Introduction
Technology has long been seen as a male-dominated field, but behind many of the key advancements that shaped modern computing and networking are the groundbreaking contributions of women. These trailblazers laid the foundations for the software languages, engineering principles, and internet architecture we rely on every day.
Despite working in environments where they were often marginalised or overlooked, these women not only broke barriers but set new standards for innovation, leadership, and technical excellence. Their achievements are not just historical footnotes, they are also integral to the functionality and progress of today’s digital world.
From pioneering software that enabled space travel to designing the protocols that keep global networks running smoothly, these women defined what it means to be an engineer. As we celebrate Women in Engineering Day, it is essential to spotlight their stories, not just to honour their legacies but to encourage future generations of women to pursue careers in software and IT.
This article explores the lives and work of five such women, whose contributions have been pivotal to the development of the internet and software systems. Their stories challenge stereotypes and remind us that diversity drives innovation.
Radia Perlman
Radia Perlman is best known for developing the Spanning Tree Protocol, which became a fundamental part of how data is routed through networks. Her innovation made it possible for large-scale, complex networks to operate reliably without loops, which can cause serious data traffic issues.
Known as the “Mother of the Internet,” Perlman created an elegant solution that allowed Ethernet networks to grow beyond their early limitations. Her work forms the backbone of most modern network switches and routers.
While many assume the internet’s creation was dominated by men, Perlman’s contributions remind us that critical advances in networking came from women working quietly but profoundly behind the scenes.
Beyond this, Perlman has authored numerous books and holds more than 100 patents. She continues to influence how we build resilient, scalable systems today.
Margaret Hamilton
Margaret Hamilton led the software development team at MIT that created the onboard flight software for NASA’s Apollo missions, including Apollo 11.
Her work ensured the spacecraft’s guidance systems were robust and fault tolerant, playing a pivotal role in the success of the moon landing. When an overload threatened the mission during descent, her software prioritised critical tasks and prevented a potential abort.
Hamilton’s vision of “software engineering” as a discipline with the same rigour as hardware design helped professionalise the field. She coined the term itself, arguing that software should be treated with equal importance.
Her work paved the way for reliable mission-critical systems used in aerospace, healthcare, and finance today. Margaret Hamilton was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016 for her groundbreaking contributions.
She remains a symbol of excellence in coding and leadership under pressure.
Grace Hopper
Grace Hopper was one of the earliest software engineers and a driving force behind the development of high-level programming languages.
She invented the first compiler, which translated human-readable code into machine instructions. She also played a central role in the creation of COBOL, a language still used in financial systems today.
Hopper’s belief that programming should be accessible led to tools that allowed people to write software using more intuitive, English-like syntax.
A Rear Admiral in the United States Navy, Hopper was also known for her dynamic teaching and her famous analogy about nanoseconds. Her efforts made programming more democratic and scalable, and she mentored generations of developers.
Hopper received numerous accolades during her lifetime, including the National Medal of Technology. Her legacy lives on in everything from compiler design to advocacy for women in technology.
Barbara Liskov
Barbara Liskov is a foundational figure in software engineering and computer science theory.
She formulated the Liskov Substitution Principle, a key concept in object-oriented programming. This principle ensures that a subclass can stand in for its parent class without altering the behaviour of the programme. It underpins the design of robust, maintainable software systems.
Liskov also contributed to early programming languages and created the CLU language, which introduced features that are now standard in many modern languages.
Her research has had a lasting influence on software architecture, distributed systems, and formal methods. Liskov was the first woman in the United States to earn a PhD in computer science, awarded in 1968.
She later became an Institute Professor at MIT. In 2008, she received the Turing Award, the highest honour in computer science, recognising her lifetime of technical contributions.
Elizabeth Feinler
Elizabeth “Jake” Feinler managed the ARPANET directory and naming systems that served as the foundation for domain names as we know them.
Working at the Stanford Research Institute, she helped develop the protocols and systems that allowed users to access online resources through meaningful addresses rather than numerical IPs.
Her team maintained the first “white pages” and “yellow pages” of the internet. They were also responsible for assigning domain names like .com, .gov, and .edu.
Feinler’s work laid the groundwork for the Domain Name System (DNS), which remains essential for navigating the web.
At a time when few women were present in computing infrastructure roles, her leadership helped shape how people access information online.
Her contributions are a vital link in the evolution from military research networks to the public internet we use every day.
Conclusion
These five women are just a few of the countless contributors who have advanced computing and internet technologies.
Their innovations remain embedded in the software, languages, and protocols that form the digital backbone of our world.
Recognising their achievements is not just about setting the historical record straight; it is about inspiring the next generation to imagine new possibilities in engineering and technology.
By
