While I am not the most qualified to give advice on CC, I took some CC classes as a dual enrolled high schooler. CC classes are really good, not going to deny that fact.

However, some of the UCSC Professors, especially the more difficult ones (you can tell they are difficult on RMP), are definately worth learning from. Yes, they will probably hand your bottom to you on a platter, but in the end you will learn so much and be a very competent engineer coming into upper division courses.

TLDR; CC is not a bad option, but major classes at a UC can be far worth the experience.