VCHS Alumni Spotlight – Sebastian Joly '14

Vail Christian High School Alumni Feature: Sebastian Joly '14: Building a Career Through Curiosity

While studying engineering at the Colorado School of Mines, Sebastian Joly ('14) rebuilt a 1984 motorcycle as part of a class project. What started as another assignment became a turning point. Although he had initially planned to pursue chemical engineering, the project confirmed that his true passion was designing, building, and solving real-world mechanical challenges. Today, that passion has led him to a successful career in engineering, managing large-scale infrastructure projects for ExxonMobil.

After graduating from Vail Christian High School in 2014, Sebastian earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 2018 and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in Thermal Fluids in 2019.

The hands-on learning Sebastian loved at Mines extended beyond the classroom. During two summer internships with Crystaphase in Houston, he gained practical experience working on refinery filtration systems, laying the foundation for his professional career.

After graduate school, Sebastian designed aerospace and defense components for FIRST RF Corporation before returning to Crystaphase as a Manufacturing Process and Field Service Engineer. There, he combined engineering design, manufacturing, research and development, and customer support while developing new products and improving manufacturing processes. He also worked as a Reliability Engineer for Solvay Chemicals in Wyoming, following in his grandfather's footsteps at the same company.

In 2022, Sebastian joined Downhole Well Solutions, where he advanced to Senior Mechanical Engineer and Quality Assurance Manager, expanding both his technical expertise and leadership responsibilities.

Today, as a Project Engineer with ExxonMobil, Sebastian oversees compressor station projects in the Delaware Basin, coordinating engineering, construction, safety, and commissioning teams while helping deliver capital projects valued at nearly $100 million. Although the projects have grown in size, he still enjoys the hands-on problem-solving that first drew him to engineering.

Sebastian and his wife, Brooke, live in Midland, Texas, with their two children, Maverick (3) and Margot (8 months).

Reflecting on his years at Vail Christian High School, Sebastian credits the school's supportive community and outstanding teachers with preparing him for one of the nation's most rigorous engineering programs.

"The family atmosphere at VCHS is what stands out the most," he says. "It was such a close-knit community where everyone genuinely cared about each other."

He especially credits math teachers Doug Bruce (“a legend”) and Donna Robinson for giving him the confidence and foundation to succeed at Colorado School of Mines.

"They really prepared me for Colorado School of Mines," Sebastian says. "The math foundation they gave me made a huge difference. I did well in my engineering courses because they had already taught me how to think through difficult problems."

His advice to current VCHS students reflects the perspective he's gained along the way.

"Slow it down," he says. "Take advantage of the time and opportunities you have in high school. Enjoy life. Once you start working, life can get tough."

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