Director, Engineering Strategy

The Director, Engineering Strategy is a critical technology and engineering executive responsible for the strategic direction, technical excellence, and lifecycle performance of the company’s data center platform. Reporting to the VP, Data Center Engineering, this role oversees engineering innovation, technical standards, system design, and operational reliability across the infrastructure portfolio. Strategic Technical Leadership Serve as the executive authority on data center engineering systems, responsible for company-wide mechanical and electrical engineering strategy and execution. Define and enforce technical standards and ensure consistency across all designs, retrofits, and upgrades. Lead early-stage technical visioning, drive conceptual design direction, and validate technical feasibility of new initiatives and innovations. Design Oversight & Governance Oversee the full lifecycle of electrical, mechanical, and substation design efforts—from initial concepts through design validation, procurement, installation, and commissioning. Review and approve key design deliverables, major equipment selections, and updates to technical standards. Support governance for third‑party design consultants and lead internal design reviews and sign‑offs at all project stages. Execution & Commissioning Support Provide technical responsibility for commissioning strategies, testing scripts, and readiness protocols to ensure high-quality delivery and safe project startup. Support project execution through periodic construction site visits to ensure compliance with company standards. Provide executive technical support and problem resolution during project execution, including MOP and CR reviews and critical issue escalation. Reliability & Operations Interface Drive continuous improvement in uptime, availability, and risk mitigation through post‑mortem analysis and operational feedback loops. Innovation & Future‑Readiness Lead the evaluation, piloting, and validation of new power, cooling, and automation technologies, including sustainable energy practices. Stay ahead of market and vendor developments; build strategic relationships with technology partners, suppliers, and thought leaders. Guide technical strategy to align with evolving customer requirements and sustainability goals. Maintain and refresh the company design guidance documentation with current trending technology and construction developments. Cross‑Functional & Customer Collaboration Work closely with Procurement, Platform Delivery, and Sales Engineering teams to ensure engineering designs support commercial objectives and customer customizations. Provide executive technical input during customer pursuits, acquisition evaluations, and site‑specific deviations from design standards. Organizational Leadership Build, mentor, and lead a team of highly skilled engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, excellence, and continuous improvement. Lead internal technical training, knowledge sharing, and communication of engineering strategy across the organization. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering 15+ years of experience in mission‑critical infrastructure, data center design, engineering management, or platform development Deep expertise in low and medium voltage power systems and mechanical infrastructure Professional Engineer (PE) license strongly preferred Demonstrated leadership in commissioning oversight, technical governance, and issue resolution Strong understanding of construction, operations, and lifecycle infrastructure planning Benefits: 401(k) match with immediate vesting, free membership to Gympass, competitive time off plan. Aligned is an equal opportunity employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr Aligned Data Centers, LLC