A Real-Life Career Shift Story with Arduino and Tinkercad

Alex – A Maker, Engineer, and Arduino Enthusiast

Life Before the Shift

For over 10 years, I worked as an avionics maintenance engineer. I had a stable job, a wonderful family, and what many would call a successful life.

Everything seemed to be going well—until March 2020.

When the lockdown hit, the aviation industry collapsed. Airlines cut costs, maintenance jobs disappeared, and I was suddenly laid off.

Searching for a New Path

I didn’t give up easily. I applied to other companies and even explored international opportunities. But I quickly realized a painful truth:

My certifications and experience were tied to one company—and didn’t meet global standards.

I was stuck. No callbacks. No offers. My confidence dropped. After months of rejection, I had to face it: I needed a career change.

Rediscovering an Old Passion: Arduino

That’s when I remembered my old love—tinkering with electronics.

I had discovered Arduino back in 2005, and over the years, I’d built countless small projects in my free time. I didn’t think of it as a job—just a hobby.

But now, I saw it differently.

Building Projects That Make a Difference

Some of my Arduino builds were real-world solutions:

• A GSM-based remote gardening system for my countryside home
• A WiFi-controlled robotic car using the ESP8266
• A home automation prototype using sensors and relays

I also explored Tinkercad Circuits—a powerful simulation platform that lets you design and test Arduino circuits right in your browser. No wires, no soldering—just pure creativity.

Sharing Knowledge: Teaching Arduino and Tinkercad

Then came the idea:
What if I could teach what I love?

I started small:

• Teaching Arduino basics to high school students
• Giving Tinkercad workshops to college makers
• Uploading YouTube tutorials on simple DIY projects

I launched my own website, http://AeroArduino.com, to share everything I’d learned over the years.

And slowly… something amazing happened.

Turning Passion into Income

As more people found my tutorials, two things happened:

1. My freelance teaching career started to grow
2. My content began to generate income for my family

I also began writing Arduino books and publishing them on Amazon KDP. These books reached a global audience—and brought in passive income.

Suddenly, my side hobby was becoming my main source of income.

Living the Dream

One day, I realized something powerful:

I was living the life I used to dream about.

I was free to:

• Work on what I love
• Stay home with my kids
• Be close to my family
• Help others build their dreams with Arduino

That day, I looked back and said:

“Arduino saved my life.”

For All Makers Out There

If you love making things, if you’ve ever felt lost after losing a job, or if you just want to turn your Arduino passion into a career—you’re not alone.

Start small. Teach what you know. Share what you love. And keep building.

---