Director – Data Center Power Infrastructure O&M
SB EnergySan Carlos, California
Full-time
Salary
$190k–$200k/ annually
Free account to apply · application completed on SB Energy
Salary
$190k–$200k/ annually
Free account to apply · application completed on SB Energy
Do you want to work with high-caliber professionals in a dynamic and growing company? Are you entrepreneurial, hard-working, and collegial? Join us at SB Energy, a leading infrastructure company backed by SoftBank Group and Ares Infrastructure, pairing cutting-edge innovation with best-in-class execution. Our mission is to deliver reliable and secure data center and power infrastructure to strengthen America's future.
Founded in 2019, SB Energy is a SoftBank Group company headquartered in Redwood City, California. In 2026, SoftBank Group and OpenAI announced a $1 billion investment to support SB Energy as their leading development and execution partner for data center campuses, while Ares Infrastructure continues its long-standing support of the company's growth. SB Energy develops, builds, owns, and operates some of the largest and most technically advanced energy and data center infrastructure projects in the United States. Since its founding, the company has rapidly grown into a top-tier integrated platform with more than 3 gigawatts (GW) in operation and a multi-GW pipeline of energy and data center infrastructure nationwide.
SB Energy also leverages a strong culture of innovation to identify and integrate new technologies into its projects, including its AI-based digital platform, delivering energy infrastructure that is local, reliable, and matched to load. We are building the energy and infrastructure future—today.
Come join us in accelerating the energy and infrastructure transition!
Title : Director – Data Center Power Infrastructure Operations & Maintenance (O&M)
Basic Function:
The Director – Data Center Power Infrastructure Operations & Maintenance (O&M) provides leadership for operations, maintenance, reliability, for the HV portion of the SB Energy's data center electrical infrastructure portfolio.
This role will be responsible for ensuring the reliability, availability, efficiency, safety, and commercial performance of electrical infrastructure supporting the data center building. The scope will include utility interconnections, substations, high-voltage distribution systems, backup power systems, and critical electrical assets outside the DC facility.
The successful candidate will serve as the leader and owner of the power infrastructure portfolio, driving performance optimization, asset reliability, budget accountability, contractor management, compliance, and reliability and uptime of the system. The ideal candidate combines deep expertise in high-voltage electrical infrastructure and mission-critical operations with strong business acumen and stakeholder management capabilities.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Operational Leadership
Lead the OM 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 to identify potential equipment issues before they occur, minimizing operational risk.
Develop and manage critical spare parts strategies to optimize inventory levels, minimize MTTR (Mean Time to Repair), reduce outage duration, and consistently meet customer availability and uptime requirements.
Best Practices
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.
High Voltage & Substation Management
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.
Commercial & Financial Management
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.
Vendor & Contractor Management
Serve as the primary interface for:
Electrical O&M Providers
EPC Contractors
Utility Companies
OEMs
Consulting Engineers
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.
Reliability & Critical Facility Operations
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.
Stakeholder Management
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.
Safety & Compliance
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
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.
Team Leadership
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.
Qualifications & Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Power Engineering, Engineering Technology, or related technical discipline.
Master's Degree preferred.
Professional certifications such as PE (Professional Engineer), PMP, NETA, Data Center Certifications & Certified Energy Manager (CEM), NERC Certifications (preferred)
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.
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.
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.
Working knowledge of:
NEC
IEEE Standards
NFPA 70E
NETA Standards
Utility Operating Practices
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.
Location: San Francisco Bay Area; San Diego, CA; Denver, CO; Austin, TX
The position requires up to 20% domestic travel.
Base Pay - $190,000-$200,000
The pay range mentioned above is a guideline. We tailor each offer based on your unique skills, experience, location, and market benchmarks—while ensuring internal parity across our teams. The compensation range provided reflects base pay. Total rewards may also include performance-based bonuses, equity grants, and a market leading comprehensive health and wellness benefits package. Final details will be discussed during the later stages of the hiring process.
Our Health & Wellness Benefits
At SB Energy, we invest in our people and their families with benefits designed for flexibility, support, and peace of mind. Full-time employees enjoy:
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 Benefits
Monthly Reimbursement for Phone, Internet & Data
Optional Legal & Pet Insurance Plans
Device Purchase Support
At SB Energy, the success of our projects is driven by a desire to see our projects benefit as many people as possible. We work to serve local communities through volunteering, fundraising, and much more. For example, we’re proud to support access and opportunity in engineering and clean energy through impactful mentorship programs and workforce training. When you join SB Energy, you can become a part of these efforts, collaborating with team members who share a vision of building a better future now!
SB Energy is built on a foundation of collaboration and inclusion. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other legally protected class.
To learn more about us, visit www.sbenergy.com.
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