When field service engineers need something unexpected, their go-to guy is Mauricio Agueros, Field Service Support Specialist. The Austin native joined Luminex in March 2014 and has been finding ways to streamline field services ever since.
Q: What are your responsibilities at Luminex?
A: I provide support for our field service engineers. That can entail anything from sourcing urgently needed parts for our customers, sending estimates for repair to calibrating the equipment the engineers use, or creating virtual machines so engineers can further troubleshoot a problem. I also work on ServiceMax, the software we use to track all repairs from start to finish, and implement enhancements that will help our team. When it gets busy, it can be a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of job. It’s a great opportunity, and I love it.
Q: What did you do before this job?
A: I was working in the urine drug screening and pharmacogenetic field. At one point, the doctor I worked for was looking for someone to take over the sales team and coached me to do that. I was in that role for a little over a year and loved sales, but I missed the biotech side and working with my hands, being in the lab. When I found the opportunity with Luminex, I felt that would be a better fit for my skill set. I first joined in the reagent quality control department.
Q: If you weren’t at Luminex, where would you be?
A: I spent four years in the Air Force as a fighter jet mechanic and crew chief. After getting out of the military, I wanted to get my aircraft license to repair planes — hydraulic, pneumatic, structural repairs. The thing that kept me away is that whether it’s hot or cold outside, you’ve got to be out there in the elements!
Q: If you could solve any clinical or genetic challenge, what would it be?
A: My grandma is currently suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. She is so full of life, but as the disease progresses, it takes a little piece of that every day. It breaks my heart to see that happen, so I would love to see a cure for Alzheimer’s.
Q: What is your favorite thing to do in Austin on the weekend?
A: I grew up going out on a sailboat with my grandfather on Lake Travis. When it’s the weekend, and I’m free to do whatever I want, you can usually find me out on Lake Travis waterskiing or wakeboarding.
Q: What’s your favorite food in Austin?
A: After spending two years in Okinawa, Japan, for the Air Force, I love sushi. My favorite place around here is called Sushi Fever, where they have a roll that’s off-the-menu called the Bruce Lee roll. I think it’s crab tempura and salmon. That sushi roll gets me every time!
