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Fernando Picoral
Senior, Computer Science
Google��Software Engineering Intern

Designing for Scale at Google

In summer 2025, Fernando Picoral wrapped up his third internship at��, where he learned that great engineering is as much about “designing for others” as it is about writing code. Over the years, he’s discovered that the best software doesn’t just work well – it scales, evolves and empowers others to build on top of it.

“Designing reliable systems isn’t just about efficiency. It’s about creating solutions that can evolve over time and communicating clearly so others can build on them,” he said.

At Google, Picoral found himself doing far more than debugging or implementing features. He spent time drafting technical design documents, weighing trade-offs and defending his decisions in design reviews, all while learning to communicate ideas clearly across teams.

Picoral encourages other students to embrace challenging projects and approach them with curiosity.��

“Treat every internship like an opportunity to learn how the industry really works, both technically and collaboratively,” Picoral said. “Focus on writing clear design documents and asking thoughtful questions early, even before you start coding.”

In addition, Picoral has pushed himself by taking ownership of big projects, as he believes that this is where the best learning occurs – by stepping outside of your comfort zone.��

“Seek feedback, iterate often, and remember that great engineers combine technical depth with strong communication and teamwork,” he said.����

Having that mindset paid off. After three summers at Google, Picoral received a full-time offer to return as a software engineer after graduation.

Landing Your Dream Internship

Picoral’s journey with Google began before he ever set foot on the CU Boulder campus. He had dreamed of working there since high school — he was drawn to technology and, he admits, inspired by the movie��The Internship.

During his first year at CU Boulder, he applied early to a handful of big tech companies, determined to make that dream a reality.

“For my first Google internship in 2023, I applied as soon as applications opened,” Picoral said. “I interviewed in January and received my offer at the end of the month.”

That first role came through the��Student Training in Engineering Program (STEP), a Google initiative designed for first- and second-year students. The experience became the foundation for his future internships, giving him the chance to grow both technically and professionally.

Finding Mentorship and Support

Picoral credits his preparation and success to both mentorship and consistent practice.

“One of my freshman-year roommate’s dads worked at Google for many years,” he said. “He gave me valuable tips and even did a mock interview with me, which really helped me understand what to expect.”

Beyond that, Picoral focused on building a strong resume through meaningful projects and experiences that demonstrated his skills in action.