Director of Power Engineering

Deca•San Francisco, CA

11d

About The Position

The Director of Power Engineering is a senior technical hire responsible for leading power engineering and solutions design across Deca Digital’s growing data center portfolio. This person will own the technical design and engineering strategy for grid interconnections, high-voltage substations, and on-site power infrastructure — bridging energy strategy and construction delivery. Deca’s competitive advantage includes proactive procurement of generation equipment and a focus on developing power generators on site, which requires a technically rigorous counterpart who can define equipment standards, validate specifications, and ensure that procured assets can be deployed efficiently across a diverse site portfolio. This role is critical to making that strategy work. Working closely with the energy, development, and acquisitions teams, the Director of Power Engineering will evaluate, develop, and de-risk powered sites at scale. It is suited for a hands-on engineering leader who can operate both at the strategic level and in the weeds of technical diligence, design review, and utility coordination.

Requirements

10+ years of power engineering experience, with deep focus on high-voltage electrical systems, substations, or transmission infrastructure.
Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in electrical engineering preferred.
Deep familiarity with interconnection processes at both the transmission level (345 kV, 230 kV, 138 kV) and distribution.
Experience supporting data center, hyperscale, industrial, or utility-scale infrastructure projects.
Experience with on-site generation development — gas, diesel, or dual-fuel — a significant plus.
Proficient in power system analysis tools such as PSSE, PSCAD, SKM PowerTools, or equivalent.
Comfortable operating in a fast-moving, multi-project development environment with high ownership and accountability.
Track record of managing external engineering firms and coordinating with major equipment vendors and utilities.
Motivated by the opportunity to help shape a pioneering platform at the intersection of land, power, and digital infrastructure.

Responsibilities

Lead the engineering design and delivery of high-voltage substation and transmission infrastructure for data center campuses across the portfolio.
Own power system studies and interconnection engineering analyses, including load flow, short circuit, and stability assessments.
Define and maintain technical standards for generation equipment procured— ensuring specifications align with site requirements and hyperscaler standards across the portfolio.
Develop and maintain technical standards for electrical infrastructure, including MV/HV distribution, substations, switchgear, protection systems, and backup power.
Interface with utilities, ISOs/RTOs, and EPC firms on engineering deliverables and grid integration requirements.
Support site evaluation and acquisition diligence with technical assessments of power feasibility, infrastructure gaps, and required upgrades.
Coordinate with the energy team on behind-the-meter (BTM) strategies and on-site gas generation development and integration.
Manage third-party power engineering consultants and EPC firms across multiple concurrent projects.
Review and approve engineering designs, specifications, and drawings to ensure quality, code compliance, and alignment with project objectives.
Support procurement of major electrical equipment, including generators, switchgear, and protection and control systems.
Represent Deca in technical negotiations with utilities, regulators, and hyperscaler engineering teams.