National Engineers Week: David Nizzardo
In honor of National Engineer’s Week, we are highlighting the great minds at Avangrid helping to create a brighter energy future. Meet David Nizzardo, Senior Cyber Identity & Access Management (IAM) Specialist, and a graduate of our Engineering Development Program.
What is your title and can you provide a brief description of your role?
I am a Senior Cyber Identity & Access Management (IAM) Specialist and ForgeRock SME in Infrastructure & Compliance. I focus on deploying, managing and improving identity and access solutions across Avangrid’s operational technology environments.
Can you share a bit about your experience in the Engineer Rotational Program?
I joined Avangrid full‑time in 2022 through the Engineering Development Program (EDP). My early rotations included work in PI Historian engineering, OT ServiceNow deployment, and cybersecurity tool evaluations across CA&C, ICAM, CODI, and Cyber Architecture teams. These experiences built the foundation for the identity and access expertise I bring to my current role. I graduated from the EDP in 2024 and now work in the OTAccess team within Infrastructure & Compliance in Operational Smart Grids, where I focus on identity and access needs for Avangrid’s OT environments.
What drew you to Avangrid?
Growing up in Orange, Conn., Avangrid and UI were familiar parts of my community. After two internships during college, transitioning into a full‑time role was a natural next step.
What made you pursue engineering?
I’ve always been driven by problem‑solving and systems thinking. My engineering background gave me the technical grounding to understand complex operational environments. Cybersecurity, and specifically identity, offered the chance to protect them. IAM sits at the intersection of security, usability, and critical infrastructure reliability, which is where I enjoy working most.
Can you share an example of a project or idea you have been working on that you believe will shape the future in a positive way?
In my role as a ForgeRock SME, I’m helping modernize Avangrid’s identity ecosystem to support zero‑trust architecture and secure digital transformation. This includes designing resilient authentication flows, strengthening identity governance, and enabling safer, more efficient access for our operational technology teams, directly improving the security posture of the grid and the communities we serve.
What aspects of your work as an engineer do you find most rewarding and why?
I find it most rewarding when my work removes barriers for the people who operate and support our OT systems. When access is clear, reliable, and secure, it makes their jobs easier and keeps critical operations running without disruption. Knowing that my decisions directly support the safety, stability, and security of the grid makes the work meaningful.
What is unique, special, or interesting about your job?
IAM gives me a direct role in protecting the systems that keep our grid running. I get to solve access problems that matter in real time, support the people who operate critical equipment, and make sure the right users have the right access at the right moments. It is a mix of security, reliability, and problem‑solving that never feels routine.
What advice do you have for other early-career individuals interested in pursuing a career in engineering?
Start by getting hands‑on experience wherever you can, because real projects teach you more than any lecture. Stay curious and ask questions, because understanding how things actually work will set you apart. Build relationships with people who do the work you want to learn, and do not be afraid to move toward areas that genuinely interest you as your career evolves.
