Senior Principal, Data Center High Voltage (HV) and/or Medium Voltage (MV) Substation

Fleet Data Centers designs, builds and operates mega-scale data center campuses. Fleet provides its customers flexibility and predictability to meet their upside demand forecasts, addressing a key need in the market as traditional leased models are struggling to keep pace with the demand for new Cloud and AI infrastructure. Fleet is led by a team of industry veterans that have already made a lasting imprint on the evolution of global digital infrastructure and are committed and uniquely capable of upleveling data center development scale and operations in the face of rising demand. Fleet is well positioned to bring in-house design, engineering and operational capabilities to collaborate with customers on tailored solutions for campuses of 500MW . This unique model enables Fleet to provide the world’s largest and most sophisticated customers a seamless extension of their own data center fleets with constant access to design innovation. Fleet is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with satellite offices in Seattle, WA and Arlington, VA.

Position Overview:

As a Senior Principal in Data Center High or Medium Voltage Substation Power Engineering, you will lead complex power system design and optimization for high/medium voltage substations, transformers, and critical power infrastructure supporting hyperscale data centers. You will oversee the development and deployment of electrical infrastructure projects, ensure compliance with industry standards, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize data center performance and efficiency.

This is a hands-on role with significant responsibility for the strategic direction, design, and implementation of electrical infrastructure for data centers in different global regions. The ideal candidate will be a technical expert in substation engineering, with a deep understanding of data center operations, sustainability initiatives, and reliability requirements. This role will be primarily focused on the design and construction of High Voltage (HV) and Medium Voltage (MV) substations. Engineers at Fleet Data Centers work to design resilient, cost-effective electrical distribution systems. We are responsible for achieving a world class uptime for our customers. We justify and communicate the technical decisions we make to senior management and work hard to drive continuous advancements and improvements with our designs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Power System Design & Leadership:
• As required, engage with customers for preferred performance and architectural design parameters to inform substation and distribution system design.
• Lead the design and optimization of high and medium voltage substations for data centers, including the specification of transformers, switchgear, protective relaying, bus duct systems, controls, and grounding schemes.
• Oversee the selection and integration of high voltage (HV) and medium voltage (MV) equipment to maintain optimal uptime and efficiency.
• Drive large-scale power infrastructure projects from conceptual design through detailed engineering, construction, and commissioning.
• Technical Expertise & Innovation:
• Provide technical leadership for electrical power systems, focusing on reliability, redundancy, scalability, and innovation in design practices.
• Implement best practices in fault analysis, load flow studies, short circuit analysis, and relay coordination to ensure system reliability.
• Champion the adoption of renewable energy and innovative power technologies, working closely with renewable energy providers to integrate green power sources.
• Global Standardization & Compliance:
• Define and enforce global standards for HV/MV substation design, installation, and operation to ensure consistency across multiple data centers.
• Ensure compliance with local, national, and international codes and standards (e.g., NEC, IEEE, NERC, IEC, UL) for power system installations, environmental considerations, and safety regulations.
• Collaborate with regulatory authorities, utilities, and EPC contractors to secure approvals for HV/MV electrical designs and manage interfaces between data centers and the power grid.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
• Work closely with internal teams, including operations, mechanical engineering, control systems engineering, construction management, and cloud infrastructure architects, to align power system designs with overall data center objectives.
• Engage with external stakeholders such as utility providers, vendors, contractors, and engineering consultants to coordinate power system designs and upgrades.
• Support site selection teams by conducting power feasibility studies, evaluating grid availability, and identifying potential substation locations. Collaborate on site design and civil works to support substation design and deployment.
• Risk Mitigation & Reliability Engineering:
• Analyze potential risks and failure points within the electrical infrastructure, implementing strategies for fault tolerance and risk mitigation (e.g., redundancy, failover systems, black-start capabilities).
• Lead root cause analysis for any power-related outages and develop action plans to improve system reliability and reduce downtime.
• Develop long-term strategic plans for system upgrades, expansions, and end-of-life equipment replacements.
• Project Management:
• Lead multidisciplinary teams in executing large-scale electrical projects on time and within budget, overseeing all aspects of electrical infrastructure development from design through commissioning. This will be coordinated with larger project management functional team members.
• Provide mentorship and technical leadership to junior engineers and external contractors, fostering a collaborative environment for innovation and continuous improvement.
  
  

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in electrical engineering or related discipline.
• 15 years of experience in electrical power systems engineering, with significant experience in high/medium voltage substation design and operations.
• Extensive knowledge of power system analysis software (e.g., ETAP, SKM, PowerWorld) and CAD tools for electrical design.
• Proven track record of leading the design and implementation of HV/MV substations in mission-critical facilities (e.g., data centers, industrial plants, or utilities).
• Strong understanding of electrical system protection, power distribution, and load management.
• Knowledge of regulatory frameworks, standards, and compliance requirements for electrical infrastructure (e.g., NEC, IEEE, NERC, UL).
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional Engineer (PE) license or similar certification.
• Experience with hyperscale data centers and cloud computing environments.
• Experience integrating renewable energy sources (e.g., solar, wind) into high-voltage systems.
• Familiarity with energy storage technologies and their integration with data center infrastructure.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with experience leading large, multidisciplinary engineering teams.
  
  

Key Competencies:

• Integrity and Ethical Standards: Build trust, ensure fairness, and foster long-term, transparent relationships with suppliers.
• Effective Communication: The ability to clearly convey expectations and requirements to suppliers and negotiation parties, while understanding their needs and concerns. Comfortable delivering written and verbal presentations to internal leadership teams.
• Emotional Intelligence (EQ): Ability to understand the emotions, cultural nuances, and motivations of others, while effectively managing one’s own emotions during high-pressure negotiations.
• Problem Solving: Ability to assess complex issues and develop innovative solutions that enhance system reliability, efficiency, and scalability.
• Leadership: Strong ability to mentor and lead cross-functional teams, drive decision-making, and inspire confidence in stakeholders.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present technical information clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strategic Thinking: Capable of developing long-term power infrastructure plans that align with business growth and technological advancements.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous in planning, designing, and reviewing electrical systems to ensure the highest levels of accuracy and reliability.
  
  

Working Conditions:

• This role requires occasional travel to data center sites across multiple regions (up to 25% travel).
• Ability to work in both office environments and active construction sites, adhering to all safety protocols.
  
  

Expected Salary Range: $180,000 – $240,000 plus Bonus.

Fleet Data Centers Employment:

Fleet Data Center employees enjoy competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including 100% employer-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401K program, standard paid holidays, and unlimited PTO.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as assigned to meet the organization’s ongoing needs.

Fleet Data Centers is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment regardless of age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status.

If you need assistance applying for any of our open positions, please contact us at info@fleetdatacenters.com.