Ryan Liu ’07 
Company: Google 
Major: Electrical engineering and engineering management 
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii 
Extracurriculars: Bassoonist in the Conservatory of Music Concert Band, Xi Chi Sigma Asian interest social fraternity 

When Ryan Liu ’07 started his engineering journey, he didn’t see a single path; he saw possibility. 

Now a technical program manager at YouTube, Liu leads projects that shape how hundreds of millions of users experience gaming content on the platform. But long before he was developing cutting-edge features like interactive “gaming recaps” and “playables”—mini-games you can play directly in the YouTube app—he was a student at University of the Pacific, double majoring in electrical engineering and engineering management. 

“Pacific allowed me to become a well-rounded engineering professional,” Liu says, “It’s because of that foundation of liberal arts, coupled with the technical aspects, that I was able to go into the workforce and continue to improve myself.” 

What Liu does at YouTube 

Liu started working at YouTube in 2020 and now oversees a team focused on GTX—gaming, teens and extended reality. He collaborates with engineers, designers, product managers, researchers and data scientists. 

One of his team’s newest projects is “playables,” a feature that lets users jump into casual games without ever leaving the YouTube app. It’s part of YouTube’s effort to create a more interactive experience and a new kind of entertainment. 

“It’s the notion that you can, instead of watching a video on YouTube, play a game natively in the YouTube app,” Liu says.  

Gaining a broad-based perspective at Pacific 

Liu’s path to Big Tech wasn’t linear. His Pacific experience helped him explore both the technical and business sides of engineering. Through the School of Engineering and Computer Science’s CO-OP program, he worked at Calpine Energy as a plant engineer and completed a second internship in Japan at Daiwabo Polytec, a manufacturing company, where he helped develop advanced synthetic fibers. 

“Figuring out how to navigate that environment by living, working and adapting in another country was an important part of being able to shape my skills for the better,” Liu says 

He credits much of his growth to the close mentorship he received at Pacific—especially from his adviser, Professor Abel Fernandez, who taught project management. 

“I credit him for basically getting my first job out of Pacific because of his support and coaching.” 

Liu even recalls cracking open the project management textbook from Fernandez’s class long after graduating from Pacific. 

Building a career in tech 

After graduation, Liu spent 12 years working in consulting, mostly at the business management firm Accenture, helping clients manage large-scale engineering and business projects. But after welcoming his first daughter, he wanted to shift away from constant travel. That’s when he made the leap to Google. 

Google was an environment which, according to Liu, required the ability to learn and thrive in ambiguity by being adaptable, much like the experience he gained from his CO-OPs and multifaceted education.  

At Google, Liu says the most rewarding part is the scale. 

“As soon as you hit that launch button for what would appear as a minute feature change on an app, it’s something that impacts billions of users. To me that is not only exciting, but there are few places that offer that in the world.” 

Why a liberal arts foundation matters in tech 

In a fast-moving industry, Liu believes one thing is crucial: a solid foundation with coursework in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. He says the liberal arts education he received at Pacific, which taught him to think critically, communicate effectively and approach problems from multiple angles, has made the biggest difference in his career.  

“We’re in a world now where the pressure to specialize is so high,” Liu says.  

He compares it to San Francisco’s Millennium Tower, which has tilted over time due to foundational issues. 

“Students who jump into investing so much time and money to specialize in one thing without building that crucial liberal arts foundation are like the sinking tower,” Liu explained. “The short-term benefits are there, but the shortcuts will catch up to you.” 

That solid foundation is especially important now, as artificial intelligence transforms how engineers and creators work. 

Liu’s advice for students fearing AI 

Rather than fearing replacement by AI, Liu urges students to focus on deeply understanding their core engineering principles and viewing AI as a tool to enhance their work. 

“Know your tradecraft. You need to command an understanding of it,” Liu says. 

He says students with a broader educational background will have an edge when working with AI tools. He urges students to develop a deep understanding of fundamental concepts, such as comprehending code rather than just generating it. 

“The more knowledge you have, especially from a liberal arts standpoint, the better prompts you should be able to write,” Liu says. “The ability to interpret and find what’s useful for human use will help you because it’s a human element that AI won’t be able to replicate.” 

For students considering a future in tech, Liu’s advice is simple: Be curious. Embrace change. And don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and adapt.   

“Seek out opportunities to learn and grow, even if they take you outside your comfort zone,” Liu says. “And never underestimate the value of a well-rounded education.” 

Studying engineering management is a good way to prepare yourself to enter leadership in a technical industry. Just about every form of engineering, from chemical to civil, needs managers to keep projects on-track and within budget.  

Broadly speaking, engineering managers oversee projects from conception to execution. The exact process, though, depends heavily on the industry. Engineering managers may oversee a production scale-up, the construction of a bridge or the creation of a product.  

Professor Abel Fernandez, the chair of University of the Pacific’s engineering management program, will tell anyone who asks that it can be hard to explain the program. People rightly wonder how a fresh college graduate can enter management. And the answer is, they typically don’t. 

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t study engineering management, though. In fact, it’s a great degree for people who are looking ahead in their career. By training as an engineer while also getting comfortable overseeing systems-level issues — think budgets, timelines and team leadership — you’ll be ready for advancement when the opportunity arises.  

Tyler McIntosh

At Pacific, engineering management student Tyler McIntosh landed an internship with America’s fifth-largest winery, Delicato Family Wines in Manteca, California. Tyler believes his real-world experience and background in engineering management will help him find success in intellectual property law.

Learn about Tyler

This degree is also a great option for students who aren’t necessarily interested in engineering management itself. Plenty of engineering jobs have feet in two worlds: sales engineering, project cost estimating and technical marketing are just a few examples. Engineering management students develop their technical skills alongside their business and leadership abilities. 

If that sounds interesting to you, here’s what else you need to know about pursuing an engineering management degree. 

What does an engineering manager do? 

The day-to-day job depends heavily on the industry and even the individual company, but you can generally think of it as a specialized form of project management.  

At the front end, an engineering manager might design a plan and timeline, get a budget ready and source tools or components. They call on their technical knowledge and experience to predict project issues, then plan accordingly. 

As the project gets underway, engineering managers may shift from planning to delegating work, keeping their team on-track and preparing updates for outside stakeholders. Being a strong communicator is very important in this stage, as they may have to coordinate with other teams in the company or build relationships with clients or vendors.  

Engineering managers may still have to get their hands dirty during these projects, especially if they’re working with a smaller team.  

Keep in mind that the particulars of this job depend heavily on the industry and company. That might be frustrating if you’re trying to wrap your head around it, but that’s also one of this degree’s great strengths. You’ll still learn and train as an engineer in a field that interests you, while also building skills that are helpful for advancing your career anywhere you go.  

Engineering manager skills 

• Engineering education: Engineering managers need to understand the principles of their field in order to appropriately direct their team’s work. That knowledge — along with years of hands-on experience — will be used at every stage of the project.  

• Leadership: A good leader is responsible for motivating their subordinates, keeping track of their strengths and weaknesses, and assigning tasks to the person best suited for it.   

• Management: Management and leadership are often used interchangeably, but it’s better to think of them separately. Management relates more strongly to the logistical problems of running a team. This could mean organizing collaborations between subordinates or with outside parties, or it might mean dealing with office conflict. Projects also have a lot of administrative work which falls under this purview.  

• Project management: Overseeing anything is a can of worms, let alone a multi-person project with a rapidly approaching deadline. Bringing a project to fruition means tracking lots of details, large and small, while keeping everything according to schedule.  

• Communication: Clear communication can determine whether a vendor gives you the right parts, a team member does a task correctly or whether a boss understands that a project needs more time.  

• Problem solving: It’s inevitable that engineering managers will run into problems, so it’s essential that they learn how to overcome, solve or avoid them.   

Where do engineering managers work? 

Engineering management degrees offer a flexible way to combine technical training with an education in business and leadership. It will equip you with the tools to step into a field you’re passionate about.  

That’s not to say that every engineering management degree looks the same to an employer. You will build a portfolio through your coursework and internships, getting more familiar with certain industries and technical specializations as you advance your career.  

So, even before you start college, it’s important to start thinking about what kind of work you’d like to be doing in your career. Knowing that will help you choose the right electives as you work toward your degree.  

You don’t need to worry about being perfect. It’s very common for college students to adjust or even fully change their goals as they advance their learning. The important thing is to have an educational plan that guides your choices, even if you do course-correct during your college career.  

Listed below are industries that have engineering management roles. Learning more about each one is a good way to create a well-informed plan for your studies. 

• Aerospace engineering  
• Biomedical engineering  
• Chemical engineering  
• Civil engineering  
• Computer engineering  
• Electrical engineering  
• Industrial engineering  
• Mechanical engineering  
• Software engineering

Engineering management vs. an MBA

Of course, studying engineering management isn’t the only path to leadership in technical industries. There are some who may learn those skills on the job, while others may return to university to pursue graduate-level studies.  

As an example, a working engineer could pursue a Master of Business Administration degree, such as the one offered by Pacific, to get a foot in the door of leadership positions.   

It may be a worthwhile decision, but earning an MBA mid-career also poses some challenges. Those who stay at their job, either full- or part-time, will have to juggle both commitments – doable, but no easy task. Others might leave their job altogether to focus on their studies, which can come at a significant financial cost.   

Pursuing a degree in engineering management, though, can offer you a portion of that learning while you’re still an undergrad. Students who really take advantage of their time — maximizing their course load, getting good research and work experience — might even get a lot of the benefit of an MBA program. In other words, they’ll be ready when the opportunity for career advancement arises.  

Neither route is necessarily the “right” option. If you’re already thinking about moving into leadership, though, engineering management might be the leg up you need in your career.  

Studying engineering management at Pacific

One of the main things to know about Pacific’s program is that students truly make it their own. Fernandez estimates that between a third and a half of all classes are electives. This flexibility allows students to gain specialization in their fields of interest.  This could look like a focus on a particular form of engineering, but you also can position yourself well for a specific type of job. 

As an example, Fernandez points toward two program alumni who now work as lawyers focusing on intellectual property. Their technical background helps them understand the technology they now work with. At the same time, because engineering management is so flexible, they were also able to take classes that prepared them for law school.  

It’s worth noting that these courses aren’t chosen in a vacuum. Rather, they’re grouped by field (for example, choosing two classes in engineering science, in business, etc.). This allows students to build their own experience while also making sure there’s a clear arc to their education.   

Pacific also helps its engineering management students prepare for the real world as they near graduation. The first is the Cooperative Education program, better known as “CO-OP.” Pacific partners with employers who post CO-OP-exclusive programs on Handshake, which students — after taking a class to prepare — can apply to. These paid positions will last from six to eight months.   

“I loved my CO-OP!” says Jeniffer Alvarado, a program graduate who now works for the City of Stockton, about her experience. “I went to Abbott, and I was a systems engineer. I would say, before my CO-OP, I was very shy. The CO-OP pushed me above my limits in the sense that I became a more confident individual in my work. Things that I had seen as weaknesses in myself became strengths.”  

Engineering management students will also complete a capstone project in tandem with a team of peers, pulling together their education in design and execution. It’s also, Fernandez points out, an exercise in managing expectations.  

“That’s part of engineering,” he says. “You are not going to eradicate world poverty in 15 weeks. So, what you have to do is learn bounded rationality. In other words, you have to figure out, ‘if there’s three of us, and we have this much experience and we have 14 weeks, what can we do?’”   

Alvarado recalls Fernandez pushing her team to do their best within those constraints. Her team created a renovation plan for a campus building, trying to create a multi-purpose place for everyone. It was a challenge to seek out input from students, staff and faculty to try and design a space that works for everyone. But that’s the exact type of experience that’s invaluable once you enter the workplace.  

With all this at their backs, students from Pacific’s program will enter the workforce ready to be engineering managers when the time comes. They’ll also have the skills they need to work entry- and mid-level jobs until then.  

Alvarado says she still thinks about her classes in her day-to-day work. “Now that I’m a project manager for the parks division, I find myself thinking, ‘oh, this is the stuff that I learned back when I took these classes at UOP.’ I would say it’s all tied together nicely.”  

Entry-level jobs for aspiring engineering managers

Because engineering management is such a broad umbrella, there are plenty of entry-level jobs available across a variety of industries including:   

• Project engineer  
• Quality assurance technician  
• Design engineer  
• Operations analyst  
• Field engineer  
• System engineer  

Studying engineering management

An engineering management degree can help you step into a field you’re passionate about while also setting yourself up for a leadership position. You’ll learn hard skills that will remain relevant and soft skills that you’ll continue to build on throughout your career. There is a growing need for technical managers, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimating a 6% increase in employment over the next decade. 

If you’re just getting started, you should continue doing research on the industries and specializations that interest you. It’s also important to choose a program that will set you up for success, giving you classroom learning, practical experience and industry networking.  

Jeniffer Morfin ’23
Current job: Project manager, City of Stockton
Major: Engineering management
Hometown: Sunnyvale, California
Extracurriculars: Gamma Alpha Omega, SHPE, MESA

Jeniffer Morfin, a graduate of Pacific’s engineering management degree program, is a project manager with the City of Stockton. We spoke with Morfin about her experiences, her Cooperative Education (CO-OP) internship, her capstone project and how Pacific readied her for the job market. The following transcript has been edited for length and clarity.  

What made you decide to study engineering management at Pacific?  

I actually decided to enter the program when I was already at Pacific. In my high school I was always conflicted between engineering and science. And I tried that, but it wasn’t for me — the science path. And so I wanted to give engineering a chance. I spoke to — I believe it was Abel [Fernandez] or Mehdi [Khazaeli] — and I really loved what they had to say about the program.  

I felt like it was a really good balance between a lot of things. I mean, I’ve taken business classes. I’ve taken an economics class. I’ve taken a mechanical engineering, an electrical, a civil engineering class. I feel like the program allows you to be very well rounded.  

Why did you decide to study at Pacific in particular?  

What drew me to Pacific was the small faculty-to-student ratio. That made my mom very happy. She was also happy because there was tutoring offered. That was something I knew I was going to be needing. Knowing that I had all those resources was great.  

All of these resources made it a great fit for me. I knew I was going to need that additional support, and I felt like UoP was gonna give it to me, and help me succeed and learn. And I’m from Sunnyvale, so it was a good space from home but I could also go back.  

Can you talk about how you customized the program to fit your path? 

At first I was taking electrical engineering classes. My dad’s an electrician so I was like, “Ooh, let me take these classes.” But no. I learned the basics, but I wanted to learn something else. That’s when I started Civil 15, where you do AutoCAD and I was like, ‘this is fun!’  

And then I heard there were mechanical classes where you learn different programs. There’s Revit. I like to play the Sims and build stuff, and I found those classes so exciting — especially Revit and rendering.  

You have a lot of group projects. In every class I was in, you had some group projects. I feel like that also helps you with your communication skills, working with different personalities, different people. Really emphasizing that everyone has their own strengths in different things, but that’s what makes a team great.  

I can go on about the classes. You learn about the projects, timeline, budgets, scopes, all of that stuff. I feel like everything I learned has been very helpful to my career path.  

I was wondering If I could learn a little more about what you and your team did for your capstone project? 

I helped with the [School of Engineering and Computer Science’s] student success building. So they were like, “How can we convert this space to be beneficial for the students?” That’s what we worked on. We got to have outreach with the students, speak with the faculty.   

You might think renovating something is easy, but no. You have to fit everybody’s needs and wants into one space. And then also thinking about the budget. We had to make it into phases. Phase zero was no money: “Hey, let’s rearrange the furniture we have.” And we were actually able to do that.  

It involved a lot of outreach with the students and faculty. It was a really great experience. Like I mentioned, working in a team has really helped tremendously. It’s a real-world type of experience you get. It helps prepare for scenarios and situations that you can be in.  

Can you talk about what you did for your CO-OP? 

I loved my CO-OP! I went to Abbott, and I was a systems engineer. I would say, before my CO-OP, I was very shy. The CO-OP pushed me above my limits in the sense that I became a more confident individual in my work. Things that I had seen as weaknesses in myself became strengths.  

I had the chance to work with a cross-functional team. I had the chance to see the whole V&V — which is validation and verification — of the devices that they have. It was pretty much a project that I got to be in charge of: setting up for it, who are going to be the testers, how many hours does this take?  

A lot of my classes did come in handy in the sense of: “OK, you have a timeline. How long does this take, right? What are some risks? What are things you can think of?”  

I would say I learned a lot. I got pushed out of my comfort zone but not in a bad way. In a really, really good way. It made me become more confident in myself.  

I have nothing but great things to say about being able to do a CO-OP. It was a great experience. When you apply to jobs when you graduate, a lot of people are looking for some kind of experience. So it does help a lot.  

I was going to ask if you thought the program prepared you for your field.  

It definitely does. I actually didn’t end up doing anything in the biomedical field, but project management — you can apply that to a lot of things. Some people might be like, “oh, you’re engineering management. That might not apply to this and that.” But if you think about it, it does apply to many things.  

I worked at Bay Cities [Paving and Grading] my first year out of college, as a project engineer, where I was able to apply the things I learned at school. At my first big kid job, right? Even my CO-OP experience, it all helped out a lot.  

Now I’m a project manager for the parks division [at the City of Stockton], I find myself thinking, “Oh, this is the stuff that I learned back when I took these classes at UOP.” I would say it’s all tied together nicely.  

Were you involved in on-campus extracurricular activities at Pacific?  

Yes, I was. And I will tell anybody and everybody: if you are scared your freshman year to join something, do it.  

I waited until after I came back from the CO-OP. I started joining all kinds of things, because I still had a year left. I joined Gamma Alpha Omega and I will say: I found my forever friends. I just got married and they were my bridesmaids. They’re like sisters to me. Even my family is always asking about them.  

Another program I joined was SHPE [Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers]. That’s actually where I met my husband. Being a part of that was amazing. I got to meet forever friends, like I mentioned. It gave me a sense of a second home, as well.  

And MESA [Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement] as well, because I worked for MESA and was also a part of MESA. All of those programs were great. And I feel like I’m still connected with all of those people. I see everybody as family, because they have all been crucial in a big part of my life, which I’m forever grateful for.  

College can be unpredictable. When faced with adversity, how do you respond? I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Tyler McIntosh, an engineering management student set to graduate this spring, about his time at Pacific and his advice for incoming students.

Try new things

Like most of us, Tyler’s college experience was not exactly what he expected. His first-year self would be shocked to know he would move back home, attend classes via Zoom and try mountain biking during his undergraduate years. 

“I got into it during COVID,” Tyler explained. “Buying the bikes and the equipment was the most impulsive thing I’ve ever done. It’s also a good way to stay in shape and it’s nice to be out in nature.”

A trip to the outlets in Livermore led Tyler to purchase random mountain biking equipment that he found on sale. He later realized he needed to buy an actual bike, too. So he bought six. 

Tyler did not let hypotheticals hold him back from trying something different. He took advantage of the free time gained from the pandemic and attempted a sport he never would have thought of trying. 

Tyler’s favorite spot is Pleasanton Ridge. “It’s a steep climb, but it’s well worth the effort on the way back down,” Tyler explained. A little over an hour away from campus, the park is perfect for hikers and equestrians too.

Keep an open mind

Without a doubt, college is an intimidating place, especially for an incoming freshman. It can be overwhelming trying to decide which clubs to join or which major to choose. But Tyler believes you shouldn’t let fear of failure or becoming stuck in something you dislike prevent you from finding your passion. 

“I would definitely say to keep an open mind when picking their concentration,” Tyler advises. “You get exposed to a variety of different programs, and it’s really easy to switch if you find one you really like.”

Tyler’s advice to incoming engineering management students can be applied to all aspects of college and life: keep an open mind. There are many opportunities for you to take advantage of, and it’s up to you to do so. Step out of your comfort zone and take the risk. Apply for the on-campus job on Handshake or take a class in a subject that interests you, even if it’s not your major. 

Make memories

From sports to job fairs, University of the Pacific has many resources. Now that he’s a senior, Tyler wishes he had been more involved in school organizations and clubs throughout college. He had a great experience as a member of Pacific’s club soccer team during his freshman year, and he wishes he’d joined others. 

“Intramural sports were really fun. I did soccer, both indoor and outdoor,” he said. “I’d only know two or three people on the team, so I would leave with a lot of new friends.”

After graduating this spring, Tyler will take the year off to work and prepare for the LSAT. He plans to attend law school to become an intellectual property attorney. Tyler says he will cherish the friendships he’s formed and memories he’s made at Pacific and encourages new students to get outside their comfort zones and make their own memories.

Rapid fire questions

What’s your favorite restaurant in Stockton?

Luu’s Chicken Bowl and Midnight at Burnie’s Drive-Up

What’s the best place to study on campus?

The Library

What’s your favorite food on campus?

Chicken tenders and fries from The Lair

Who’s your favorite professor?

Dr. Luke Lee, Professor of Civil Engineering

What did you do for spring break?

Trip to Kauai!

About the author

Megan Nishimura

Megan Nishimura is a fourth-year marketing major from Honolulu, Hawai’i. You can find her in Burns Tower as Enrollment Marketing’s student copywriter, in the stands as an athletics event staff worker or on the court as a member of Pacific’s Division 1 volleyball team.