~/home/portfolio

From ambiguous problems to shipped products.

ProductEngineeringStrategyDesign

Computer Science @ Barnard College, Columbia University. 2026 Grad. Focus: Product Management, Technical Program Management, & AI Product Engineering.

Arleen Alcaraz-Cano

more professional photos coming soon after grad! :)

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// README.md

I build products that translate complexity into clarity. My work exists at the intersection of product strategy, technical engineering, digital ethics, and creative design.

I don't just discuss features, I define them. I've shipped production code and led strategy at Microsoft & Xbox Game Studios (as a 3x intern in PM, SWE, and TPM roles). I’ve owned the full product lifecycle: from writing detailed PRDs and managing roadmaps to shipping production code. My work ranges from architecting autonomous AI agents for Halo Studios to leading a full-stack redesign of internal engineering tools.

But what sets me apart? A deep commitment to Trust & Safety.

In an era of AI hallucinations and algorithmic bias, I believe the most important products are the ones that protect their users. I am currently researching the ethical boundaries of LLMs to understand where innovation meets responsibility.

Ultimately, I'm a Product Manager because I am obsessed with the human side of software. I'm industry-agnostic, curiosity-driven, and ready to build.

/* I study how systems fail so I can build ones that don't. */

Ln 42, Col 1UTF-8
// product_strategy
  • > Product Vision & Strategy
  • > Agile & Sprint Leadership
  • > PRD & Spec Writing
  • > Backlog Prioritization
  • > User Stories & Requirements
  • > Stakeholder Alignment
  • > AI Safety & Ethics Policy
// technical_stack
  • > Java, C++, Python
  • > SQL (Postgres)
  • > LLMs & Agentic Systems
  • > System Design
  • > Data Modeling
// toolkit
  • > Jira & Azure DevOps
  • > Product Analytics
  • > Data Visualization
  • > Figma (Prototyping)
~/work/projects

Microsoft & Xbox Game Studios (2023-2025)

PM Intern '25

Internal Bug-Filing Redesign

Led technical redesign for 250+ testers; authored specs recovering 200+ hours/month.

SWE Intern '24

Halo Studios AI

Built core B2B Utility AI platform (C++/C#); designed autonomous player simulation.

Explore Intern '23

Audio Tools & TPM

Developed Unreal Engine audio plugin; led sprint planning as TPM.

Zynga RPM Case Study

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// The Problem

Revenue dropping despite steady DAU. Hypothesis: Value/ARPDAU decline due to content fatigue.

This case study got me to the final round for Zynga's 2026 RPM program.

Download Full Deck

Barnard Radio (wbar.org)

Managed 5-person agile team and architected a responsive React interface. Increased student engagement by 25%.

// visual:
WBAR Redesign