Meet Alex - Engineering Manager
As a child in Puerto Rico, Alex developed a keen interest in computers. His family didn’t have a home computer while he was growing up, which contributed to his fascination with the computing world. Today, he credits his early interest in computers – in part – to leading him to a career with Lockheed Martin.
Alex followed his passion for computers in college at the University of Puerto Rico and became the first in his family to earn a college degree, with a Bachelor of Science degree in computer engineering. He enjoyed solving different types of problems with the skills he learned. And he knew those skills could be applied across various career fields and allow him to pursue a wide range of opportunities. At college, Alex also continued to develop his leadership skills, adding to his high school experience on the student council and as class president.
As a college senior, a meeting with a Lockheed Martin recruiter at an engineering career fair set Alex on his 15-year career trajectory with the corporation. He started as a summer intern and joined the Engineering Leadership Development Program (ELDP) after graduation. He had several job offers on the table but said the people he met at that career fair influenced his decision. “At the end of the day, knowing there were people like me working for Lockheed Martin made the difference,” he said. That recruiter later became one of Alex’s role models. As an adult, Alex said he’s learned the importance of having role models and exposing kids to different career areas so they understand the opportunities open to them.
Throughout his internship and the ELDP, Alex gained many opportunities to grow his technical and interpersonal skills. “I knew this was the right place for me to grow professionally,” he said. “I could grow my technical skills to solve complex challenges and continue developing my leadership skills.”
As Alex has grown in his leadership roles, he’s developed a deeper appreciation for bringing his whole self to work. Earlier in his career, he wanted to fit in and be like the other people around him. Now, he appreciates more of his background and says he’s “unapologetically Hispanic.” “As a leader, this is how I encourage my employees to be – unapologetically themselves,” he said.
Much of Alex’s career has been as part of the Rotary and Mission Systems Cyber & Intelligence team. He’s worked on computer forensics tools to determine potential threats from U.S. adversaries, worked with teams of analysts to defeat cyber hackers and has identified tools and processes to aid cyber analysis. With each opportunity, he’s enjoyed solving hard problems and supporting customers’ critical missions.