Software Development Engineer 1, Amazon Web ServicesBrandon Lacy stands in front of a wall with the Amazon logo.

Can you describe your career path to your current job and some of your responsibilities in this position?

My journey to becoming a Software Development Engineer I at AWS demonstrates the value of building upon each professional experience. Throughout my education at Sacred Heart University, where I earned my BS in Computer Science and Cybersecurity, I made it a focal point to gain practical experience through various internships and roles that shaped my technical foundation.

A pivotal point in my career was my internship at Hubbell Incorporated as a Data Science & Insights Intern, where I deployed two autonomous machine learning solutions in Python - one that forecasted invoice clearing dates based on customer payment tendencies, and another that predicted deductions validity using item metadata. I worked extensively with Azure Machine Learning frameworks to decrease solution turnaround time, while gaining hands-on experience with data engineering, ETL processes from GraphQL APIs, and working with various databases using SQL and Apache Spark.

It is my foundation at Hubbell Incorporated that launched me into the next significant step in my career as a Software Development Engineer I Intern at Amazon Ads in Boulder. There, I engineered an investigation library in Kotlin designed to excavate relevant error messages from logs to uncover root causes of Amazon EMR workload failures. This system was automated through the use of AWS Lambdas orchestrated with an AWS Step Function. This experience was particularly valuable as it introduced me to working in a Scrum environment with two-week sprints and handling complex cloud infrastructure.

Amazon Ads was in a hiring freeze during my internship, and as a result I looked for opportunities in my home state of Rhode Island, which led me to a position at Maritime Planning Associates as a Java & Python Software Engineer. I took on challenging projects including advancing visualization capabilities for the Waterborne Hazard Model of Record at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency by extending particle representations to capture depth within the water column. I also led the redesign of a climatology region analysis system, transforming it from a monolithic Python script into a scalable microservices architecture utilizing Docker, MongoDB for data management, and RabbitMQ for inter-service communication to increase fault tolerance and throughput.

I later received a referral from my manager during my internship which led me to my current role as a Software Development Engineer I at AWS in Denver. Here, I have focused on investigating capacity-related issues to improve auto-scaling resilience and the optimization of compute resources to minimize our capital expenses.

What services and/or resources did you use at Brandeis for your career search?

I've received all of my internships and professional experiences through recruiters on Handshake, aside from my opportunity at Maritime Planning Associates which was found on LinkedIn. The GSAS Career Center was instrumental in my job search success - I regularly utilized their services to refine my resume to highlight my technical achievements, optimize my LinkedIn profile for recruiter visibility, and prepare for technical interviews through mock interview sessions. Their guidance helped me better articulate my experiences and present myself more effectively to potential employers, particularly during my transition from data science roles to software engineering positions.

What skills from your Brandeis degree have you found most valuable in your current work?

Brandeis' Master of Science in Computer Science program is the reason I am where I am today. I pursued a graduate degree to further solidify my technical foundation with complex studies in the areas of artificial intelligence and software engineering. The program's rigorous coursework in distributed systems and advanced algorithms has proven invaluable in my current role at AWS, where I work on optimizing large-scale cloud infrastructure and implementing auto-scaling solutions. The theoretical foundations I gained in machine learning and systems design have enabled me to approach complex technical challenges with a deeper understanding, particularly when investigating capacity-related issues and optimizing compute resources. Beyond technical skills, the program's emphasis on collaborative problem-solving and independent research has enhanced my ability to work effectively in team environments and tackle novel engineering challenges.

What advice do you have for current students as they embark on their job search?

It has been instilled in me by my parents to always be humble, hungry, and the hardest worker in the room, and I've aimed to leverage this mindset from the start of my computer science education. There are no shortcuts to your dream, and every job should be viewed as a stepping stone towards accomplishing your dream. My journey from IT help desk to AWS demonstrates this principle - each role provided unique learning opportunities that contributed to my growth.

For current students, I recommend focusing on gaining practical experience early through internships and research positions, even if they're not at your dream company. Take advantage of university resources like Handshake and the Career Center - they were instrumental in my job search success. Build a strong online presence through LinkedIn and GitHub, as these platforms can open unexpected opportunities, as they did for me with Maritime Planning Associates. Most importantly, don't be discouraged by setbacks like hiring freezes or rejection - stay persistent and leverage your network, as sometimes a referral from a previous manager can lead to your next big opportunity.