By -Mayuri Shivam
Fifteen years into a stable engineering career at Bell Helicopter, Javier Paredes could have stayed the course. He had the experience, the reputation, and the routine. But something kept tugging at him, a growing curiosity about the technology shaping the world around him. Full stack development, cloud applications, AI. These weren’t just buzzwords anymore. They felt like the future, and Javier wasn’t ready to sit on the sidelines.
So, he did what many hesitate to do mid-career: he chose to begin again.
Learning Without Pressing Pause
With degrees in mechanical engineering from UT Austin and UT Arlington, Javier had been working in Bell’s fatigue engineering department in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex since 2010. Over the years, he observed how rapidly the development environment was changing.
“Most of today’s development roles revolve around web technologies,” Javier explains. “I had primarily been a desktop developer. I wanted to sharpen my toolkit so my career options stayed open, especially as AI allows companies to do more with fewer developers.”
He found the answer in the Full Stack Software Development: Building Scalable Cloud Applications program from the UT Austin McCombs School of Business. “It was backed by UT Austin, which I had attended, and I knew it was reputable,” he says. “I also had two coworkers who wanted to do it with me, so the three of us signed up together.”
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He didn’t pause his career to study. The program’s nine-month, weekend-only format made it possible to learn alongside work. “The flipped classroom model really worked. We watched short videos before live sessions, so class time was spent coding, troubleshooting, and asking deeper questions,” he recalls. “The mentors were always available. We could create action tickets, hold office hours, or get connected to the right help. It was very smooth, and surprisingly, it was fun.”
From Intimidation to Empowerment
Javier admits that before the program, some technologies felt intimidating. That changed once he dove into project-based learning.
“I now have full stack confidence,” he says. “From HTML, CSS, and React on the front end to Node, Express, SQL, and NoSQL on the back end, I feel like I can design, build, and deploy a production-ready app.”
He found hands-on learning more effective than any slide deck. “Building real products, whether it’s an e-commerce site or a food ordering app, definitely beats slide decks. Getting your hands dirty is how concepts stick,” he says.
His advice? Don’t wait. “Spin up a tiny app, break it, Google the fix, repeat. That rhythm builds momentum and shows how the pieces fit together.”
Consistency was just as important. “Even 30 focused minutes a night kept everything fresh. It made weekend classes more meaningful.”
A New Perspective, and a Broader Impact
Javier’s upskilling journey wasn’t just about personal growth; it’s helping Bell Helicopter stay future-ready.
“We’re already seeing places where we’re likely to implement web-based solutions,” he shares. “Some of our legacy tools were built on technologies that students aren’t learning anymore. This course is helping us stay current and fill in gaps. It’s preparing us for the future.”
The format also changed his approach to learning. “The flipped classroom model and the community made it more engaging than passive lectures,” he says. “It was motivating to be surrounded by people from the industry who had real experience.”
Looking Ahead: Confidence, Continuity, and Contribution
Javier has no plans to leave engineering behind. Instead, he views software development as a powerful extension of his existing knowledge.
“I want to continue as an individual contributor in software development,” he says. “I now understand software development much more than I did before. That sets me up to grow, either within my company or elsewhere. I bring a skill set many of my peers don’t have.”
He’s especially proud of how far he’s come. “I was always a little intimidated by some of these technologies. But the way the program was presented helped it all stick. I now understand how the pieces of the puzzle work together, and it’s far less intimidating.”
Advice for Aspiring Learners
Javier wholeheartedly recommends the program and offers practical tips for success.
“Do the pre-class videos. Put in consistent time each week, even if it’s just 30 minutes a night. It helps more than cramming,” he says.
“And make it fun. Compete with your friends to build the coolest features or get the highest grades. That’s what I did with a coworker, and it made the experience more exciting.”His final piece of advice? Don’t worry about memorising everything. “There’s a lot to learn, and you won’t retain it all. Focus on understanding how things fit together. In a world where AI can help with the details, knowing how to piece things together will take you far.”
