Biography
Hi, I’m Makiya Claiborne! I’m a 24-year-old software engineer from Frederick, Maryland. I graduated from Towson University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, where I was also an All Star Cheerleader and a member of the Honors College. Outside of coding, I love to spend my free time reading, crocheting, sewing, and using my Cricut to create personalized items. I’m a huge fan of Bob Ross’s The Joy of Painting, and I enjoy recreating his landscapes digitally on my iPad with Procreate. Before becoming a software engineer, I worked as a server at Chili’s Bar & Grill and served as Director of Membership Services at Pen-Mar Realtors®. Both of my previous roles helped me develop essential skills like building lasting relationships with clients and delivering excellent service.
Education
I attended North Hagerstown High School and graduated in 2018. During my high school career, I was a varsity cheerleader and had the opportunity to take my first computer science courses. It was at this point that I learned I had a hidden talent for coding and problem-solving, which is what allowed me to be where I am today.
After graduating high school, I attended Hagerstown Community College. For my junior and senior year, I decided to transfer to Towson University. At Towson, I was a member of the Towson Honors College and Towson All Star Cheerleading Club. I graduated from Towson in December 2022 with my B.S. in Computer Science.
Involvement
At Peraton, I actively engage in several employee resource groups, including the Women’s Impact Network (WIN), the Multicultural Employee Resource Group Exchange (MERGE), and Building Relationships to Integrate, Develop, Grow & Empower (BRIDGE). Through WIN, I’m paired with Laila Salguero, the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, as my mentor. She invited me to speak on a panel for our Lead Virginia event, where I shared my experience as a new hire and highlighted Peraton’s robust onboarding support. My involvement in these groups reflects my commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace culture, going beyond my day-to-day responsibilities.
Experience
As an entry-level software engineer at Peraton, I collaborate with cross-functional teams to design, develop, and implement software solutions that meet customer needs. I work with modern programming languages and frameworks, contributing to both front-end and back-end development. Through hands-on projects, I’ve gained experience in debugging, testing, and optimizing code for performance and scalability. Additionally, my role involves working closely with senior level engineers to refine my technical skills and enhance project outcomes.