For Naibys Alzugaray, landing an internship at Electronic Arts (EA) in Orlando, Florida, was the realization of a dream that started in high school. But by the end of the summer, that dream became a permanent reality.
On the final day of her internship on Aug. 7, the Florida Polytechnic University rising senior received a full-time software engineer job offer to return to EA after graduation. She will join EA’s Software Engineer Academy crew, a specialized career accelerator that provides a cohort of peers, dedicated mentorship and advanced training.
“Securing this position before even starting my senior year is an amazing feeling,” Alzugaray said. “Knowing I will return to EA as part of the SE Academy crew means I get to keep learning alongside incredible peers and mentors who are truly invested in my growth.”
The computer science major spent her summer as a software engineer intern working alongside the development team behind Madden NFL 27. The highly anticipated game hit store shelves on Thursday, Aug. 13
“I worked on debugging, resolving UI/UX issues and completed from start to finish two trade and salary features for the franchise mode,” she said. “The team is very awesome, and they’re willing to work with you on timing and deadlines. It was a well-paced, great experience.”
Alzugaray’s connection with EA began years earlier. Before her senior year at University High School in Orlando, her computer science teacher recommended her for the company’s competitive “Get in the Game” STEAM camp, where she was one of only 12 local girls selected to participate. The experience guaranteed a future college interview, and Alzugaray kept in touch with EA mentors while attending Florida Poly.
That relationship paid off this year when a software engineering internship position became available and EA reached out to Alzugaray about the opportunity.
“It’s honestly a dream,” she said. “One thing I love about being part of this gaming company is that everyone has something in common. We love making games.”
Alzugaray said she felt ready to step into the demanding world of top-tier game development thanks to the rigorous education and hands-on experience she’s gained at Florida Poly. Beyond the classroom, she said her involvement with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) helped her sharpen her professional skills and build confidence.
“I definitely felt prepared going in,” Alzugaray said. “The technical concepts they talk about when I’m debugging have all been mentioned in my previous classes. In terms of professional development, SHPE completely changed my life and helped me develop toward this.”
Looking ahead, Alzugaray plans to pursue a master’s degree and eventually a doctorate, keeping her technical foundation strong as she transitions into her software engineering career.
“I want to stay in the gaming industry and work for a company with a good culture,” she said. “It’s just so fun to see people appreciate the things that you’ve built.”
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Lydia Guzmán
Director of Communications
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