Why it matters
According to Dr. Masood Parvania, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Director of the Utah Smart Energy Lab at the University of Utah, utilities modernizing critical infrastructure need professionals who can speak both languages: the engineering fundamentals of how the grid works and the AI skills to optimize it. This rare combination is creating high-demand careers with better pay and job security.
The big picture
The convergence of AI and energy infrastructure isn’t just a tech trend, it’s a workforce transformation. Dr. Parvania notes that students trained in both power systems and machine learning are stepping into roles that didn’t exist a decade ago, helping to operate and protect one of society’s most critical systems in an increasingly data-driven world.
What they’re saying
“So in my specific case, my students are specializing in power grid operation and they take courses on power grid. But on the other side we also teach them AI. So they have pretty unique set of skills. That is not only know in the engineering field, which is the power grid, and they took on engineering for those not knowing how to apply it in the power grid operation. And that’s why like, yes, some of the students, they have, they are really in high demand and they are being hired as a data scientist, as a machine learning engineer, as an AI engineer in power companies. And that’s pretty unique. And they get like, pay them much higher. And also they have a more secure job,” says Dr. Parvania.
What to expect
According to Dr. Parvania, demand for this hybrid skillset will only grow as AI reshapes the energy sector. States like Utah are leading by supporting innovation, workforce development, and cross-sector collaboration — creating ecosystems where education, industry, and policy work together.
The bottom line
The future of infrastructure depends on people who can bridge the gap between engineering and intelligence — human and artificial. These graduates aren’t just getting jobs; they’re building the foundation for a smarter, more resilient grid.