Principal Electrical Engineer

Jobot; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 225,000 - 275,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Base Salary

Accelerated Career Growth

Job summary

Jobot partners with a growing engineering firm establishing a dedicated Data Center Division to design and deliver mission-critical power systems for hyperscale and enterprise clients. The Principal Electrical Engineer will lead technical standards, mentor staff, and engage with clients from concept through commissioning, shaping the division as a center of excellence in data-center power.

The role requires 15+ years in electrical engineering, a PE license, and expertise in NEC/NFPA/IEEE

Qualifications

• PE license required.
• 15+ years of electrical engineering experience.
• Experience in mission-critical or data center environments.
• Strong knowledge of NEC, NFPA, IEEE standards.

Responsibilities

• Act as Electrical Technical Authority for data center projects, overseeing design, execution, and commissioning support of electrical systems.
• Lead the design and review of medium- and low-voltage power distribution systems, including utility interconnection, substations, switchgear, UPS systems, generators, and distribution to critical loads.
• Develop and implement design standards, specifications, and best practices for mission-critical facilities.
• Provide guidance on redundancy strategies (N, N+1, 2N, 2N+1, 3:2, 4:3, 6:5) and ensure alignment with uptime and reliability requirements.
• Perform and review system studies including load flow, short circuit, coordination, and arc flash analyses using ETAP/SKM.
• Collaborate with mechanical, controls, and construction teams to ensure integrated, constructible designs.
• Engage directly with clients, acting as a trusted advisor during concept development, design reviews, and project execution.
• Support business development by contributing to proposals, technical presentations, and client pursuits within data center market.
• Evaluate and coordinate with key vendors (UPS, generators, switchgear, PDUs, busway systems) for optimal performance.
• Lead design reviews (30/60/90%), HAZOPs, and commissioning planning to ensure quality and compliance.
• Mentor and develop electrical engineering staff, establishing the division as a center of excellence in data center design.
• Support fast-track project delivery models, including modular and prefabricated power solutions.

Skills

Leadership

Client-facing

Project management

Mentorship

Education

ABET-accredited Electrical Engineering degree

Tools

ETAP

SKM

Job description

Job details

Lead the electrical design behind the next generation of hyperscale infrastructure. Our client is standing up a new Data Center Division and wants a Principal Electrical Engineer to set the technical bar — from utility interconnection through critical load

Salary: $225,000 - $275,000 per year

A bit about us

We're a recruiting partner working on behalf of a growing engineering firm that is launching a dedicated Data Center Division to serve hyperscale, colocation, and enterprise clients. Our client brings decades of multidisciplinary engineering experience and is investing in senior technical talent to build out a center of excellence for mission-critical power systems design.

Why join us

• Competitive Base Salary!
• Accelerated Career Growth!

Job Details

Position Summary

Our client is launching a Data Center Division and is seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer to serve as a technical leader in the development and execution of mission-critical infrastructure projects. This role will be instrumental in shaping the client's electrical engineering standards, supporting business development efforts, and delivering high-performance, resilient power systems for hyperscale and enterprise data center clients.

The Principal Electrical Engineer will act as a subject matter expert (SME) across multiple projects, ensuring best-in-class design, constructability, and reliability of electrical systems supporting mission-critical operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the Electrical Technical Authority for data center projects, overseeing design, execution, and commissioning support of electrical systems.
• Lead the design and review of medium- and low-voltage power distribution systems, including utility interconnection, substations, switchgear, UPS systems, generators, and distribution to critical loads.
• Develop and implement design standards, specifications, and best practices tailored to mission-critical facilities.
• Provide guidance on redundancy strategies (N, N+1, 2N, 2N+1, 3:2, 4:3, 6:5) and ensure alignment with uptime and reliability requirements.
• Perform and review system studies including load flow, short circuit, coordination, and arc flash analysis using tools such as ETAP or SKM.
• Collaborate with mechanical, controls, and construction teams to ensure fully integrated, constructible designs.
• Engage directly with clients, acting as a trusted advisor during concept development, design reviews, and project execution.
• Support business development by contributing to proposals, technical presentations, and client pursuits within the data center market.
• Evaluate and coordinate with key vendors (UPS, generators, switchgear, PDUs, busway systems) to ensure optimal system performance and delivery.
• Lead design reviews (30/60/90%), HAZOPs, and commissioning planning to ensure quality and compliance.
• Mentor and develop electrical engineering staff, establishing the client's division as a center of excellence in data center design.
• Support fast-track project delivery models, including modular and prefabricated electrical solutions (E-Houses, skids, etc.).

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited institution.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
• 15+ years of electrical engineering experience, with significant exposure to mission-critical or data center environments.
• Strong knowledge of NEC, NFPA, IEEE, and relevant data center design standards.
• Proven experience with large-scale power systems (utility service through critical load distribution).
• Expertise in power system modeling tools such as ETAP or SKM.
• Demonstrated experience working with hyperscale, colocation, or enterprise data center clients preferred.
• Strong leadership, communication, and client-facing skills.
• Ability to lead multiple fast-paced projects and influence technical direction across teams.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with the Uptime Institute's Four-Tier classification system.
• Familiarity with renewable integration, microgrids, or energy storage systems.
• Experience supporting design-build or EPC project delivery.
• Knowledge of modular data center and prefabricated power solutions.

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