From Intern to Impact: Meet Justin Catalano

Leading Innovation Through User-Centered Design

After earning a bachelor’s degree in design studies and a master’s degree in human factors and ergonomics from San Jose State University, Justin Catalano, a San Diego California native, knew he wanted to solve meaningful problems at the intersection of medical and government fields. He joined the company as a User Experience design intern, where he quickly found himself contributing to projects involving AI. “The standout projects for me were designing a dashboard to display medical readiness and working on an AI-powered product. Both projects pushed me to grow my collaboration, communication, and leadership skills as a designer,” he said. 

The internship challenged him to grow not only as a designer but also as a collaborator. Working alongside engineers, product teams, and users showed him that the best solutions come from diverse perspectives. He explained, “The staff showed me the importance of working closely with cross-functional teams and genuinely collaborating to solve problems. You can never assume your way is the only way.” As his internship progressed, Catalano found himself leading more projects and helping shape design decisions. That experience ultimately convinced him to build his career at the company.  “I really enjoyed being on calls with the engineering team and users and becoming someone people looked to for design decisions. Leidos QTC gave me the space to learn, grow, and take ownership while being supported by great leaders, so I knew I wanted to stay.”

Now serving as the primary design lead for the User Experience team’s AI and machine learning initiatives, Catalano enjoys tackling projects at every stage of development while helping design the future of healthcare technology. He said, “My work definitely contributes to Leidos QTC's mission of innovation, quality, and service because I'm helping design the future of what we provide. I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to make an impact, and I'm excited to contribute every day.”

Looking back, Catalano says the trust placed in him as an intern gave him the confidence to continue challenging himself. In his words, Catalano’s advice to recent graduates who want to intern at the company is as follows: “Be yourself throughout the process, and if you genuinely connect with the company's culture, values, and product space, there's nothing to worry about. Show your curiosity, stand for what you believe in, be eager to learn, and embrace every opportunity to grow.”