Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos Gutierrez.
Hi Carlos, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born in Durango, Mexico, and raised in Aguascalientes — a region that helped shape my curiosity and drive. My journey into technology started in elementary school, when I saw a computer for the first time. It was running Windows 95, and I remember being completely fascinated by what felt like magic at my fingertips. That early experience sparked something deep in me — a desire to understand how things work and how I could eventually build something of my own.
As technology evolved, so did my curiosity. I witnessed the shift from Encarta to Google, from dial-up connections to broadband, and from offline tools to always-connected platforms. I got my first computer as a kid and quickly fell in love with video games — not just playing them, but wondering how these virtual worlds were created. It was the beginning of my technical exploration.
In 2008, I enrolled in Mechatronic Engineering at Universidad Politécnica de Aguascalientes, where I deepened my understanding of hardware and software systems. During the early 2010s, I was drawn more and more to software, where I discovered a space to build, break, and rebuild ideas in a creative and impactful way.
After graduating, I initially worked in a completely different industry. But about six years later, I made the decision to return to my passion — and that came with one of my biggest personal and professional challenges: relearning everything on my own to catch up with modern technologies. I self-studied relentlessly, pushed myself to understand new frameworks and tools, and fought through the imposter syndrome that often comes with career transitions. Then, I set my sights on a new challenge: working in the U.S.
As a TN visa holder, I’m proud to say that I not only made that leap — I embraced it. This visa opened a door that I’ve walked through with purpose. It’s a powerful opportunity to learn from one of the most competitive and innovative tech ecosystems in the world. It also gave me a platform to show that we, as Mexican professionals, are not limited to one field or stereotype — we’re engineers, developers, and innovators, too.
In 2021, I joined a startup based in Silicon Valley that was building autonomous delivery robots. I worked as a full-stack developer, primarily on the web interface, but also staying engaged with the IoT side of the product. That role introduced me to the fast-paced, experimental mindset of U.S. startups and gave me first-hand experience contributing to hardware-integrated software solutions.
The following year, in 2022, I joined Ivoyant, where I’ve been working ever since as a software developer. My current role is focused on frontend development for a customer engagement platform used by one of the largest wireless service providers in the U.S. The application supports millions of users and empowers call center agents with real-time tools for billing, customer support, and workflow optimization. It’s a fast-moving, large-scale product — and I love the challenge of building human-centered interfaces at that scale.
On the tech side, I enjoy working with React, Node.js, Express, TypeScript, Docker, Ansible, NestJS, Azure, Bash, and even Lua. I’m especially passionate about modern frontend ecosystems and DevOps practices — I love combining elegant UI with solid infrastructure.
Outside of work, I’ve built and actively maintain a homelab powered by a compact machine running 32GB of RAM and an RTX 3060 Ti GPU. It hosts my blog and side projects, and acts as a sandbox for learning Docker, Ansible, Kubernetes, and AI/ML experimentation. It’s also helping me deepen my understanding of networking, cloud computing, and system security, all through hands-on problem solving. I view it as my personal R&D lab — a place where I can explore, break things, and improve.
Looking ahead, I have a clear long-term vision. I plan to launch my own product that can make a real impact on people’s daily lives. I’m also deeply committed to open source and intend to contribute more actively, as well as create tools for the developer community. One of my goals is to start a dev-focused business, and I’m already laying the groundwork by sharing knowledge, building projects, and staying active in technical spaces.
Lastly, I wouldn’t be where I am without the support of people who believed in me. One of my most important mentors is Basanth Gowda, the CEO of Ivoyant. His guidance and leadership have helped me grow both technically and professionally, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all — but every challenge has helped me become more resilient, focused, and committed to my path.
After working for several years in a different industry, I made the difficult decision to return to tech — not because I had made a wrong choice in studying Mechatronic Engineering, but because I realized that software had always been my true calling. I wanted to build things from ideas, and software gave me that creative and technical freedom. With my hardware background, I also understood how to connect both worlds, which made me even more passionate about tech.
Re-entering the field wasn’t easy. The hardest part was staying current with fast-moving technologies. Learning on my own — from documentation, books, and online courses — required deep discipline, especially since I was essentially rebooting my career. There were moments I doubted myself. I remember going through dozens of interviews, answering technical questions, doing live coding, and explaining why I wanted to switch to IT at 30 years old. A lot of people didn’t understand the shift, and it was discouraging at times. I nearly gave up and considered going back to my previous job.
But I gave it one more try, and that final interview was the one that changed everything — I got an offer in San Francisco. That was a turning point. It meant the world to me, because it validated all the effort and risk I had taken.
Transitioning to the U.S. tech industry as a TN visa holder brought its own set of challenges. Many companies don’t fully understand the TN visa — they often assume it’s a complicated work visa, when in fact it’s a work permit with much less paperwork. I found myself frequently explaining this to recruiters and hiring managers, sometimes getting rejected just because of the visa confusion. What helped me through that period was a combination of persistence, community support, and mentorship. I learned how to tell my story clearly and advocate for myself.
Then came the language and cultural hurdles. When I first started working in Atlanta three years ago, the shift to speaking English 24/7 gave me headaches — literally. It was exhausting, and I realized that what I thought was decent English was actually very basic. I didn’t know all the words, especially technical terms. But I pushed through. I took specific classes online, practiced consistently, and gradually gained confidence in technical communication. Now it’s second nature.
From a technical standpoint, I’ve faced plenty of frustrations — I still remember how JavaScript made no sense to me at first. But over time, and with the help of the community, books, and good documentation, I got the hang of it. It’s part of the beauty of this field: you’re always learning.
Even now, I face the ongoing challenge of time management. I have many personal projects and goals — building in my homelab, contributing to open source, learning AI — and it’s hard to juggle everything. But I’m driven by passion, and that keeps me going.
The road hasn’t been smooth, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Every step — the setbacks, the breakthroughs, the people I’ve met — has helped shape not only the developer I am today, but the person I continue to grow into.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I currently work as a frontend developer at Ivoyant, where I contribute to a large-scale customer engagement platform used by one of the top wireless service providers in the U.S. My focus is on building and optimizing the web interface used by call center agents, designing intuitive flows that help them provide faster, smarter, and more effective support to millions of customers.
Our team follows the Scrum methodology, and my day usually starts by reviewing and prepping stories. Outside of work, I dedicate time to continuing my learning—exploring new technologies, experimenting in my homelab, and staying sharp with technical reading.
While my strongest area is frontend, I work across the stack and bring a systems-thinking mindset to everything I do. I’m known on my team as someone who’s great at approaching complex problems, not necessarily tied to a specific framework or language, but by figuring out the logic, flow, and root of the issue. My toolkit includes JavaScript, React, Node.js, TypeScript, Express, Docker, Ansible, Azure, and even Lua and Bash when scripting or automating environments.
One project I’m particularly proud of was during my time at a startup working on delivery robots. I developed a tool that automated the upload of Linux packages to Raspberry Pi devices using Bash scripts. It was a simple but powerful contribution that streamlined a critical part of the deployment workflow — blending hardware and software in a way that really excited me.
Another moment that stands out is when I introduced the 5 Whys methodology to my current team. It helped us dig deeper during retrospectives and uncover the root causes of recurring issues — it was a small shift, but it had a real impact on how we reflect, learn, and move forward as a team.
What sets me apart is my approach: I always start by understanding the problem, mapping the flow, and designing a clean solution before writing a single line of code. I care deeply about structure, scalability, and clarity, not just in code, but in the way we think through the systems we’re building.
Outside of work, I’m passionate about my homelab, which I use as a playground for learning about DevOps, cloud, AI, security, and automation. I enjoy reading technical books and articles to stay ahead, and I’m always looking for ways to grow — both for myself and for the impact I can have on others through technology.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is solving real problems that make people’s lives better. I feel deeply passionate about what I do, and that passion is what drives me every day. For me, there’s no better feeling than seeing the direct impact of something I’ve built — knowing it helped someone, made a process smoother, or removed a point of friction from their day.
At the core of everything I do is a personal belief in resilience and perseverance. I’ve learned that it’s not about being the best from the start — it’s about showing up consistently, learning relentlessly, and never giving up, even when things get hard. It’s also about carrying a sense of pride in who I am and where I come from. I often say: “Mex I can.” Because I believe that being Mexican is not just about roots — it’s about bringing excellence, creativity, and strength into everything I do.
When I’m faced with difficult decisions, I prioritize purpose and integrity first, followed by learning and collaboration. I want my work to stand for something — to create inclusive systems, meaningful products, and a future where technology empowers rather than excludes.
More than anything, I want to be remembered as someone who made things easier — for teams, users, and the people around me. I want to help put Mexico on the map, not just in terms of talent, but in terms of leadership and innovation. And I hope to inspire other developers — especially those who come from nontraditional paths — to believe in themselves, push through the obstacles, and create something great.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blog.cargdev.io/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cargdev.io/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cargdev/
- Twitter: https://x.com/cargdev
- Other: https://github.com/CarGDev
