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Mario Gomez
Mario Gomez
00:53

Mario Gomez

Fort Wayne Metals

Fort Wayne, IN USA

"The biggest thing about being a leader is you want to set up your team to succeed not for the sake of glory, but for the sake of the people themselves."

Career Roadmap

Mario's work combines: Engineering, Technology, and Problem Solving

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Day In The Life

Research and Development Technician

I test and develop new alloys and processes to advance medical technologies.

01:12

Day In The Life Of A Research And Development Technician

My Day to Day

A typical day starts with looking at which projects I have that need to be completed first. Then I work with engineers on any questions or issues that arise. My typical daily tasks include wire drawing, testing, and moving material around.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Psychology

    Indiana Tech

Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Research and Development Technician:

Bachelor's Degree: Mechanical Engineering Technology

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

I've taken a lot of twists and turns

  • 1.

    I was unsure of what I wanted to pursue as a career, so I took a break after high school to think about it while working at a grocery store.

  • 2.

    A friend’s mom worked in administration at Indiana Tech, so I toured the campus, fell in love with the engineering department, and decided to enroll.

  • 3.

    As school went on, I realized that human behavior and interactions captivated me more than engineering, so I switched my major from engineering to psychology.

  • 4.

    After college, I struggled to figure out what I really wanted to do—I bounced around retail positions, tried my hand at manufacturing, and even worked as a restaurant cook.

  • 5.

    After a huge personal loss, I really took a hard look at my life and career—it pushed me to pursue a role at Fort Wayne Metals, starting in the shape set department.

  • 6.

    I moved to lead roles across various departments, mastering the large and minute complexities of metal production.

  • 7.

    I was selected for a challenging role in research and development, focusing on innovative medical and aerospace materials.

  • 8.

    Now, I balance the autonomy of research and development projects with collaborative efforts, constantly learning and adapting.

Defining Moments

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

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  • I lost two best friends within 10 days of each other. The loss caused my to take a hard look at my life and career. It ultimately pushed me to pursue the career I have now.