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October 16, 2026
Engineering a Career with Impact: How Laura Is Electrifying the Road Ahead
Electrical engineering leader Laura Drudy shares her global career journey at Trane Technologies — from driving breakthrough electrification projects to expanding her skills and inspiring future innovators through her STEM work.
When you talk to Laura Drudy, her enthusiasm for engineering — and her work at Trane Technologies — comes through immediately. Originally from Ireland, Laura has built a career that’s taken her across Europe and connected her with teams all over the world.
“A lot of people assume I started in Galway because I’m Irish,” she says with a laugh. “But I’ve actually spent my whole career in Germany and Spain. It’s been an incredible experience to grow in such different environments.”
Laura studied mechanical engineering before earning a master’s in electrical engineering — a path sparked by her early interest in sustainability. “In university, I worked on electrification and energy‑efficiency projects. That’s where I realized how exciting and important this work could be.”
That curiosity led her to Trane Technologies, where she joined the Center of Excellence for Electrification in Essen, Germany.
Hi, I'm Laura Drudy and I'm an electrical engineering leader here in Barcelona at Trane Technologies. I've been really lucky in my role at Trane Technologies in that I've been in the company for about five years now and I progressed through three different roles. I was trusted really quickly to take on large projects and learn on the job. Axle Power was the first project I was working on in Thermo King. This is an energy storage unit which is developed for use with large trucks or trailers. We were right in the middle of designing prototypes, building test units, testing on vehicles but also testing in the lab. It was a really new idea, new area of the business for Thermo King, but also just across Europe as a whole, this was really new technology. And as part of that, we were working with the team, not just in Germany, but also in North America, in Prague, in Galway, Barcelona, we had suppliers across the world. It was a hugely diverse group of people. I felt really lucky to be able to work with such a talented group of individuals. I find a lot of the work that I do since joining the company really looking towards new developments, and you're looking towards the future of electrification. You really feel that you're making an impact. You're actually developing this technology, you're developing the technology that customers will use all across the world. No day is ever the same, and for me, this is one of the things that I love the most. It's really impactful to just be walking around the city and actually see units that you've managed the projects for, and you see the impact in the city. Tomorrow is full of possibilities. They're ours to engineer.
Electrification innovation: The power of AxlePower®
One of Laura’s earliest projects was also one of the most groundbreaking — AxlePower, an electrification technology that captures energy from a trailer’s axle and converts it into power.
“It was completely new for the company,” Laura recalls. “You could tell we were building something that would help customers meet stricter regulations and reduce emissions. It felt good to know we were contributing to real change.”
Her work on AxlePower and other electrification projects directly supports the company’s Gigaton Challenge, a sustainability commitment to help customers reduce one gigaton of carbon emissions by 2030. For Laura, connecting her engineering work to a bigger mission makes the job even more meaningful.
What motivates me every day is knowing that the work we’re doing isn’t just about engineering—it’s about shaping the future.
Laura Drudy
Core Electrical Engineering Leader, Trane Technologies
“When you see technology you helped design out in the world, reducing emissions and helping cities meet their sustainability goals, it hits you: we’re actually making a real difference.”
Growing fast with supportive leaders and big opportunities
After a year and a half in Germany, Laura moved to Barcelona to join the EMEA Program Management Office — a change that opened the door to even bigger opportunities. She quickly found herself leading cross‑functional projects spanning Barcelona, Prague, Bangalore, Minneapolis, Galway and more.
“It was a huge level of trust,” she says. “I had limited experience in project management, but people here really encouraged me to follow my interests and grow. That support helped shape my whole career.”
Along the way, Laura earned her Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification, managed major new product development programs like the E500 and E100/200, and eventually stepped into her current role as an electrical engineering manager. Today, she leads a team of 11 engineers working on software, hardware, telematics and advanced power electronics.
No two days are the same. There’s always a new challenge, a new problem to solve — and I love that.
Laura Drudy
Core Electrical Engineering Leader, Trane Technologies
Giving back through STEM and community impact
Laura’s passion for purpose doesn’t stop at engineering. She also volunteers as a strategic advisor for the EMEA Sustainable Futures Council, supporting employee‑led Purple Teams (employee-led volunteer groups that champion corporate citizenship, community engagement and sustainability in local communities worldwide) across Europe that bring STEM education to young people who might not otherwise have access.
“We work with rural schools and underserved communities to introduce robotics and hands‑on engineering at a really young age,” Laura says. “Seeing kids realize what they're capable of — that’s incredibly rewarding.”
She partners with teams in Ireland, Spain, Belgium and the Czech Republic to build programs that inspire the next generation of innovators. One initiative she’s especially proud of is the company’s scholarship program for young women in STEM. “We recently awarded three scholarships in Barcelona,” she says. “Being there in person and seeing how much it meant to them was such a special moment.”
For Laura, this work is a natural extension of what energizes her professionally. “We’re not just advancing technology,” she says. “We’re helping open doors for the next generation. That feels meaningful.”
A career with purpose and possibility
Whether she’s innovating in electrification, solving complex engineering challenges or supporting STEM opportunities for young people, Laura embodies Trane Technologies’ mission to boldly challenge what’s possible for a sustainable world.
“Every day brings something new,” she says. “And every challenge is a chance to make a real impact — for our customers, for the planet and for the people who will come after us.”
Tomorrow is full of possibilities, and they're ours to engineer.
Ready to make an impact? Explore careers at Trane Technologies
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