You can be the one writing the code; the one researching how people will use it; the one deciding how to make it safer; or the one dreaming about the next big thing.
Students interested in technology can find opportunities in both technical and nontechnical roles, helping organizations build products, solve problems, improve systems, and better serve their users.
While AI handles the how of work, the people who define the what and the why have become indispensable. Which is why Bowdoin students -- with their strong communication, analytical, critical thinking, and ethical reasoning skills thrive in the tech sector.
Bowdoin alumni have pursued careers across the tech sector at companies such as Google, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Pinterest, Airbnb, Amazon, Okta, and Salesforce, as well as at startups and smaller entrepreneurial ventures.
Sample Career Paths
A tech company is like any company in the roles that make it run, but, the roles unique to this industry include:
Software Development and Engineering: Software development and engineering focus on creating, maintaining, and improving technical products and systems. Today, this work often involves using AI coding tools to generate, test, review, and refine code, making it important to know not only how to write code, but also how to evaluate and improve AI-assisted outputs. Jobs in this field include software engineering, web development, mobile development, quality assurance, and systems engineering.
AI, Data Science, and Analytics: AI, data science, and analytics focus on extracting meaning from data, building models, and improving how organizations make decisions. As companies invest more heavily in AI and automation, demand continues to grow for people who can interpret data, ask strong questions, and assess the quality of AI outputs. Jobs in this field include data analysis, data science, machine learning engineering, business intelligence, and AI product work.
Cybersecurity: Cybersecurity focuses on protecting systems, networks, data, and users from digital threats. As cyber risk continues to grow across sectors, this remains one of the fastest-growing and most resilient areas in technology. Jobs in this field include security analysis, risk management, compliance, incident response, and security operations.
AI Governance, Trust, and Safety: AI governance, trust, and safety focus on the ethical, social, and regulatory dimensions of technology. Organizations increasingly need people who can evaluate systems for bias and harm, develop responsible-use policies, support compliance efforts, and help ensure that emerging technologies are deployed thoughtfully. Jobs in this field include trust and safety, AI policy, responsible AI, risk, and compliance.
Customer Success, Engagement, and Support: Customer success, engagement, and support help clients use products effectively and build long-term relationships with a company. In the tech sector, these roles remain strong entry points for students who enjoy working with people, solving problems, and learning products in depth. Jobs in this field include customer success, client services, implementation, technical support, and customer education.
User Experience and Design: User experience and design focus on how people interact with products and systems. This work may involve user research, interface design, accessibility, testing, and content design. AI tools are increasingly part of the design workflow, but human-centered thinking, usability, and judgment remain central. Jobs in this field include UX design, UI design, user research, product design, and content design.
Project, Product, and Program Management: Project, product, and program management help organizations set priorities, coordinate teams, and move work forward. Project managers focus on deliverables, product managers guide the direction of a product or feature area, and program managers help lead broader strategic efforts. Jobs in this field include project management, product management, program management, and operations. Many companies offer Associate Product Manager (APM) programs as an entry point and are definitely worth checking out.