Excellence in Macom’s - Rathnait Long
The Leaders’ Room: Engineering excellence with Macom’s Rathnait Long
Season four of The Leaders’ Room podcast continues with a compelling new episode featuring Rathnait Long, distinguished fellow of technology at MACOM Technology Solutions. The series is produced in partnership with IDA Ireland and spotlights senior leaders shaping the future of technology, life sciences and innovation.
In this episode, Long reflects on her accomplished career in engineering and her leadership journey at the Lowell, Massachusetts-headquartered semiconductor company, which also has significant operations in Cork. The conversation spans her move from academia into industry, the evolving — and still imperfect — role of AI, and the broader future of high-tech innovation.
MACOM designs and manufactures semiconductors for sectors including telecommunications, data centres, industrial applications and defence. That breadth gives Long a unique vantage point on how technology companies adapt and innovate amid rapid global change. We also explore the strategic importance of MACOM’s Cork hub, which plays a central role in design and in supporting the company’s wider international operations, highlighting Ireland’s place in the multinational’s growth story.
Long candidly discusses the crossroads she faced during her career — whether to remain in academia or transition fully into industry. While she flourished in both environments, she ultimately felt compelled to see her research applied in real-world settings, where it could deliver tangible impact.
She also reflects on the formative experience of completing her postdoctoral research at Stanford, and how valuable international exposure can be for early-career engineers. In today’s changing global landscape, she notes the importance of strengthening postdoctoral opportunities in Ireland and across Europe — an ambition shared by national research leaders and policymakers.
Throughout the discussion, Long’s identity as an engineer shines through. Her passion for problem-solving and for translating ideas into practical applications informs not only her technical work but also her pragmatic, solutions-focused leadership style.
As always, we are grateful to our guests this season for sharing their time and insights. And special thanks to IDA Ireland for their continued partnership in bringing The Leaders’ Room to life.
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