Efren Gaytan Rivas

I earned a dual Bachelor's degree in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering in Mexico, but my passion has always been electrical engineering. I have worked as an electrical designer on MEP projects, followed by roles in construction and operations at a cogeneration facility. To formalize my expertise and deepen my focus on power systems, I pursued a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering at California State University, Northridge.

This unique path, from design to operations and back to advanced study, has given me a practical, full-project perspective that few engineers possess.

My professional experience spans the entire lifecycle of electrical power systems. I began my U.S. career as an Electrical Designer at TEK Engineering Group, where I produced complete construction documents for industrial and commercial buildings, including power distribution, lighting layouts, and Title 24 compliance. I then moved into Plant Engineer at UCLA cogeneration facility, where I shifted from designing systems to operating them.

There, I managed high-voltage equipment, led capital projects like a live UPS cutover, and conducted root cause analysis on electrical failures. Earlier in my career, I also led large-scale construction projects in Mexico, including high-voltage transmission lines and substations. This combination of design, construction, and operations gives me a practical perspective that makes my engineering solutions both code-compliant and reliably functional.

M.S. Electrical Engineering – California State University, Northridge (2025)

B.S. Mechanical & Electrical Engineering – Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico (2009)

My dual-major bachelor's degree provided a broad engineering foundation, while my master's degree allowed me to specialize deeply in electrical power systems.