Job Description

Director of Engineering Operations - Data Center

About Our Client

Our client is a premier Houston-based colocation provider with a 20-year management track record of 100% uptime. Operating a 155,000+ square-foot, fully fault-tolerant facility—and currently expanding with a new 24MW build—our client serves enterprise clients across energy, healthcare, finance, government, and technology. The company’s leadership includes one of only three Accredited Tier Designers in Houston, and is recognized as a third-generation data center owner-operator known for delivering an unparalleled customer experience.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a Director of Operations to serve as the in-house technical authority on the UPS, power distribution, and emergency power systems that underpin 100% uptime. This role is purpose-built for an experienced critical power professional who has spent a career on the OEM and field service side of the business—commissioning, troubleshooting, and maintaining the very systems that keep mission-critical facilities running—and is ready to bring that depth of knowledge to an owner-operator environment.

You will be the go-to expert for all critical power infrastructure across our client’s Houston campus, working directly with a tenured operations team during a period of significant expansion. Your deep familiarity with UPS platforms, switchgear, transfer switches, and battery systems—combined with established OEM and vendor relationships—will be a force multiplier for the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical resource for all UPS systems, including preventive maintenance, firmware management, diagnostics, module-level repair, and full system commissioning.
• Operate, monitor, and maintain critical electrical infrastructure including switchgear, automatic transfer switches (ATS), static transfer switches (STS), PDUs, RPPs, generators, and battery plants.
• Leverage deep OEM relationships and product knowledge (Schneider/APC, Eaton/MGE, Toshiba/Mitsubishi, Vertiv/Liebert, or similar) to optimize maintenance programs, warranty coverage, and parts sourcing.
• Perform root cause analysis on critical power system failures and develop corrective action plans to prevent recurrence and protect uptime commitments.
• Execute complex switching operations, load transfers, and system isolations following strict Method of Procedure (MOP) protocols and change management processes.
• Monitor and interpret data from Building Management Systems (BMS) and Electrical Power Monitoring Systems (EPMS) to identify trends, anomalies, and capacity risks.
• Support commissioning and acceptance testing of new critical power infrastructure associated with our client’s ongoing 24MW expansion, including factory witness testing and site acceptance.
• Manage vendor and contractor relationships for equipment servicing, warranty claims, emergency callouts, and capital improvement projects.
• Maintain detailed maintenance records, as-built documentation, battery test logs, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all critical power systems.
• Participate in a 24/7 on-call rotation and serve as a first responder for power-related facility alarms and emergency events.
• Ensure compliance with NFPA 70E, OSHA, NEC, and all applicable codes and safety standards.

Required Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive experience in critical power systems, with a strong emphasis on UPS field service, commissioning, and maintenance.
• Extensive hands-on experience with UPS platforms from major OEMs such as Schneider Electric/APC, MGE, Eaton, Toshiba/Mitsubishi, Vertiv/Liebert, or equivalent manufacturers.
• Deep working knowledge of power distribution systems including switchgear, transformers, PDUs, RPPs, bus duct, and battery systems (VRLA, lithium-ion).
• Demonstrated experience with automatic transfer switches (ATS) and static transfer switches (STS), including testing, maintenance, and failure response.
• Proven ability to read, interpret, and redline single-line diagrams, schematics, and electrical drawings.
• Proficiency in switching operations, lockout/tagout (LOTO), and energized work procedures in compliance with NFPA 70E.
• Strong vendor and OEM relationship management skills with established networks in the critical power ecosystem.
• Excellent documentation habits and experience working within formal change management and MOP frameworks.

Strongly Preferred Qualifications

• Background spanning multiple critical power OEMs and/or manufacturer’s representative organizations, providing broad product knowledge across competing platforms.
• Prior experience in a data center, colocation, or mission-critical facility environment (owner-operator, hyperscale, or enterprise).
• Experience in field operations leadership, including scheduling, dispatching, and managing service delivery teams.
• Familiarity with generator paralleling systems, medium-voltage distribution, and utility interconnection.
• Relevant certifications such as Journeyman or Master Electrician license, NFPA 70E certification, OEM factory training certifications, or BICSI credentials.
• Electrical Engineering degree, Electrical Technology degree, or equivalent technical training (military technical training fully valued).
• Experience supporting commissioning, capacity expansion, or new-build critical infrastructure projects.
• Familiarity with BMS/EPMS platforms (Schneider EcoStruxure, Vertiv Trellis, or similar).
• U.S. military service with technical MOS/rating experience is a recognized asset.

Why our Client?

• Join a team backed by a 20-year, 100% uptime track record—one of the strongest in the industry.
• Work alongside a tenured leadership team that includes an Accredited Tier Designer from the Uptime Institute.
• Serve as the in-house critical power authority—your OEM and field service expertise will have direct, visible impact on operations.
• Play a hands-on role in a major 24MW expansion, gaining experience with next-generation data center power infrastructure.
• Be part of a third-generation owner-operator known for engineering excellence and an exceptional customer experience (85+ five-star Google reviews).
• Collaborative, high-trust culture where deep technical knowledge is valued, recognized, and rewarded.
• Competitive compensation, benefits, and long-term career growth within a rapidly scaling platform.

Work Environment

• On-site role based at our client’s Houston, Texas data center campus.
• Participation in a 24/7 on-call rotation is required.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs, work on ladders, and operate in environments with elevated noise and temperature.
• Requires use of personal protective equipment (PPE) including arc-flash rated clothing when performing energized work.

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