Aldo Solis was 38, married with six kids and had not finished high school – but he had a vision of himself and the level of work he wanted to do that would challenge and excite him…and change their lives. He wanted education and training to work on big machinery using hi-tech problem-solving. SJVC’s Maintenance Technician program would take mental determination and financial sacrifice. It was a big family decision. They were ready.
Why make a career change now?
I’ve had many jobs in several industries, working as a sales manager, but not really getting anywhere. I wanted a new direction in life.
My inspiration for maintenance technology was from when I was in high school and a friend’s dad was making good money in that field and still had lots of time with family. It was lodged in the back of my brain. I steered myself toward SJVC’s Maintenance Technician program and expressed interest online.
How did that process work?
They called and invited me to the campus because there were a bunch of fields I was interested in. But the Maintenance Technician field really got my attention. I took my 5-year-old daughter, Camila, with me to check out the campus and classrooms.
What was your first impression?
My first impression was that the campus was very neat and clean. The Maintenance Technician classes had all the tools needed for the curriculum – and tablets were provided to every student that made it very streamlined to learn. The Maintenance Technician program had hydraulic and pneumatic pumps, digital multi meters to measure electrical current and PLC (programmable logic controllers) software. They had everything.
Were there any roadblocks?
I didn’t have my high school diploma. It was a requirement for program enrollment.
How was that resolved?
Everything happens for a reason. Last year I had a motorcycle accident and broke my leg. I used that downtime to get my high school diploma. That inner voice was telling me to go back to school. I completed that and enrolled in the Maintenance Technician program at SJVC.
What was your first impression of SJVC’s Maintenance Technician program?
The class size and number of students was comfortable – wasn’t too big or too small. The instructors were very interactive with us and if we didn’t understand something, they would break it down for better grasp. They all had experience in this field and were quick to answer any questions and steer us in the right direction. We could reach out to them day or night and they had our phone numbers to text us.
Do you have a favorite classroom moment?
I wanted to get more out of what I was learning, so I was using YouTube, AI and other resources and sharing with everybody. When it came time to do labs in the program, I was the first one to put hands on a tool because I already knew what to do.
Any big surprises in your Maintenance Technician program?
My biggest surprise was learning as much as I did in such a short time. The pace was fast but manageable.
What information really captured your attention?
There was a lot of new information. I didn’t know that electric motors can also be generators. Big industrial electric motors run off Variable Frequency Drives (VFD) – something I also learned in class.
What pushed you to complete the Maintenance Technician program?
Discipline and integrity to just keep going. No one is going to do that for you. You have to love yourself to put yourself in a better position. Comfort doesn’t equal growth.
Was SJVC the right choice for you?
Nothing else would have prepared me for this career, but this school. We’re learning to pass a lot of tests and have to be very knowledgeable, especially in safety rules. It definitely helped me get into this hi-tech career.
We learned to use function and controls of these very big machines out in the field and shadowing technicians during our externship (on the job experience).
How did you balance school, work and family responsibilities?
I was only working part-time and had to stretch a small paycheck for a family of eight. I still don’t know how we managed all the necessities and still be able to do this. Our extended families were very supportive, too.
Did you have the support you needed at home?
Without my wife, Irene, I couldn’t have done it. She was my biggest push in life. She works full-time and is also a full-time mom.
Irene: “It was a very difficult living situation the last few years, especially when kids depend on you. The youngest is five and the oldest is eighteen. They mostly helped each other out. We just had to make it (new career) work. The kids were so excited to see Dad registered in the (SJVC) program and ‘going back to school’. He had a lot of support.”
What was your job search like?
I’d submitted 30 applications before I even finished the program. I had two more interviews from those applications when I landed this well-paying job. I didn’t think I’d have this kind of position so soon.
What are your job responsibilities?
As a maintenance technician for Draxlmaier, (manufacturers interior panels for Teslas), I service all the automation: anything that has to do with conveyor belts, bearings, industrial motors and control boards (wiring panels). I work with robots that do a lot of automation. It’s a pretty cool job! I didn’t imagine I’d have this kind of position so soon.
On a typical day I do preventive maintenance (PMs) on injection molding machines and load raw materials into machines that form a door panel. We’re also in charge of maintaining and calibrating those machines and servicing about 45 different robots. It’s a very sophisticated operation.
Are there advancement opportunities?
We shadow higher techs to learn more about these machines and increase our knowledge to pass higher tests – especially safety instructions and rules, so that we can perform safely and accurately in the field. There are clear paths to advancement.
Is this new position worth all the sacrifices you and your family made?
I’m working for a very sophisticated operation, and I feel well prepared for this hi-tech career and fortunate to have this job. It still feels like a dream.
What is your vision for the future?
I will get great experience in this field and, hopefully, five years from now, with my previous management experience, I will be in a management position.