Sophia Piatczyc

Job Title: Project Manager/Electrical Engineer

Company: DLR Group

Location: Overland Park, Kan.

Age: 28

Years on the Job: 6

Interests: Reading, cooking, hiking, camping, crocheting, Pilates, and being involved in organizations such as the United States Green Building Council, ClimateKC Climate Action Summits, and American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment

Raised in a highly competitive sports household, Sophia Piatczyc naturally translated that drive into academics and set out to prove that physics wasn’t as difficult as her older brothers made it sound.

“I quickly found that mathematical and physical theory came naturally to me, which sparked my interest in pursuing engineering as a career,” she said.

Born in northern Vietnam and raised in Lee’s Summit, Mo., she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering from Kansas State University in 2020. For her first apprenticeship, she worked under DLR Group’s renewable energy leader and gained hands-on exposure to photovoltaic design.

“Being from Vietnam, I carry a deep commitment to improving the world through meaningful work,” she said. “Pursuing a career in renewable energy allows me to align my technical expertise with that purpose — contributing to resilient, sustainable solutions that create lasting positive change both locally and globally.”

As her career progressed, her training shifted from general electrical engineering to renewable energy-specific calculations and energy projections. For example, she learned to analyze utility bills and energy usage to estimate how photovoltaic energy could offset the owner’s expenses.

In her role at DLR Group, she responds to customers’ RFIs, supports construction on previously designed projects, and submits new proposals to help secure future work. She also coordinates with project teams, mentors younger designers, and schedules project meetings.

During her career, she has served as a lead electrical engineer on a range of photovoltaic projects and has seen advancements in the tools used for design or the electrical components being installed.

“In the renewables industry, it has been especially exciting to see emerging technologies advancing to help solve the world’s challenges,” she said.

 She hopes to one day work as a principal within the firm, develop her leadership skills, and expand her impact by helping navigate new markets. She said she’s grateful to be part of the 2026 EC&M 30 Under 30.

“This recognition motivates me to continue growing as an engineer and leader, and to keep contributing to the renewable energy industry and the future of the electrical profession,” she said. “As a specialized electrical engineer focused on renewable energy, I take great pride and fulfillment in contributing to a more sustainable future, one solar panel at a time.”

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