Boosting an Engineering Career With Software

For more than a decade, Sam Gregory built a career at the intersection of hardware and innovation, working as a reliability engineer across Silicon Valley.

His résumé is impressive:

• From program manager to environmental lab manager at National Technical Systems (now Element U.S. Space & Defense)
• Hardware test engineer and engineering manager at Google
• Reliability engineering and failure analysis lead at X, The Moonshot Factory.

His experience spans industries—from consumer electronics and telecommunications to medical devices and residential appliances—bringing products to life through rigorous testing and engineering precision.

Along the way, Sam sharpened his technical edge at these leading companies, such as at Google where he was introduced to test automation and data analysis—skills that hinted at a new direction.

But as software development became increasingly essential to his work—especially in embedded systems and test automation—Sam saw an opportunity to go further.

He wasn’t looking to change careers. He was looking to level up.

In my job after Google at X, I did much more programming on embedded systems using the skills I learned in the program.

Building on a Strong Foundation

Sam already had exposure to coding and data, so it was a natural fit to start our Advanced Program in Software Development.

“When I was working at Google, my mentor taught me test automation using Python and data analysis using MySQL,” Sam recalls. “I enjoyed that quite a bit, so I decided I wanted to grow my coding skills by taking some courses.”

For him, programming wasn’t just a complementary skill; it was becoming essential.

“Being able to program as a hardware engineer is actually quite useful and, in my opinion, very fun,” Sam offers.

Our advanced program offered exactly what Sam needed: a way to deepen his technical expertise and formalize the skills he had started to develop on the job.

Even with such deep prior experience, Sam found the program transformative.

“I had some experience with low-level coding from my undergraduate days at Berkeley, but it had been so long that I forgot most of it,” Sam explains.

The curriculum didn’t just refresh his knowledge; it elevated it.

“Taking the Advanced Program in Software Development made me much more comfortable with C and C++,” Sam adds. “In my job after Google at X, I did much more programming on embedded systems using the skills I learned in the program.”

This is exactly what defines an advanced certificate: Not just learning new concepts, but immediately applying them in real-world contexts.

Balancing a demanding engineering role with coursework is no small feat. While taking our courses, Sam was working full time in a high-pressure startup environment.

“I was working as a reliability engineer at a Silicon Valley startup called Quilt,” Sam recalls. “It was a very intense job as we were trying to launch our first product, but I learned a lot.”

Despite the high-pressure stakes at work, our program’s structure made it possible for him to succeed.

“I thought the program was a perfect balance between self-study and Live Online courses,” Sam says. “They really fit into my busy work schedule. The self-study C and C++ courses were especially fun and interesting for me.

“A component of this work was test automation and interfacing with our embedded devices,” he continues. “The skills I learned in the program were directly applicable to this portion of my work. The program, overall, not only improved my skills, but also helped my marketability for future job applications.

“The Software Design Patterns course had the biggest impact on my thinking as a programmer,” Sam illustrates. “Learning all of the different patterns and structures have really improved the efficiency and readability of my code.”

He describes this transformation in a way that resonates with many learners: “I liken it to learning a new spoken language: Once you know the rules of the language and more of the vocabulary, then you can express more complex and nuanced topics.

“With programming,” Sam continues, “now that I know all of these paradigms and the appropriate syntax, I can create more elegant and capable programs.”

The program, overall, not only improved my skills, but also helped my marketability for future job applications.

From Engineer to Consultant

Since completing the certificate, Sam has transitioned into consultancy work as a reliability and compliance engineer, and he brings his advanced knowledge to each project.

“I design custom test and compliance solutions for my clients,” Sam describes.

This shift reflects a deeper level of confidence and independence, hallmarks of true professional growth.

“Professionally, this program gave me the confidence to tackle harder projects outside of my comfort zone,” Sam enthuses. “I even went on to get an additional certification with the American Society for Quality. I am now a Certified Reliability Engineer!

“If I hadn't first taken your Advanced Program in Software Development, I wouldn't have had the confidence to get this even more difficult certification.”

I highly recommend every engineer of every discipline to get good at writing AI prompts or else they will fall behind their peers.

Advice for Future Students

For those considering the certificate, Sam is clear about what it takes to succeed.

“Self-discipline is a must, especially if you’re also working a full-time job,” he offers. “You must carve out time every day to go through the material.”

He also encourages leveraging every available resource: “If you run into any issues, the instructors are a great resource and are responsive to messages and email.”

And as technology evolves, Sam sees continuous learning as essential, especially with the rise of AI.

“I use AI tools all the time to research various standards and regulations and to help design complicated tests,” he shares.

But Sam emphasizes balance: “I highly recommend every engineer of every discipline to get good at writing AI prompts or else they will fall behind their peers.

“Just beware of relying on it for everything, as you still need to know why you're doing what you're doing, not just how to do it,” Sam adds.