Robot to Rolls-Royce: How a Village Innovator’s Farm Solution Launched a ₹72 Lakh Aerospace Career

Key highlights

 

K.S. Rithuparna, a 20-year-old engineering student from Vyasanagara, Karnataka, has become a symbol of resilience and innovation by securing a ₹72.3 lakh per year job offer at Rolls-Royce’s jet engine division in Texas—an extraordinary leap that began not in a city lab, but in her family’s rural fields.

 

From Rural Roots to Robot for Farmers

 

Rithuparna dreamed of becoming a doctor, but after not qualifying in NEET, she pivoted to a robotics and automation engineering course at Sahyadri College. Initially joining only out of her parents’ encouragement, she soon discovered a talent for hands-on innovation.

 

Her breakthrough came in her first year when she designed a robot, the Harvesting and Sprayer model, specifically to help arecanut farmers streamline crop maintenance and pesticide spraying—a persistent problem in her region. Presented at an international summit in Goa, her invention won a gold medal, drawing attention from experts in 15 countries.

 

Eight Months of Persistence—and a Life-Changing Offer

 

Impressed by her project and problem-solving skill, Rolls-Royce set a daunting series of technical tasks for Rithuparna over eight months. She tackled each challenge with ingenuity, outspeeding expectations and passing every skills test.

 

Despite being rejected earlier for an internship at Rolls-Royce, her relentless pursuit and ability to deliver under pressure led to a direct job offer—even before graduation—with an initial package of ₹39.6 lakh, later doubled to ₹72.3 lakh when the company saw her unmatched dedication and results.

 

Managing Two Worlds

 

Today, Rithuparna juggles midnight-to-morning online training with Rolls-Royce’s US team and daytime college classes in India. Once she completes her final semester, she will relocate to Texas and contribute to cutting-edge jet engine manufacturing—the first woman from Karnataka to earn such a distinction.

 

A Message of Grit and Opportunity

 

Rithuparna’s story is celebrated not only for shattering glass ceilings, but for reminding young Indians that failure in one dream can be a springboard to life-changing success in another. Her journey from rural India to a global aerospace giant is inspiring new waves of innovation, grit, and hope.

 

Sources: Economic Times, Times of India, Udayavani