Cybersecurity Careers: The Growing Demand and How to Get Started From a Sr Professional

This Instructor's teaching philosophy focuses on collaboration and encouraging students to reach out when they need support.

"They call me an instructor, but really I'm just sharing knowledge about what I do every day...I happen to do something fun and something that I love."

In a recent conversation with Nucamp instructor Matthew James, we explored his career as a Senior Cybersecurity Professional at Lockheed Martin, his passion for teaching, and the advice he shares with aspiring cybersecurity students. Through his experiences, Matthew offers practical insights for those hoping to break into the industry, along with a glimpse into his unique teaching approach.

“I currently work for Lockheed Martin. I’m in the cybersecurity department. My official title is Governance, Risk, and Compliance Senior,” Matthew explains, “but that’s not really accurate to what I do.” Starting out with risk assessments, Matthew has since shifted to a more hands-on role, saying, “Now I’m more on the operations side, working with our security orchestration automation remediation system, which I love.”

This passion for hands-on technology has carried throughout his career. "I started out doing help desk technician work," Matthew recalls. “I was in a call center, and it wasn’t great. But then a friend needed to hire someone for a core system administrator role, and even though I didn’t have direct experience, he gave me the chance. That was my foot in the door.”

From there, Matthew continued to grow his skills and transition into cybersecurity.

“Once I got into IT, I started to look around and think, ‘Where’s the industry going? Where’s the need going to be?’ Luckily, I think I chose pretty well.”

The Cybersecurity Industry’s Need for Fresh Talent

Matthew sees no shortage of opportunities for those looking to enter the cybersecurity space. “We need you guys now,” he tells his students. “The whole employment landscape is shifting. It might be harder to get your foot in the door, but if you get your name in front of someone and show that you know what you’re doing, you can absolutely land a good position.”

He emphasizes the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals and encourages students to take full advantage of available resources. “There’s a lot of knowledge out there—freely available—and it’s a matter of knowing where to look. I personally love open-source resources,” he adds.

For those looking to fast-track their progress, Matthew recommends bootcamps like Nucamp.

“If you’re looking for a bootcamp, Nucamp is great. It’s going to get you up and running much faster. It’s like starting a race at full sprint instead of waiting in the starting blocks.”

Teaching at Nucamp: A Joy in Sharing Knowledge

Matthew’s love for teaching shines through in his role as a Nucamp instructor. “I love to be able to share and just talk to students. It’s fantastic,” he says. “They often surprise me with great questions, and I love it when they ask for help.”

His teaching philosophy focuses on collaboration and encouraging students to reach out when they need support. “Ask for help when you need it,” Matthew advises. “I struggled with that when I was first starting out. Trying to learn everything on your own will slow you down. You can’t just keep beating your head against the wall—you’ve got to reach out.”

However, Matthew also emphasizes the importance of guiding students toward their own problem-solving abilities. “I don’t like to give out the answer right away. I want to make them work for it. I’ll point them in the right direction, but I want them to go through the process. That’s how you learn.”

The Fun Side of Technology

Outside of his professional life, Matthew’s passion for technology continues with personal projects. “One of my favorite projects is an arcade cabinet that my two sons and I built,” he shares enthusiastically. “It runs on a Raspberry Pi and has the full joysticks and about a million games. It was supposed to be a weekend project, but it turned into about four days.”

Another notable project was creating a Pi-hole—a device that blocks ads on all devices in his household. “It was easier than I thought. I don’t even know where that Raspberry Pi went, but it was a cool project,” he laughs.

Join Nucamp and Take Your First Step in Cybersecurity

With over a decade of experience in cybersecurity, Matthew James brings a wealth of real-world knowledge to his students at Nucamp. His practical advice, hands-on teaching approach, and insights into the evolving tech industry make his classes a valuable experience for anyone looking to break into cybersecurity.

As Matthew reminds us, “Cybersecurity isn’t going anywhere. It’s only getting bigger. Now is the time to jump in and make a difference.” If you're ready to fast-track your journey into cybersecurity, Nucamp offers the perfect starting point—with instructors like Matthew guiding you every step of the way.

Why wait? Join Nucamp today and take your career to the next level.