Director Technology Innovation and Emerging Technology

CenterPoint Energy • Houston, TX

1d

About The Position

CenterPoint Energy a leader in the energy and utilities sector, operating at the intersection of critical infrastructure, advanced technology, and customer‑centric service. We are seeking a Director of Technology Innovation to accelerate our AI powered technology transformation and shape the next generation of operational intelligence and excellence, customer experience, and grid modernization.
This role will champion innovative and emerging technologies—such as AI/ML, satellite imaging, digital twins, advanced simulation, augmented reality, and advanced analytics—and build the processes, governance, and culture required to scale innovation from concept to enterprise‑wide production.  This role will help shape the future of energy by building the digital capabilities that power safer operations, smarter infrastructure, and a more resilient grid. This is a rare opportunity to drive enterprise‑level innovation at scale—backed by the resources, reach, and ambition of a Fortune 500 leader.

Requirements

• Requires a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Data Science, Analytics, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, or a related field
• 10+ years of experience in technology innovation, digital transformation, or advanced analytics.
• Strong background in emerging technologies such as LiDAR, satellite imaging, GIS, or remote sensing.
• Experience building and scaling digital twins for complex infrastructure or industrial environments.
• Proven track record of operationalizing innovation within large, regulated, or asset‑intensive organizations.
• Exceptional leadership and communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in the energy, utilities, or critical infrastructure sector
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP) and modern data architectures
• Advanced degree in engineering, data science, or technology management

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of an enterprise innovation roadmap with emphasis on LiDAR, satellite‑based intelligence, geospatial analytics, and digital twin modernization.
• Drive strategic initiatives leveraging LiDAR, satellite data, AI/ML, and geospatial analytics to enhance operational visibility and decision‑making.
• Advance the company’s technology ecosystem by defining architecture, data standards, and integration pathways across assets, operations, and customer systems.
• Champion a culture of experimentation through rapid prototyping, pilot programs, and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Develop a repeatable innovation‑to‑production pipeline including governance, technical standards, and success metrics.
• Partner with Enterprise Technology teams and business units to ensure new technologies integrate seamlessly with enterprise systems and field operations.
• Establish frameworks for vendor evaluation, technology selection, and long‑term ecosystem partnerships.
• Oversee the development of scalable platforms and data pipelines that support geospatial intelligence, asset monitoring, and predictive analytics.
• Collaborate with customer experience and operations teams to identify opportunities where emerging technologies can improve service quality, transparency, and engagement.
• Develop business cases, ROI analyses, and performance metrics to evaluate the impact of innovation initiatives.
• Communicate program outcomes, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership and key stakeholders.
• Lead a high‑performing innovation team of technologists, developers, data scientists, and product strategists.
• Engage senior technology leadership to align innovation priorities with technology strategy.
• Represent the company externally at industry forums, research partnerships, and technology consortiums.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Paid training
• Benefits eligibility begins on your first day
• Transit subsidies
• Flexible work schedule, paid holidays and paid time off
• Access to discounts at fitness clubs and an on-site wellness center at our headquarters in Houston
• Professional growth and development programs including tuition reimbursement
• 401(k) Savings Plan featuring a company match dollar-for-dollar up to 6% and a company contribution of 3% regardless of your contribution

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees