SVP – Innovation Engineering | Data Centres – North America

Hunter Philips Executive Search; United States; On-site; USD 350,000 - 450,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Highly competitive base salary

Annual performance bonus

Long-term incentive plan

Comprehensive health benefits

Career pathway to CDO role

Job summary

A leading executive search firm is seeking an SVP – Innovation Engineering to define engineering standards for AI and power architectures in data centres. The ideal candidate will possess over 10 years of experience, leading innovation in high-density environments. Responsibilities include advising the board, managing technology pathways, and overseeing major projects. This position offers a competitive salary with bonuses, health benefits, and career progression to a CDO role.

Qualifications

• 10+ years’ experience in data‑centre engineering across mechanical, electrical, or electro‑mechanical disciplines.
• Strong grounding in design principles and operational realities.
• Proven exposure to high‑density, AI‑driven or hyperscale environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of future‑state engineering standards.
• Oversee technology evaluations for electrical and mechanical systems.
• Drive innovation programmes and major projects.

Skills

Leadership

Mechanical Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Technical advising

Cost analysis

Innovation management

Job description

SVP – Innovation Engineering | Data Centres – North America

Base pay range

$350.00/yr - $450.00/yr

The Company

A market-leading digital infrastructure platform delivering large‑scale, hyperscale‑grade data‑centre environments for cloud, AI, and platform operators across North America and Europe. Backed by multi‑billion‑dollar private capital, the business operates a rapidly expanding portfolio of high‑density campuses and interconnection hubs, with several new developments underway in both regions.

With strong traction in European growth markets and a proven track record delivering complex, high‑capacity deployments, the company is recognised as one of the sector’s most capable partners for hyperscale expansion. Now entering the next phase of scale, the company is strengthening its senior engineering leadership to help define long‑term technology direction and set new standards for next‑generation digital infrastructure.

The Role

As SVP – Innovation Engineering, you will:

• Lead the development of future‑state engineering standards, shaping the basis of design for AI, liquid‑to‑chip cooling, and next‑generation power architectures.
• Oversee technology evaluations across electrical, mechanical, and electro‑mechanical systems—assessing TCO, MTBF, EOL timelines, ROI, and long‑term operational impact.
• Direct equipment refresh cycles and define strategic technology pathways that future‑proof facility performance and capacity.
• Act as a senior technical advisor to the Board, translating complex engineering realities into clear strategic recommendations.
• Drive innovation programmes and major projects, from advanced cooling deployments to new power solutions and high‑density upgrades.
• Serve as the primary interface to OEMs and hyperscale‑adjacent partners, shaping specifications, validating technologies, and securing performance‑driven SLAs.
• Collaborate with SVP and C‑suite across Construction and Operations to embed new technologies into large‑scale builds while maintaining cost discipline and reliability.

The Person

You will bring:

• 10+ years’ experience in data‑centre engineering across mechanical, electrical, or electro‑mechanical disciplines, with strong grounding in both design principles and operational realities.
• Proven exposure to high‑density, AI‑driven or hyperscale environments—ideally including OEM interfacing, equipment testing, solution development, or consulting on behalf of major cloud providers.
• Experience evaluating and deploying emerging technologies in power delivery, cooling, automation, and control systems.
• Ability to pivot across audiences—from deep technical discussions with engineers to clear, strategic storytelling for executives and board members.
• Demonstrated ability to justify technical decisions through data, P&L impact, and long‑term cost‑of‑ownership analysis.
• Practical experience navigating retrofits and lifecycle upgrades, alongside understanding of hyperscale new‑build methodologies.
• A leadership style rooted in influence rather than hierarchy—capable of evangelising ideas, guiding cross‑functional teams, and executing independently with high accountability.

Salary & Benefits

• Highly competitive base salary
• Annual performance bonus
• Long‑term incentive plan
• Comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability benefits
• Career pathway to a CDO role as the organization continues to scale