#PeopleofSTEAM: Meet Jesús
November 16, 2023
Nicholas is a FIRST® alum, a former member of FIRST® Robotics Competition Team 4468 “Fernbank LINKS.” Upon joining the team in 2013, Nicholas started as Marketing Director and Coordinator, eventually taking on the role of Team President by graduation.
Nicholas now uses the skills he learned at FIRST in his role at TE Connectivity, a world leader in connectors and sensors. TE Connectivity has been supporting FIRST as a Strategic Partner since 2018 and creates communication technology for electronic devices. Working with a team of engineers based in Paris, France, Nicholas is a R&D Electrical Design Engineer working to create new products and technologies for industrial robotics.
Finding joy in helping people around the world, Nicholas thrives as he continues down the invigorating path that a career in STEAM has brought him. His focus? To discover what he loved to learn and do and find his purpose from there. Now he works at a company that electrifies the world, creating products that connect data and electronics to advance transportation, communication, medical technology, and so much more. Not only does his experience in STEAM help Nicholas with his career – he has also found that it lends a hand when he does photography, paints, or even navigates new cities while he travels.
When faced with a challenge, Nicholas remembers his purpose and why he is inspired to create technology that changes the world. Learn more about Nicholas’ incredible journey with STEAM below:
FIRST® Robotics Competition Team 4468 “Fernbank LINKS.”
FIRST Staff: Can you share some information about your current role at TE Connectivity?
Nicholas: I work as a research and product development engineer at TE Connectivity. My focus is on the electrical engineering design of force and torque sensors for our team based in Paris, France. These sensors are integrated into the robotic arms of industrial robotics used by our customers across Europe and Japan.
FIRST Staff: What is your favorite part of your current role as a Research and Product Development Engineer?
Nicholas: My favorite part of this role is the constant innovation within my team. We are regularly challenged to develop creative solutions and bring new technologies to market. I also enjoy the variety in my day-to-day tasks. One day I am performing high-voltage shock tests on sensors in the lab, the next day I am designing schematics from scratch for upcoming products or hosting global presentations and AI training sessions for engineers.
FIRST Staff: What is the hardest part of your job?
Nicholas: The hardest part of my job is taking on assignments where I have limited prerequisite knowledge but am still responsible for completing it. In these cases, I need to quickly train additional support. This can create a steep learning curve and may be stressful when working under tight deadlines. However, once the task is completed, I feel accomplishment and gain new skills as well as valuable networking connections.
FIRST Staff: How do you use STEAM skills in your everyday work/life?
Nicholas: The skills I gained through STEAM not only apply in the lab but also in my personal hobbies. As a leisure photographer, I pay close attention to timing, precision, and movement. Similarly, in my painting, I incorporate color theories, techniques, and inspiration. I love to travel the world as my past time, and I have found that all the STEAM skills and problem-solving I have learned allows me to safely navigate countries across the world. For example, the directional skills I learned during a FIRST Robotics Competition have helped me calculate coordinates when traveling or hiking in new places.
FIRST Staff: Can you share your thoughts on the impact of your personal/professional work in STEAM?
Nicholas: I believe my work has a meaningful impact both personally and professionally. As the first in my family to graduate in engineering, I have inspired younger relatives, including my little cousins, to follow in my footsteps. My journey began with FIRST, where I engaged in outreach initiatives reaching over 50,000 individuals, spreading awareness of STEAM and FIRST education throughout metro Atlanta. Today, I continue to foster change by working on recruitment efforts at my company to increase visibility for all engineers and attend virtual career fairs.
FIRST Staff: Who is a “Person of STEAM” who inspires you?
Nicholas: A person in STEAM who has always inspired me is Lonnie Johnson, an Air Force and NASA engineer best known for inventing the Super Soaker. In the second grade, I did a project on him and his invention. Eight years later, my FIRST team was building our robot at his facility, and I finally had the chance to meet him. Seven years after that, I returned to the FIRST Championship to manage my company’s booth and ran into him again. To my amazement, he remembered me and invited me to dinner. There is no better feeling than having your childhood idol express how proud they are of you.
Nicholas and Lonnie Johnson
FIRST Staff: If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Nicholas: I would tell my younger self to take more risks and not fear failure. Growing up, I often stuck to what felt safe because I did not want to fail. While failure can be discouraging, it is also one of the greatest teachers. Perseverance builds confidence. Failing earlier would have helped me discover what works for me and what does not, while also fostering curiosity, innovation, and persistence. Now, I focus less on avoiding failure and more on ensuring I do not look back wishing I had tried something new.
FIRST Staff: Do you have a message you want to share for students who are participating in FIRST today?
Nicholas: I encourage you to cherish these moments with your team, friends, and family. You have already worked so hard, so take the time to enjoy the experience. Remember, this is both a competition and a game. If things do not go exactly as planned or you do not place as high as you hoped, stay hopeful. Always maintain the values of Gracious Professionalism®. Trust me, as an alum: if you have made it this far, you have already won.
Are you a person of STEAM? Share your story with #PeopleofSTEAM on social media or send us your story at marketing@firstinspires.org.