Mauricio Kalukango

About Mauricio Kalukango

Mauricio Kalukango is an Equipment Service Associate at BMW Manufacturing USA. He has an impressive history in Industrial Maintenance, repairing, and optimizing electrical and electro-mechanical equipment for large original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). His family is originally from Angola, although he was born in Botswana. Kalukango’s family immigrated to the US in 1982 and settled in Atlanta, GA. It was here that Mauricio developed a passion for aviation and went on to complete the Aviation Maintenance course at Atlanta Technical College.

Mauricio’s career in aeronautics repair was significantly impacted by the US economy’s challenges following the 9/11 attacks and the housing market crash. Despite these setbacks, his determination to continue his career as a technical mechanic led him to pursue a career in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration technology. This transition not only equipped him with the skills to troubleshoot HVACR systems but also opened the door for him to pivot into the machine maintenance industry.

Kalukango’s determination and hard work led him to technical roles at large corporations, including Caterpillar Inc. and Pumpingsol, a leader in custom-designed complex fluid handling and process solutions for manufacturers. Mauricio was exposed to state-of-the-art industrial equipment designed for high-speed, continuous operations at both companies. He continued to expand his knowledge of industrial process equipment, even as the factory floor transformed into highly technical robotic equipment and automated processes.

Mauricio Kalukango,  born in 1979,   is from Angola, Africa. His family had to flee their home and move to a refugee camp in Botswana due to a civil war that had been going on for nearly 30 years. Eventually, they migrated to the USA, choosing Atlanta, GA, as their new home. His father, Joaquim Kalukango, instilled in Mauricio a hard work ethic and the importance of family unity, especially in a new and unknown country. His father was a skilled craftsman who earned a good living making beautiful African carvings and working as a construction foreman.

Mauricio had a happy life once the family relocated to Atlanta, GA. He grew up attending the Carver Eastside Boy’s Club, where he learned essential skills such as communicating with peers and playing several sports. He became a key member of his high school soccer team and participated in student government. It was determined that Mauricio had a very high IQ, so he was placed in classes reserved for gifted students. By the time he graduated in 1997, he was Student Body President. He was also part of a team of student journalists who broadcast news and weather from the Georgia public television station. Mauricio graduated with honors and decided to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering.