This was initially a game art test for EA games -- the prompt was to create a drill rig for a newly explored planet in isometric perspective. And the alien was a humanoid alien Worker, with tentacles for arms, holding some kind of tool(s).
 

A saturated palette was preferred, and should be cute, retro, and funny.

 

In any case, I actually did have a lot of fun making this up. Most of the design was greatly inspired by the Venus Project's circular and hexagonal shapes. I do love promoting scifi.