VP Solutions Engineering - Modular Data Centers

Gilder Search Group; Greenville, Northern (SC, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) plan

Job summary

Gilder Search Group is seeking a VP of Solutions Engineering to lead the modular data center practice from Greenville, SC with remote flexibility. The role oversees strategy, platform efforts, and serves as the SME on all data center products, services, and solutions for nationwide markets.

Ideal candidates bring deep experience in mission-critical facilities, thermal and liquid cooling, and end-to-end program delivery—from design to deployment—with a proven record of guiding cross-functional

Qualifications

• 10 to 15+ years in data center solutions engineering / technical sales with AI/HPC infrastructure.
• 7+ years in senior customer-facing solution architecture in a infrastructure leadership role.
• Experience leading MW-scale data center or AI infrastructure opportunities from cradle to grave.
• Ability to translate customer business, operational, and technical requirements into scalable, buildable solutions.

Responsibilities

• Serve as senior technical leader for modular data center infrastructure solutions across markets.
• Own customer-facing solution architecture activities from discovery through proposal, design basis, technical review, handoff, and delivery readiness.
• Lead executive and technical discovery sessions, workshops, and value-engineering discussions with customers, consultants, operators, and ecosystem partners.
• Develop and define integrated modular data center solutions encompassing power, cooling, white space, rack integration, controls, networking, and partner-provided systems.
• Translate requirements into scalable, buildable solutions while defining capacity, redundancy, interfaces, deployment models, schedules, and risk considerations.
• Partner with Product Management, Engineering, and Development to configure standard and customized solutions aligned with technical requirements and delivery schedules.
• Establish governance, design standards, review processes, and delivery-readiness criteria for solutions.
• Identify, evaluate, and mitigate risks while escalating non-standard architectures and emerging technologies.
• Assess opportunity viability and advise on pursuing or declining projects based on maturity and feasibility.
• Evaluate solutions using lifecycle cost, PUE/WUE, and profitability metrics.
• Collaborate with Commercial, Finance, Supply Chain, Legal, and Program teams to define cost models and contractual commitments.
• Ensure solutions remain standardized where practical and avoid unnecessary customization.

Skills

Solution architecture

Data center design

Technical sales

Thermal management

Executive communications

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Thermal, HVAC, Systems, Industrial Engineering

Tools

Salesforce

MS Office

Job description

VP Solutions Engineering - Modular Data Centers - Greenville, SC / Remote

Our client is a niche provider / OEM / Manufacturer of Industrial Air Cooled / Liquid Cooled equipment used in critical facilities industries. They provide design, commissioning oversight and consulting expertise as it pertains to the company's OEM Solutions Offering. This company provides a Modular Solution packaging company's OEM product offerings as packaged customized solution to many of the world’s largest organizations: Enterprise Clients, Colocation Providers, Hyperscale Companies, AI / HPC and Bitcoin Providers. Their product optimizes thermal management strengths and ecosystem capabilities into standardized, customer-ready and commercially executable Data Center / AI infrastructure solutions. This career-growth minded opportunity offers exciting projects with leading-edge technology and innovation as well as competitive salaries and benefits.

Our client is looking for a VP ofSolutions Engineering to join theirData Center Modular team. They will lead the strategy and platform efforts for the company's nationwide data center modular offering while serving as the subject matter expert on all data center products, services and solutions. Ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in the Mission Critical Data Center / Facilities Marketplace. Candidate must also possess a background in deep data-center thermal and liquid-cooling expertise with systems-level understanding of power, modular infrastructure, controls and digital interfaces. This is a highly technical role that requires deep knowledge of technical infrastructure, staying on top of tech trends, emerging technologies, and best practices. Candidate should also be verse in site selection, entitlements, development timelines, and budgets. Candidate will also be expected to develop and maintain positive relationships with existing business partners in hopes to generate additional business.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the senior technical leader and subject matter expert for modular data center infrastructure solutions, supporting sales, business development, and strategic account growth across hyperscale, colocation, AI / HPC, enterprise, and emerging data center markets
• Own customer-facing solution architecture activities from discovery through proposal, design basis, technical review, handoff, and delivery readiness, ensuring alignment between customer requirements, corporate objectives, and product strategy
• Lead executive and technical discovery sessions, workshops, presentations, value-engineering discussions, and technical sales engagements with customers, consultants, operators, and ecosystem partners
• Serve as the primary technical counterpart for customer executives, consultants, OEMs, and strategic partners, building consensus and guiding complex solution decisions
• Develop and define integrated modular data center solutions encompassing power, cooling, white space, rack integration, controls, networking, and partner-provided systems
• Translate customer business, operational, and technical requirements into scalable, buildable, commercially viable solutions while defining capacity, redundancy, operating modes, interfaces, deployment models, schedules, and risk considerations
• Partner with Product Management, Engineering, and Development teams to configure standard and customized solutions aligned with technical requirements, delivery schedules, and commercial objectives
• Establish and maintain solution architecture standards, design basis documentation, review processes, acceptance criteria, technical governance, and delivery-readiness requirements
• Identify, evaluate, and mitigate technical, operational, commercial, and execution risks while escalating non-standard architectures, unresolved technical challenges, and emerging technologies as appropriate
• Assess opportunity viability and recommend whether to pursue, conditionally pursue, or decline projects based on technical maturity, commercial feasibility, delivery capability, and risk profile
• Evaluate solutions using lifecycle cost, PUE/WUE, capital efficiency, deployment speed, operating risk, and profitability metrics
• Partner with Commercial, Finance, Supply Chain, Legal, and Program teams to establish cost models, lead times, warranties, performance assumptions, scope definitions, and contractual commitments
• Ensure solutions remain standardized where practical while preventing unnecessary customization and unsupported customer commitments
• Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, customer requirements, competitive offerings, and market developments related to AI infrastructure, rack density, cooling technologies, modular deployment, and mission-critical environments
• Capture lessons learned, win/loss analysis, customer feedback, and technical requirements to develop standardized architectures, reusable design patterns, and future product enhancements
• Build, develop, and lead the Solution Architecture function, including recruiting, mentoring, and retaining senior solution architects, application engineers, and estimating resources
• Establish governance, operating processes, technical methodologies, development programs, and scalable architectural assets to support global growth
• Lead and influence product, engineering, manufacturing, commercial, and delivery organizations while driving alignment across global teams
• Represent the company at customer meetings, industry events, technical conferences, trade organizations, and professional associations to strengthen market presence and thought leadership.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Thermal, HVAC, Systems, Industrial Engineering, or related field; advanced degree preferred
• PE / Professional Engineer a plus
• 10 to 15+ years of progressive experience in data center solutions engineering / technical sales with AI / HPC infrastructure, mission-critical facilities, thermal infrastructure, prefabricated systems, or complex engineered solutions
• 7+ years in senior customer-facing solution architecture in a infrastructure leadership role
• Experience leading MW-scale data center or AI infrastructure opportunities from cradle to grave through Basis of Design, proposal, handover, and operational validation
• Proven ownership of strategic account technical architecture relationships with enterprise, hyperscale, colocation, AI / HPC customers
• Experience working across global engineering, manufacturing, commercial, and leadership teams
• Experience leading technical sales engineering teams with a strong focus on data center colocation and interconnection solutions
• Experience putting together technical presentations and act as the technical resource during the Sales process
• Expertise in data center design with thermal architecture across liquid-cooled and air-cooled environments, including direct-to-chip cooling, immersion, cold plate, CDUs, GPUs, facility and technology cooling loops, chilled-water and DX systems, CRAC/CRAH, containment, economization/free cooling, heat rejection, and fluid/material compatibility
• Ability to translate chip to server to rack, cluster-level thermal requirements into standardized, buildable, commercially executable facility and modular infrastructure solutions
• Understand how thermal architecture integrates with electrical capacity, rack density, controls, water systems, redundancy, maintenance, commissioning, and operating conditions
• Working knowledge of ASHRAE TC 9.9, Uptime Tier concepts, BICSI, OCP cooling guidance, NEC, NFPA, and IBC requirements
• Deep knowledge of MEP systems within data centers, including critical power infrastructure (UPS, switchgear, generators, PDUs)
• Experience working with critical power OEMs (Emerson/Liebert, APC/MGE/Schneider, Eaton/Powerware, etc.) is a plus
• Strong background in data center design, build, and operations, including an understanding of Tier classifications and industry best practices
• Understanding of data center infrastructure design and construction techniques, operational requirements and challenges, data center fit-out projects, equipment and technology advances and general industry trends
• Attend and speak at local and national data center trade conferences, industry events, and professional organizations such as 7x24 Exchange, Bisnow, DCD, AFCOM, Uptime Institute, iMasons, and ASHRAE
• Team player able to build relationships with individuals who are part of the business development process
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into business value for clients
• Proficient with MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, etc.) and CRM platforms such as Salesforce
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple clients and opportunities simultaneously
• Travel 50% or more to customer sites, partners, factory visits, tradeshows as needed

Benefits:

• Company offers competitive salaries and benefits package including medical insurance, a 401(k) plan

EOE/AA Employer M/F/D/V