Sandia LabNews

Careerapalooza inspires opportunity for change


Image of careerapalooza
GOING PLACES — Undergraduate research and development intern Kyle Rex, center, attended this year’s Careerapalooza to make new connections and learn about opportunities to grow in his career and make a difference for the nation. (Photo by Craig Fritz)

From Boy Scouts to Army Reserve Officer Training Corps, and Texas A&M to working on Sandia systems, Georgia-born athlete Kyle Rex believes that “Sandia’s work is my opportunity to be a part of something greater than yourself.”

Kyle is an undergrad summer intern based at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. He aspires to a career that combines military service and engineering. This dual path provides a platform to “serve my country while also applying my technical skills to develop cutting-edge technology for the military,” he said.

Kyle was influenced by his family’s military background from an early age, positioning him to pursue his passion for supporting the nation and its strategic defense systems.

Upon receiving an email invitation to attend Careerapalooza, Kyle seized the opportunity to learn about Sandia’s mission work and the full range of career paths available at the Labs.

Kyle traveled from Texas to New Mexico to attend the three-day event and further his own career exploration. The event provided a platform to connect with professionals from various divisions within Sandia, “helping me understand the Labs’ organizational structure and identify where my skills could best contribute.”

Kyle did not expect his view of Sandia to change from a potential future employer to “the ideal place for me to pursue my career goals and make a difference in the world.”

“The Career Expo, networking opportunities, panel and career talks at Careerapalooza, along with the New Mexico site visit, solidified my desire to work at Sandia,” he said.

Kyle learned that adaptability is key for personal and professional growth and ensures that Sandians can find roles that align with their evolving interests and goals.

“The knowledge that I gained from Careerapalooza reinforced that I can do what I love, challenge myself to explore other areas throughout the Labs, and have the support and resources that open up doors for change,” he said. “Support from managers at Sandia, who view their colleagues as more than just co-workers but as family, seals the deal for me. The support, state-of-the-art technology, and opportunities for growth and career development at Sandia are nothing short of amazing.”

Kyle’s path of commitment and service continues, aligning his aspiration to become a Sandian through pursuit of his passion.

Sandia employees can search for career development opportunities on the Career Development Office website.

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