The Future of Energy Still Needs People to Build It
Will Palmer • May 15, 2026 • 6 min. read
The class of 2026 is entering a labor market being reshaped by AI and defined by a growing need for technical talent. Many graduates are asking how AI will reshape the roles they are preparing for. At the same time, the world is entering a period of energy transition that will require more engineers, operators, and technical specialists to help develop the technologies needed to decarbonize and expand access to power.
As graduates look ahead, many want to know what role AI will play in their careers. Data from ZipRecruiter shows that while the job market remains resilient for new grads, many are watching closely as AI changes the shape of entry-level work. In the energy sector specifically, AI may be transforming the tools of the trade, but it is not replacing the need for human ingenuity. Companies still need people to develop, build, and maintain the systems required to meet rising electricity demand and expand access for communities that still lack reliable power.
GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik met with 50 interns from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston University, Tufts University, and other local schools at the company’s Cambridge, Massachusetts, headquarters.
Image credit: GE Vernova
A Laboratory for the Future of Energy
On May 7, CEO Scott Strazik and other GE Vernova executives welcomed 50 interns from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston University, Tufts University, and other local schools to the company’s Cambridge, Massachusetts, headquarters, for an Intern Welcome Event as they embarked on a summer of exploring what role they can play in the future of energy. The day served as a reminder that, while software can optimize the grid and automate inspection processes, it can’t replace the engineering savvy required to design a turbine, modernize the grid, improve manufacturing processes, or troubleshoot complex equipment in the field.
“Leaders come in all shapes and sizes,” Strazik told the group, emphasizing that the energy transition is a hands-on endeavor. “We want you to come in and, in your own stylistic way, lead over the course of the summer. Look at GE Vernova as a real laboratory for you to experiment, to try different things, and grow as people and professionals.”
Zaire Williams, an intern in the Gas Power business, sees himself building a career rooted in practical engineering work. After spending time in a sustainability lab, Williams realized that digital work was less satisfying than helping create the physical systems that keep the world running.
“I want to be able to work hands-on and make sure that I’m building systems,” knowing those systems are “ultimately providing a great benefit to a lot of other people who are using them.” — Zaire Williams
Human Skills for an AI-Enabled Energy Future
Even as AI changes how early-career professionals work, technical engineering fields remain in high demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that architecture and engineering occupations will grow faster than the overall average through 2034, with roughly 186,500 openings projected each year. This is not a field in retreat, but one where companies are hiring engineers who can turn technical ideas into systems that work at industrial scale.
“This year’s candidates stood out for their curiosity and strong sense of purpose,” said Kellie Nickovich, GE Vernova’s global leader for university recruiting.
Image credit: GE Vernova
“This year’s candidates stood out for their curiosity and strong sense of purpose,” said Kellie Nickovich, GE Vernova’s global leader for university recruiting. “They came in wanting to learn, but also wanting to contribute — and that combination really matters. The skills, relationships, and perspective they gain here help shape their path forward.”
Fiona Shangguan, an engineering intern working at the corporate level, arrived at GE Vernova through the MIT Energy and Climate Club. With an interest in the hydrogen supply chain and renewable energy, her goal is to work on the technical and operational side of deploying new technologies globally. “I’m interested in how I can do more on the consumer-facing side, or maybe the production application side, rather than just the research fundamentals side,” she said.
4.6M
jobs available by 2035 in global energy employment
186,500
openings projected each year for architecture and engineering occupations
30%
of hours worked today could be automated by 2030
Sources: International Energy Agency, BLS, McKinsey
Building What Comes Next
The scale of the task ahead is matched only by the opportunity. The International Energy Agency estimates that global energy employment could grow by as many as 4.6 million jobs by 2035. This growth is driven by the massive infrastructure buildout required to meet rising electricity demand and decarbonization goals, creating the need for electrical, mechanical, and industrial engineers.
McKinsey research has found that while AI will automate some data-heavy tasks, human judgment remains central to complex problem-solving. In practice, that means engineers will likely spend less time on repetitive analysis and more time solving the hardest parts of the energy puzzle.
This is what gives students like Lily Siegelman hope. She chose to pivot from pure math and physics toward more applied work. “I really like working with my hands and figuring things out,” she explained.
She’s found that the most rewarding part of the process is designing and creating things that solve real-world problems:
Intern Lily Siegelman (right) considers GE Vernova the right place to play a role in the energy transition.
Stepping Into the Challenge
GE Vernova’s mission to electrify the world while working to decarbonize it so people and communities can thrive will require workers across power generation, grid orchestration, wind energy, advanced manufacturing, and more. GE Vernova’s engagement with students is designed to help them see how academic theory connects to large-scale industrial work.
“We want you to come in and, in your own stylistic way, lead over the course of the summer. Look at GE Vernova as a real laboratory for you to experiment, to try different things, and grow as people and professionals,” said CEO Scott Strazik.
Image credit: GE Vernova
As Strazik told the interns, the company’s success depends on “a level of intellectual interest, belief in purpose, humility, and a real willingness to team on some really hard challenges in the world today.”
For the class of 2026, AI is not a signal to move away from the industrial sector. It is another tool they can use to help solve one of the world’s largest infrastructure challenges: delivering reliable, sustainable power at scale. For these graduates, the future of energy is not a reason to step back. It is a reason to step forward.