Meet Mario Cruz, Principal Software Engineer, and PRO gamer! 🎮
In his role, Mario manages the deployment and health of PROS Real-Time Dynamic Pricing (RTDP) across our cloud infrastructure. Dedicated to visibility and reliability, he refines our monitoring and alerting to ensure the team stays ahead of the curve and prevents outages before they start.
Let’s get to know Mario!
Tell us about your journey to PROS.
Back in 2011, a friend invited me to apply for his role as he prepared for a new adventure in Australia. Eight extensive rounds of interviews later, I officially joined the PROS team. I knew I was joining a successful company, but I didn’t realize then just how much of an industry powerhouse we were. Seeing our impact grow from a few major airlines to nearly every important carrier in the world has been an inspiring ride.
Fourteen years later, the mission remains the same: to deliver excellence alongside a team of elite professionals. Grateful for the journey so far!
What do you enjoy most about working at PROS?
What inspires me most about my role is the sheer reach of our technology. Knowing that RTDP powers the booking engines for the world’s most iconic airlines is incredibly rewarding. Beyond the technology, it’s about the people. Every ticket sold and every search performed carries the dedication and passion of the whole team. It takes every single area of our organization to keep RTDP at the top of the market, and I’m proud to be part of that collective effort.
Tell us about a cool project you are working on.
The travel industry is currently seeing a surge in innovative developments, and the past six months have been a period of significant professional growth. I have had the opportunity to contribute to several high-impact machine learning initiatives while simultaneously managing complex customer cutovers. My role involved ensuring seamless ‘go-live’ transitions and maintaining operational excellence during critical implementation phases.
What do you do outside of work to recharge?
Parenthood is definitely a 24/7 job, but I find so much joy in watching my kids grow and discovering what they love. Gaming has always been my favorite way to unplug and recharge, and I feel incredibly lucky that I can now share that hobby with them. When we aren’t at the console, our family’s favorite thing to do is hit the road and explore new places together.
Fun Fact: I’ve also been a WWE fan since the ’90s, back when it was still known as the WWF. Growing up in Mexico, I watched all the major shows on screen but never had the chance to attend one in person. That changed when I moved to the United States and finally made it to my first live event—which just happened to be WrestleMania in New York City!
What are you a PRO at? What do your coworkers go to you for?
As a lifelong gamer and dedicated trophy hunter, I’ve collected over 12,000 PlayStation trophies since 2008. My journey began at age six with the Atari 2600, fueling a long-term love for iconic franchises like Resident Evil and God of War. While I primarily enjoy single-player experiences, I occasionally hop online for Fortnite or Marvel Rivals, as well.
At PROS, a large part of my day involves supporting our team with RTDP issues in both test and production environments. Most often, that means tackling Cassandra sync challenges across our multi-region deployments. While these puzzles can be intense, I love the “aha!” moment of getting everything back in alignment. I also take pride in being the “environment architect” for my teammates—helping them set up the specific configurations they need to tackle customer issues head-on. Collaboration is what makes this complex tech work!
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
My wife once gave me a piece of advice that changed my entire outlook: define success on your own terms. I realized that comparing my journey to what others have achieved was holding me back. Once I started focusing on my own improvement instead, I finally found a sense of true fulfillment.
Want to join our growing team?
Explore our Life at PROS blog to learn more about our inclusive culture and check out open roles on our careers page.
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