Moncton, NB

St. John’s, NL

• https://ca.linkedin.com/in/jmbreau

• Bachelor of Engineering (Computer), Memorial University

Working in software development, I love the flexibility to work anywhere and in basically any industry. I’m able to work remotely for a company that’s focused on the battle against the climate crisis, which is the issue I’m most passionate about! I also like solving different problems everyday, and with regards to frontend development specifically, I love being able to see my implementation of a design come to life.

My favourite class growing up was always math, and in grade 12 I really loved physics, so I decided to study Engineering. Then, I decided to pursue Computer Engineering after taking my first programming course in university (the first time I ever saw a line of code!), because I really enjoyed solving problems with code.

The biggest thing that impacted me during my Engineering degree at MUN was the co-op program! I had the chance to do five 4-month work terms at five different companies, where I developed so many important skills while being exposed to different areas of Computer Engineering. During my last two work terms I found out how much I enjoy web development, which is what I’m doing now!

I work remotely everyday, and I stay connected with my team using Slack and video calls. I usually have a couple of team meetings in the morning, and then I spend the rest of the day developing new features on our web app and website independently, while having discussions with my teammates if any of us need any input.

Yes - my employer helps other companies offset their carbon emissions in a meaningful way, and I love that while I don’t have an environmental background, I’m able to help build a platform that is positively impacting the environment.

Take the time to figure out what you enjoy doing, without thinking of what other people expect you to do. If you think you are interested in a certain career, try to take advantage of any job shadowing days, summer camps, workshops, internship programs, competitions, conferences, or volunteer opportunities related to that field so you can learn more about what you do and don’t like, and about all the different options in the field.

Canada Learning Code - virtual workshops for kids, girls, and teens, and soon to be in-person workshops in St. John’s.
Digital Waves NL - a digital skills experience for girls and gender diverse youth with workshops and competitions, virtually in NL.
She Connects - a virtual Canada-wide mentorship program for girls and gender diverse youth.

There are so many rewarding opportunities in STEM and Skilled Trades for people with all different educational backgrounds, so you don’t need to have everything figured out right away!