Bold. Unafraid. Willing to take chances. Willing to try new things.
If any of these words describe you, you may be the kind of professional who would succeed at Parsons. Innovation isn’t boilerplate at Parsons; it’s the cornerstone of how the company operates. ClearanceJobs recently sat down with Ricardo Lorenzo, chief technology officer at Parsons. He discussed how Parsons is innovates and onboards the best talent.
That innovation mindset has helped Parsons innovate and develop new solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic. DetectWise™ is a suite of touchless technology solutions designed to help companies get back to business, and includes a suite of software and technical solutions.
“Agile innovation in action is kind of what got this whole thing started,” said Lorenzo. “We have a number of tools and collaborative ways and processes and techniques by which we gather ideas. We went through the entire organization to garner ideas, suggestions, and concepts that might either be in play or ideas our team members had.”
Among the individuals involved in providing rapid COVID-19 solutions and response are fellows. The Parsons Fellows Program was launched in 2017, to help the company with some of its biggest challenges, from space exploration to cyberware. Those professionals are a ready resource, equipped with the expertise to take on big challenges like COVID-19. The diverse groups of teams and combination of commercial and government contracting experience helps Parsons pull in innovative solutions from across the company and across the globe.
“Agile process were used to determine which processes were viable, which ones were interesting, which ones were innovative,” said Ricardo. “We pride ourselves in being a large organization with an ability to move quickly.”
Advantages of Working for Parsons
The practical benefits of working for Parsons are obvious – you’re partnering with a leading technology provider, with custom benefits packages that emphasize work-life balance and mission-focused work. Stepping into a career with Parsons allows you to leverage all of the company’s strengths, partnerships, and technology as you build your career.
Their ability to rapidly field solutions was put on display with COVID-19 response. Today, 90% of the workforce continues to work remotely, although flexible working arrangements are being rolled out in areas, based on CDC recommendations. Despite the shift to remote work status, hiring at Parsons has continued, and that includes 130 interns coming in this summer, said Lorenzo.
Another key benefit of working for Parsons is the opportunity for career advancement.
“I started my career as a developer,” noted Lorenzo. “Career progression has always been important to me. At Parsons, we’re growing, and therefore an evolving company. And you have to keep your edge.”
Lorenzo noted that because Parsons is constantly pursuing new technologies, new opportunities, and new challenges – including its DetectWise™ response – employees have opportunities to advance their career by building a different skillset. When new positions come up, they’re presented internally, giving a lot of options for upward mobility and professional development.
Parsons: Innovation at Work
Technological innovation isn’t just boilerplate at Parsons – it’s the cornerstone of everything they do.
“When you look at the different customers and markets we support – the intelligence community, missile defense, space community, aviation, rail, and you couple that with the type of work that we do to support those customers’ missions – things like providing technical solutions to support national defense, smart cities, intelligence intersection, environmental remediation, biothreats, and so on – it’s all with the ultimate purpose of solving global issues and delivering a better world,” said Lorenzo.
How do I get hired at Parsons?
Parsons is looking for problem solvers. Technologists who are trailblazers, and who aren’t content with the status quo.
“We pride ourselves on solving complex problems,” said Lorenzo.
The career opportunities at Parsons are as diverse as the big problems that need to be solved today. Succeeding in that environment takes talent with the eyes to see those problems from new perspectives. And it’s actively hiring in every career area, from senior professional and transitioning service member to entry-level talent or intern.
Ready to apply? “Be yourself. Be unafraid,” advises Lorenzo. “We’re always trailblazing and looking for new ways of solving problems. Highlighting how you’re willing to take on new challenges and even something that’s outside your comfort zone is a skill that’s very coveted at Parsons, and something we do on a daily basis.”
