Taking the Spotlight

ENGINEERING MAY BE ROOTED IN RIGOR, but this year’s cohort of Watch List honorees reminds us that there’s a place in the profession for dreaming big and showing audacity. The 25 early career engineers who made our second annual list are stepping into unfamiliar spaces—sometimes before they’re entirely sure they belong there—pioneering smart technologies, tackling decarbonization, and building digital twins.

If there is a recurring theme among this year’s nominees, it’s that they didn’t wait around for an invitation. Many spoke candidly about overcoming impostor syndrome or pushing past gatekeeping, whether from institutions, expectations, or their own inner voices. Some called it taking the leap. Others described it more bluntly: There’s no need to reject yourself or your ideas even before others have a chance to weigh in.

Across industries and disciplines, the “ones to watch” are chasing breakthroughs in robotics, nuclear technology, and advanced materials. They’re reshaping energy systems, rethinking manufacturing, and scaling sustainable solutions. And in a profession not always known for its public visibility, they’re also showing up in unexpected places, from the cast of television’s Survivor to the playing fields of the NFL.

Not every struggle is in the limelight. Several honorees shared their challenges off the record, particularly around navigating uncertain federal funding and the ever-present challenges of being a woman in STEM. Some advocate in the spotlight, and others behind the scenes. But all share a deep-rooted optimism that engineering can and should move the world forward.

Whether they’re making waves on Earth, at sea, in orbit, or online, these 25 professionals reflect an era of engineers who are inventive, outspoken, mission-driven, and deeply human. Let their stories remind you that the future of engineering is already in motion, and open to all.