Game Changers: From Civil Engineer to Tech Lead — Marco Aires
At Fabamaq, we believe that many of the best tech stories start outside of tech. Stories of people who built a solid career in another field and, at some point, decided to change the game.
In this edition of the Game Changers series, we share the story of Marco Aires, who traded the hard hat of a Civil Engineer for the keyboard of a Tech Lead in Software Development. A career change made with conviction, method, and the certainty that professional growth rarely happens inside the comfort zone.
From construction sites to lines of code
At 33, Marco has a background that few would expect to cross paths with the tech industry. For four years, he worked as a Civil Engineer, first as a site manager, then in the maintenance department of a Spanish hotel chain with operations in Portugal. A demanding, dynamic job, full of responsibility. And yet, the moment came when he felt he wanted more.
What drew him to technology wasn't a break from the past, but precisely the continuation of a purpose. For Marco, Civil Engineering and software development have more in common than it seems.
"Even though they look like very different fields at first glance, I see a lot of common ground. Both are about creating solutions that respond to real people's needs."
That idea of building with intention and impact was the thread that led him to take the leap into a tech career change.
The decision to give up comfort and invest in the future
Changing careers always comes with a degree of uncertainty. For Marco, the fears were real and honest. The feeling of "leaving behind" years of demanding training, the self-doubt about whether he could keep up with people who had been in the field much longer. Not to mention the question of whether there would be room for someone without a traditional IT background.
The way he worked through those fears is, perhaps, the most telling part of his professional character. Instead of freezing up, he focused on his own growth.
There was also a fundamental shift in perspective. Marco realized he wasn't starting from scratch. On the contrary, the skills he'd built in Civil Engineering, like organization, handling pressure, structured thinking, and a focus on execution, were a solid foundation for the transition. Rather than dead weight, our Gamer brought a real advantage.
The preparation was taken seriously. Marco quit his job and enrolled in the SWITCH program for a full academic year, with classes from 9 AM to 5 PM. On top of that, the studying stretched into extra hours dedicated to reinforcing what he'd learned, diving deeper into topics, and working on his particular projects. In his own words, "it was probably the year I studied the hardest in my life."
The intensity was one of the biggest challenges of the career change. After years in the workforce, going back to such a fast-paced learning rhythm with languages, frameworks, programming logic, all at once, was, as he put it, "a huge shock in those first few months." But it was also a conscious choice. After all, he wanted to enter the job market as prepared as possible.
Joining Fabamaq: a company that knows how to welcome people
When Marco arrived at Fabamaq, he knew he still had a long technical road ahead of him. What he didn't expect or at least, not to the same degree, was the environment he found.
"I always say that Fabamaq is a company that knows how to welcome people. From day one, I felt there was room to learn and time to adapt."
The contrast with the environment he knew was striking. Marco explains that on construction sites, turnover is high and, often, people end up being treated almost like numbers. At Fabamaq, he found a place where you're genuinely welcomed, where you have the conditions to work comfortably, and where each person truly matters.
"Instead of feeling negative pressure, I felt trust and a sense of responsibility to grow."
A feeling that made all the difference for the future Tech Lead.
The skills construction taught him and that software values
One of the most interesting aspects of Marco's journey is how naturally his Civil Engineering skills translated into software development.
On a construction site, you're managing deadlines, teams, suppliers, and unexpected problems all at once. You learn quickly that there's no room to panic. You need to prioritize, anticipate, and solve. Saying "we have a problem" isn't enough: it’s needed to find the solution, often on the spot, with a real impact on the work of many people.
"That mindset of solving things and moving forward really stuck with me," he says. When joining Fabamaq, Marco was aware it would take time to reach the technical level he wanted. But he also knew he wasn't coming empty-handed. From his days as a civil engineer, he brought responsibility, a focus on execution, and a commitment to results. And that, he believes, is what helped him earn his place.
Today, as a Tech Lead in Software Development, that background is still present in the way he approaches planning, risk anticipation, and priority management within the team.
When asked to name his biggest gain since entering the tech field, his answer isn't technical.
His journey showed him that there's always a place for those who truly commit. That dedication, consistency, and attitude make the difference, even without a traditional background, even without years of IT experience from the start. Going from doubt to confidence was, for him, the most important victory.
He's part of teams that grow stronger through diverse backgrounds, and he believes it's precisely that mix of perspectives that broadens the way challenges are thought through and tackled at Fabamaq.
What he says to those thinking about switching to tech
Career changes into tech are a growing conversation in the Portuguese job market. And Marco has a clear message for anyone considering that step.
"I'd tell them not to be afraid and to be honest with themselves. If you feel like you want to change, if something in another field sparks your interest, it's worth exploring."
The feeling of stability, he admits, can be misleading. Sometimes it protects us less than we think — and holds us back more than it should.
"Sometimes you need to give up a little comfort to grow."
Discover more Fabamaq Game Changers
Want to keep exploring stories of people who switched careers and found their place in the world of tech? Read the story of Carla Santos, who left the field of Nutrition to become a Software Test Engineer at a casino games company. Or the story of Solange Oliveira, who, after ten years as an Occupational Therapist, took on a new challenge as a Software Tester at Fabamaq.
And if you're also looking for new professional challenges at a tech company in Portugal that values talent, continuous learning, and innovation, check out the open opportunities at Fabamaq and take the next step in your career.
