As a writer, he published under the pseudonym N. Garin (Russian: Н. Га́рин), and since his death has been commonly referred to as the hyphenated Garin-Mikhailovsky.

As an engineer Garin-Mikhailovsky was involved in construction of the Laspi Pass highway and the Trans-Siberian Railway.

In 1891 he headed the surveying party that chose the place for building a railroad bridge over River Ob for the Trans-Siberian Railway.

This decision later resulted in the foundation of Novosibirsk and played a vital role in development of the city.

His short story Practical Training is available in English translation in The Salt Pit, Raduga Publishers, 1988.