Jacky Ng, BEng Management ’09 (Software Engineering)

It came as no surprise to his family when Jacky Ng ’09 decided to pursue an Engineering and Management degree at McMaster. The son of an engineer and an accountant, Ng had a natural inclination towards science, technology and business from an early age that led him to achieve an undergrad in Software Engineering in 2009 and an MBA in 2014.

Looking back on his undergrad, Ng remembers bonding with his Capstone Project group, spending late nights in the ITB lab and eating pizza as they worked together to create a mine detecting Hovercraft. Outside of the classroom, Ng played on the varsity Badminton team for all five years of his undergrad. “We really supported each other throughout the season,” Ng recalls. “Instead of studying all the time, playing sports gave me that school-life balance.”

After graduation, Ng joined ArcelorMittal Dofasco, where he quickly found a place in the Process Automation department. There, he developed and maintained software programs for the processing lines, making the manufacturing process more efficient and effective. Ng’s contributions to the department earned him a promotion to senior systems analyst in just two years. The transition to the financial world was challenging, but Ng’s McMaster Engineering background equipped him with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in his new role. His strong analytical skills and attention to detail proved to be invaluable in his new position, where he works on various projects that play a critical role in Dofasco’s financial success, and ultimately earning his CPA designation in 2022. To this day, Ng continues his participation with the varsity Badminton team, now as one of its coaches.

“When asked what advice he would give to engineering students, Ng says “Always have a desire to learn. Don’t be discouraged if you make mistakes. Be resilient and learn from them.”