2026 Ones To Watch - Rising Stars: Matthew Terracciano, Goldman Copeland

“Matt Terracciano deserves to be recognized as a Rising Star, because his extraordinary combination of skills provides a model for what leadership in this industry should embody. He draws on great expertise, curiosity, and creativity in approaching engineering challenges and developing efficient effective solutions. He fulfills commitments made to others, is supportive of colleagues and a mentor to junior staff, and is dedicated to serving clients and to achieving their goals with integrity.” 

What inspired you to pursue a career in your industry, and what path brought you to your current role?

I earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from NYU Tandon, where I published multiple research papers on heat transfer in power cables. While I began in technical research, early consulting engineering internships made me increasingly interested in applying electrical engineering to the built environment, leading me to pursue consulting engineering full-time. It enables me to explore the latest developments in electrical engineering and turn complex technical challenges into practical systems that improve how people live, work, and connect.

What accomplishment or project so far in your career are you most proud of?

I am most proud of growing from a primarily technical design role into a broader project leadership position where I can influence both engineering quality and client relationships. I have led electrical design efforts across diverse sectors while preparing proposals, managing schedules thoughtfully, supporting team capacity, and contributing to business development. Earning the trust to oversee both the technical and client-facing aspects of the work has been one of the most meaningful accomplishments of my career.