Meet Michael Pick | Engineer / Youtuber

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Pick and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, the decisions we make often shape our story in profound ways. What was one of the most difficult decisions you’ve had to make?
One of the toughest decisions I’ve made was leaving my career as a Lockheed Martin engineer to become a full-time YouTuber. I had a secure, respected job in aerospace, but I felt a stronger pull toward creating and building things that directly inspired others. Walking away from that stability to bet on myself and build something from scratch was terrifying, but it ended up being the most rewarding decision I’ve ever made. I now run a channel with over a million subscribers, hold three Guinness World Records, and get to invent things that people actually care about. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started my career as a software engineer at Lockheed Martin, working on advanced systems and military tech. On paper, it was a dream job. But deep down, I wanted to build things that were more personal, projects that combined engineering with creativity and reached real people.

So I took a massive leap of faith and left that behind to become a full-time YouTuber. It wasn’t easy. I went from a stable paycheck to late nights editing videos, learning cameras, failing publicly, and trying to make content that people actually wanted to watch. But I stuck with it.

Fast forward to today, I’ve built a channel with over a million subscribers, earned 3 Guinness World Records, and get to create wild, over-the-top engineering projects that bring people joy and curiosity. From building a giant functional Nintendo Switch to designing custom Nerf blasters with FPV systems, I try to make engineering feel fun and accessible.

What sets my work apart is that it’s not just about building, it’s about storytelling. I want people to feel something when they watch, whether that’s “wow,” “that’s genius,” or “this guy’s insane, but I love it.”

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is this: You don’t have to wait for permission to start something. No one’s going to hand you the perfect opportunity, you have to build it, one failure at a time.

If there’s one thing I want the world to know, it’s that engineering can be as entertaining as it is useful. My brand is about making the impossible look fun and maybe inspiring someone else to pick up a tool and try it too.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend came to LA for a week, I’d keep things relaxed and fun with a mix of my favorite spots.

We’d hit up some of LA’s best coffee shops, grab tacos from places like Guisados, and start the week with a few early morning hikes, Runyon Canyon, Griffith, maybe even Temescal for the views. It’s a good way to reset and just catch up.

Midweek we’d head out to Malibu, spend the day chilling at the beach, maybe fly a drone or just lay low with snacks and music. That night we’d catch a rooftop movie, somewhere like Rooftop Cinema Club, just to soak in the city vibes without doing too much.

We’d also swing by the California Science Center to see the Space Shuttle. If I’ve got a project going, I’d probably drag them into helping me build or film something too. That’s just part of the deal when you visit.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to give a huge shoutout to Zack from the YouTube channel JerryRigEverything. Watching his content early on showed me that you can blend engineering, curiosity, and storytelling in a way that actually connects with millions of people. He was one of the first creators I saw doing that consistently, and doing it well.

Zack’s approach, especially when it comes to testing and breaking things down, really inspired me to lean into my own background as an engineer. Shoutout to Zack!!! Appreciate the early support!

Website: https://www.michaelpick.store/portfolio

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casual.engineer/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-pick-6aa7b4a7/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/michaelpick

Other: tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@casual.engineer

Image Credits
Michael Pick