Zofia Bil Ryan
Zofia Bil Ryan is a pioneering mechanical engineer recognized for her integral role in several landmark 1990s pinball machines at Williams/Bally, including Doctor Who, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and The Machine: Bride of Pin-Bot. She entered the pinball industry in the late 1980s as the first woman mechanical engineer at Williams, bringing a strong engineering background and a commitment to innovation. Working under influential designers like Barry Oursler and Python Anghelo, she developed patented mechanisms such as the motorized “Time Expander” mini-playfield for Doctor Who and the magnet-based “Mist Multiball” feature for Dracula, which showcased her skill for integrating thematic design with reliable mechanical solutions.
Following Williams’s closure of its pinball division in 1999, Ryan transitioned to WMS Gaming, applying her mechanical expertise to slot machines while maintaining connections to pinball. In 2021, she returned to the coin-op sector as a senior engineer at American Pinball, taking on leadership responsibilities and continuing to shape new titles. Her patented designs, emphasis on durable engineering, and collaborative approach have influenced manufacturing methods and helped define many of the signature “toy” features that characterized 1990s pinball.
Over the course of her career, Ryan has been recognized for both her technical achievements and her role as a trailblazer in a traditionally male-dominated field. She has amassed multiple patents related to pinball and gaming technology, and her work has earned acclaim among enthusiasts for its originality and reliability. Inducted into the Pinball Expo Hall of Fame in 2022, Ryan’s enduring legacy is evident in the continuing popularity of the games she helped create and in the modern machines that build upon her mechanical innovations.
