Director – Data Center Power Infrastructure O&M

SB Energy•San Diego, CA

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

SB Energy is seeking a Director – Data Center Power Infrastructure Operations & Maintenance (O&M) to provide leadership for operations, maintenance, and reliability of the high-voltage (HV) portion of their data center electrical infrastructure portfolio. This role is crucial for ensuring the reliability, availability, efficiency, safety, and commercial performance of the electrical infrastructure that supports the data center building. The scope includes utility interconnections, substations, high-voltage distribution systems, backup power systems, and critical electrical assets outside the data center facility. The successful candidate will own the power infrastructure portfolio, driving performance optimization, asset reliability, budget accountability, contractor management, compliance, and system uptime. The ideal candidate possesses deep expertise in high-voltage electrical infrastructure and mission-critical operations, combined with strong business acumen and stakeholder management skills.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Power Engineering, Engineering Technology, or related technical discipline.
Minimum 10 years of experience in industrial, utility, mission-critical, or power infrastructure environments.
Minimum 7 years of experience managing high-voltage electrical systems, substations, transmission/distribution assets, or data center power operations.
Minimum 3 years of people leadership experience.
Strong knowledge of: High Voltage (HV) and Medium Voltage (MV) systems, Utility Interconnections, Substation Operations, Protection & Control Systems, SCADA Systems, Power Transformers, Switchgear and Relay Coordination, Generator and UPS Systems, Data Center Electrical Architecture.
Ability to read and interpret: Single-Line Diagrams, Three-Line Diagrams, Protection Schematics, Control Logic Drawings.
Experience with power system analysis, troubleshooting, and reliability engineering.
Strong commercial mindset with business ownership mentality.
Exceptional organizational and prioritization skills.
Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams and external partners.
Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
Ability to lead during critical incidents and high-pressure environments.

Nice To Haves

Master's Degree preferred.
Professional certifications such as PE (Professional Engineer), PMP, NETA, Data Center Certifications & Certified Energy Manager (CEM), NERC Certifications (preferred).
Experience supporting hyperscale, colocation, enterprise data center, utility, or mission-critical facilities preferred.
Proven experience managing large-scale electrical infrastructure portfolios exceeding 100 MW preferred.
Working knowledge of: NEC, IEEE Standards, NFPA 70E, NETA Standards, Utility Operating Practices.

Responsibilities

Lead the O&M and operational performance of data center HV power infrastructure (substations and transmission lines) assets across multiple sites.
Own reliability, availability, capacity, and performance objectives for the electrical infrastructure portfolio.
Develop and execute strategies to maximize uptime, resiliency, and lifecycle value of critical assets.
Ensure continuous operation of utility substations, switchyards, transformers, switchgear, UPS systems, generators, and medium/high-voltage distribution networks.
Drive operational excellence and continuous improvement initiatives across all facilities.
Establish and monitor operational KPIs, including: Power Availability, Electrical Reliability, MTBF/MTTR, Capacity Utilization, Energy Efficiency, SLA Compliance.
Lead root cause analysis for major incidents and implement corrective actions.
Develop and implement proactive predictive maintenance programs using condition monitoring, asset health analytics, and failure forecasting.
Develop and manage critical spare parts strategies to optimize inventory levels, minimize MTTR, reduce outage duration, and meet customer availability and uptime requirements.
Follow manufacturer specifications and NETA standards.
Integrate condition monitoring (infrared, vibration, oil analysis) for predictive maintenance.
Maintain records of all tests, inspections, and repairs for compliance and asset management.
Ensure safety protocols for high-voltage work, including lockout/tagout and PPE.
Oversee operation and maintenance of substations up to transmission-level voltages.
Ensure compliance with utility requirements, interconnection agreements, and electrical standards.
Manage inspection, testing, and maintenance programs for Power Transformers, GIS/AIS Switchgear, Protective Relaying Systems, Circuit Breakers and switches, Bus Systems, SCADA Networks, Power Quality Equipment, Control building, etc.
Ensure proper execution of switching procedures, outage planning, and energization activities.
Support commissioning and acceptance testing of new substations and electrical infrastructure projects.
Drive initiatives to improve system reliability and reduce operational risk.
Own annual operating budgets and long-range business plans for power infrastructure assets.
Monitor operating expenditures and identify opportunities for cost optimization.
Develop business cases and ROI analyses for capital improvement projects.
Manage forecasting and lifecycle replacement planning of critical electrical equipment.
Support asset valuation, portfolio planning, acquisitions, divestitures, and expansion initiatives.
Partner with finance, procurement, and accounting teams to achieve financial targets.
Serve as the primary interface for Electrical O&M Providers, EPC Contractors, Utility Companies, OEMs, Consulting Engineers, and Service Vendors.
Manage contract performance, service-level compliance, and commercial negotiations.
Ensure preventive and predictive maintenance activities are executed according to established schedules.
Track and manage warranty claims, service agreements, and corrective action programs.
Oversee all non-contracted services including vegetation management, infrastructure repairs, and emergency response activities.
Ensure all facilities meet targeted uptime objectives and service level commitments.
Develop reliability-centered maintenance (RCM), predictive maintenance and condition-based maintenance strategies.
Monitor electrical system health through SCADA, BMS, EMS, and monitoring platforms.
Evaluate equipment performance trends and identify potential risks before failure occurs.
Lead emergency response planning and incident management programs.
Drive implementation of predictive analytics and digital monitoring tools.
Establish asset lifecycle management strategies, including health indexing, remaining useful life (RUL) assessments, refurbishment planning, and end-of-life replacement roadmaps for critical electrical infrastructure.
Lead reliability data analysis and continuous improvement initiatives by tracking equipment performance, failure trends, KPIs, and lessons learned to improve fleet reliability, reduce forced outages, and optimize maintenance practices.
Have strong sense and ownership of meeting and exceeding customer requirements.
Interface with leadership, investors, customers, utility partners, regulators, and external stakeholders.
Present operational performance, risks, financial results, and improvement initiatives to senior management.
Support customer audits, utility inspections, regulatory reviews, and due diligence activities.
Act as the primary operational representative for site visits and strategic reviews.
Champion a strong safety culture across all sites and contractors.
Ensure compliance with OSHA Standards, NFPA 70E, NERC Requirements (where applicable), NEC Standards, Utility Safety Procedures, and Environmental Regulations.
Lead electrical safety programs including: Arc Flash Studies, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), Energized Work Procedures, Switching Authority Programs.
Conduct regular audits and assessments to ensure operational compliance.
Lead and develop a team of engineers, technicians, and operational staff.
Build organizational capability and technical expertise in high-voltage operations.
Establish succession planning, training programs, and performance management processes.
Mentor future leaders while fostering a culture of accountability and operational excellence.

Benefits

100% Company-Paid Medical, Dental & Vision (for employees and dependents)
401(k) with Company Match
Generous Paid Time Off + 11 Paid Holidays
12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
Life, AD&D & Long-Term Disability Coverage
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Medical, Dependent Care, Transit & Parking (with company contributions)
Mental, Physical & Social Wellness Support (with company contributions)
Flexible Work Arrangements & Hybrid Office Setup
Monthly Reimbursement for Phone, Internet & Data
Optional Legal & Pet Insurance Plans
Device Purchase Support