EC&M On Air The 2025 Top 40 Electrical Design Firms: A Conversation with Top 40 Executives
Sep 26, 2025
Darin Anderson, CEO of Salas O'Brien, leads a prominent employee-owned engineering firm, while Matt Goss, a senior VP at CDM Smith, specializes in electrical engineering for public infrastructure. They delve into the surprising 18% revenue growth in 2024, key hiring challenges in the industry, and innovative strategies for attracting talent, such as employee ownership and robust internship programs. The conversation also touches on the ethical implications of AI in engineering and forecasts for 2025, emphasizing the importance of adaptability in an evolving market.
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Rising Demand Creates A Golden Era
- Electrical engineering demand is accelerating due to complex systems and energy needs.
- Fewer engineers and rising complexity create a 'golden era' for electrical specialists.
Everything Electrified Needs Power
- Electrification and digital growth mean nearly every technology needs power and electrical design.
- Data centers and decarbonization are expanding demand for electrical infrastructure.
Focused Growth Fueled Expansion
- Salas O'Brien grew from a 30-person practice to 4,100 team members over two decades.
- They focus on selective markets like data centers, healthcare, pharma, and telecom to drive growth.