Hispanic/Latine young adults remain severely under-represented in STEM fields. While structural barriers contributing to these disparities have been thoroughly examined in previous research, the current study brings focus to the strategies young adults employ to navigate the incongruence between the cultures of higher education and STEM and the cultural value of "familismo," a central orientation in Latin American cultures that prioritizes family ties over the individual. "This study reports findings from 19 interviews and two focus groups we conducted with Hispanic/Latine young adults who had been part of an undergraduate STEM program." Focusing on participants' first two years after college graduation, we identify the strategies these young adults employed to combine familismo with their goals for successful careers in STEM related fields. We identify three broad strategies, strategic selection, strategic timing, and strategic bridging; which enables Hispanic/Latine young adults to cultivate successful careers in STEM without rejection of their home-based cultural values. We also explore how participants' perspectives and strategies shifted with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our findings contribute to a growing interest in recognizing how Hispanic/Latine young adults exercise agency to successfully negotiate structural and cultural barriers in the pursuit of STEM careers."