On a rainy fall morning, nearly 200 students gathered at Hitachi Energy’s North American headquarters on NC State’s Centennial Campus. The draw? The company’s “Power of Connection” event — a nontraditional career fair where recruiters, hiring managers and senior professionals engage with students and recent alumni.
“We’re looking for talented people to join our diverse team and help achieve Hitachi Energy’s mission of advancing a sustainable energy future for all,” said Kristen Koch, Talent and Learning Leader for Hitachi Energy in the Americas. “By reimagining the career fair model to eliminate barriers to entry, we foster meaningful conversations that lead to internships and full-time roles.”
Stefano Rivera, a first-year Jenkins MBA student, attended to network and explore opportunities. “The company’s sustainability mission and global impact are important to me, and they align closely with my graduate work goals.” Rivera cited examples of applied pathways offered by NC State, such as the Business Sustainability Certificate and Sustainability Practicum.
Sarah Jane O’Keefe, who oversees sustainability initiatives for Hitachi Energy’s North American supply chain, connected with Rivera at the event. “We’re fortunate to be based on Centennial Campus. This proximity provides us access to a strong talent pool — NC State is a leader in a variety of fields. Thanks to the university’s interdisciplinary approach, students can seamlessly transition across our business units. NC State grads are well-prepared for diverse roles, equipped with both strong soft skills and analytical problem-solving abilities.”
Rivera underscored the unique advantage of co-location: “Centennial Campus offers students invaluable opportunities for hands-on experience and professional growth.”
Opportunities to Make an Impact
As a leader in the clean energy transition, Hitachi Energy provides opportunities to make a meaningful impact and tackle complex challenges. The company focuses on developing technologies that accelerate the shift toward a carbon-neutral future.
To support the expanding energy transition in the U.S., Hitachi Energy is steadily increasing its workforce at its North American headquarters on Centennial, which currently employs about 450 people. All four of Hitachi Energy’s business units are represented here, including Grid Automation, Transformers, High-Voltage Products to protect the grid, and Grid Integration to ensure reliability and flexibility. Currently, Hitachi Energy has 230 openings in the U.S. for full-time positions across a range of corporate functions.
“While we’re a technology company, we’re not just looking for technical skills,” Koch explained. “Yes, we need engineers, but we’re also seeking talent in areas like marketing, finance and many others.”
Developing Talent
Hitachi Energy collaborates with NC State primarily on curriculum development and talent recruitment. “NC State is a strategic partner that enables us to further our mission,” said Gervase. “In the past year, 20% of our new employees were early-career hires, and we estimate adding 100 interns in 2025.”
To support this growth, the company offers two flagship initiatives.
- The Summer Internship Program provides students hands-on assignments working alongside senior professionals. This initiative serves as a strategic talent pipeline, with many interns transitioning to full-time positions upon graduation.
- The Power+ Graduate Program offers new grads a full-time opportunity to rotate through three different assignments. Designed for young professionals in STEM, it allows them to explore a range of career paths.
Part of NC State’s Office of Partnerships, Nikki Olive serves as the company’s dedicated liaison to the university. “Just in the last year, Hitachi Energy has invested in a variety of senior design projects and student organizations, as well as initiatives such as First-Year Design Day and Women in Minority Engineering Programs, among others. Students gain valuable in-person mentorship and tackle real-world challenges through these projects. We are proud to have Hitachi Energy as a partner located on Centennial Campus.”
While the September 2024 event focused on recruiting for current openings, Hitachi Energy is always hiring. To explore opportunities, visit https://www.hitachienergy.com/us/en/careers.
Click through the gallery below to view photos from the Power of Connection event.
This post was originally published in Partnership Portal.
- Categories:
