Senior Director, Data Center Design & Engineering – AI Data Centers

Role overview

Set owner-side engineering direction for AI and high-performance computing data center facilities, covering design standards, system architecture, commissioning, and operational handover. This senior technical leadership role connects engineering, project delivery, construction, and executive stakeholders to support reliable, buildable facilities and repeatable designs across multiple sites.

Responsibilities

- Establish and maintain engineering standards, design criteria, and the Basis of Design across facility and site disciplines. - Define electrical and cooling architectures for high-density compute, including backup power, UPS, air and liquid cooling, and resilience targets. - Lead utility and substation engineering interfaces, including interconnection studies, protection, metering, and energization planning. - Direct internal design leadership and external consultants; review technical studies, calculations, equipment selections, and design packages at project stages. - Work with construction and pre-construction teams on constructability, value engineering, schedule, and resolution of design conflicts. - Lead owner-side commissioning and turnover, identify portfolio risks, support customer technical reviews, and develop in-house engineering capability.

Requirements

- Bachelor’s degree in electrical, mechanical, or a closely related engineering discipline. - At least 15 years of progressive experience in data center, mission-critical, or large power and industrial facility engineering, including five years in senior technical leadership. - Deep knowledge of medium- and low-voltage distribution, generation, UPS, protection, and cooling systems for high-density computing. - Experience defining redundancy and resilience approaches, and translating availability goals into design criteria. - Hands-on experience with utility interconnection, substation design, and energization planning for large loads. - Experience leading commissioning and turnover, and directing consultants, contractors, and technical staff. - Strong constructability judgment and communication skills, including explaining technical trade-offs to non-technical stakeholders.

Nice to have

A Professional Engineer license is strongly preferred. Experience with AI, HPC, hyperscale, or liquid-cooled facilities; owner-side work; multi-site engineering standards; and relevant data center, electrical, and energy codes is advantageous. A master’s degree in engineering or an MBA is also preferred.

Benefits and work setup

The listed annual salary range is $200,000–$250,000. Duties may include travel between job sites or operation of a company vehicle; candidates must be eligible under the applicable vehicle insurance policy.