, one thing is sure: Julia is doing exactly what she loves and has found a way to make a career out of it.
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