Sakshi Shirsat

Job Title: Electrical Design Engineer

Company: PBS Engineers, Inc.

Location: San Dimas, Calif.

Age: 27

Years on the Job: 3

Interests: Going to the gym, trying out new cafés and food spots, playing tennis, and reading books

Sakshi Shirsat grew up in a household where curiosity and problem solving were part of everyday life. She fondly recalls helping her father with different projects and playing with tools, spare parts, nuts, and bolts as a child.

“Bringing something ‘broken’ back to life gave me a sense of reliability and confidence,” she said. “It made me feel capable in a very tangible way.”

That early exposure evolved into a genuine passion. As the years went on, her curiosity only deepened, and choosing to pursue electrical engineering felt like a natural extension of who she had become.

“It was not just a choice in my career path but something I had been building toward since childhood,” said Shirsat, who was born and raised in a small town in India.

After completing 10th grade, she pursued her associate’s degree in electrical engineering and earned her bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering. In 2021, she moved to the United States to pursue a master’s degree in energy systems at Northeastern University.

During her graduate studies, she worked as an interconnection engineering intern at Nexamp, where she gained hands-on exposure to renewable energy systems, utility coordination, and the practical challenges of integrating clean energy into the grid. At PBS Engineers, she has continued to grow through exposure to a wide range of project types, cross-disciplinary coordination, and mentorship from experienced engineers and team members.

In her role today, her responsibilities include electrical system design, lighting layouts, power distribution, coordination with architects and other engineering disciplines, and preparing California Title 24 compliance documentation and lighting analyses.

In the future, she sees herself growing into a more senior engineering role, where she can take on greater responsibility in design leadership, project ownership, and mentoring younger engineers. She said she is grateful to be honored for her contributions to the industry.

“For me, this recognition is not just a personal milestone, but also a reflection of the mentors, teams, and opportunities that have supported my journey so far,” she said. “I see it as an encouragement to continue pushing myself, keep learning, and contribute meaningfully to the field.”

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