Before he was hired as a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) at Sony Interactive Entertainment, Daniel Hicks was a high school student with an interest in coding and game design. He spent evenings after school building small projects and experimenting with video game development, imagining a future in tech. Daniel went on to study game design and development at Rochester Institute of Technology for a few years before pausing his education to support a family member.
After that, his days looked very different.
Daniel worked a series of retail jobs while trying to find his way back into the tech industry. He applied to countless roles, but the responses never came. Without a degree or industry experience, breaking into tech felt nearly impossible.
“I felt like I was in a pit that I couldn’t climb out of,” he says. “I was just moving from one retail job to another, trying to get through each day.”
That changed when he found Year Up United, and in 2024, he enrolled in the Software Career Pathway in Los Angeles.
From the start, the program expanded Daniel’s understanding of what his future career trajectory could look like. Beyond the technical training, Year Up United instructors helped him build his first LinkedIn profile and improve his resume. The student services team was available for everything from financial guidance to mental health support. And slowly, the confidence he once lacked began to grow.
“Having a community like Year Up United helped lift me out of that pit and showed me that I was capable of having the career that I dreamed of,” he says.
After completing the Learning & Development phase of the program, Daniel secured an internship at Sony Interactive through the company’s Apprentice Pathway Program. He began by learning the tools and technologies of the trade and contributing to automated regression testing for the PlayStation Direct store, guided every step of the way by his manager, team, and mentors. When his internship ended, he was offered a contract role as a Software Development Engineer in Test.
Securing a role with Sony Interactive after the Year Up United internship marked a major milestone in Daniel’s career. Since then, Daniel has taken on broader responsibilities across teams. He began his journey focused on testing and quality assurance for PlayStation Direct, the online store of the company. He has since transitioned into payment systems support, where he contributes to onboarding new and alternative payment methods across PlayStation.
“I feel like I’ve come into my own here at Sony Interactive Entertainment,” he says. “Being able to start projects from the beginning and see them through to completion has been my biggest milestone.”
Today, he remains connected to the Year Up United community by staying active in alumni group chats and reaching out to his mentors when he needs guidance.
“The people make Year Up United what it is,” he says. “If you don’t come from a traditional background, it’s a great way to fill in those gaps and have a community behind you that helps jumpstart your career.”
His advice for current and future students?
“It’s a marathon, not a sprint. You won’t know everything from the start. Take time to understand what motivates you and let that guide your growth. Know that you are not alone.”
Before Year Up United, Daniel wasn’t focused on the bigger picture; instead, he was focused on getting through each day. Career planning felt like a luxury. He believes that his time in the program and the people he met along the way are what helped him see a better future for himself.
Daniel’s journey in tech is only just beginning.
He hopes to return to school soon to complete his degree. Long-term, he wants to break into the game development industry, returning to the passion that first sparked his love for coding.
“I’d love to create a video game and share it with the world,” he says.
From staying after school to code, to supporting the online store at Sony Interactive Entertainment, Daniel’s story is a testament to what’s possible when talent meets opportunity and when someone helps you see what you’re capable of all along.