About this role
Switch is a company that designs, builds, and operates data centers, aiming to create advanced digital infrastructure. The Data Center Principal Electrical Engineer will serve as the highest-level technical authority for electrical systems, defining engineering standards and leading complex engineering efforts to improve performance and reliability across data center environments.
Responsibilities:
- Define engineering standards for availability, capacity, efficiency, and sustainability of electrical systems
- Develop performance benchmarks and reliability targets across data center infrastructure
- Lead system-level analysis including fault response, transient behavior, black-start capability, and expansion planning
- Identify systemic risks and define mitigation strategies with clear operational guardrails
- Review and approve feasibility studies and engineering analyses performed by regional teams
- Serve as subject matter expert for complex operational issues, incident response, and technical escalations
- Support design engineering by providing feedback on infrastructure performance and long-term reliability
- Lead trade studies and engineering decisions impacting system architecture and lifecycle performance
- Review and validate protection system designs, including MV/LV systems, relays, schematics, and commissioning plans
- Partner with operations teams to improve procedures, training, and system optimization
- Translate operational learnings into standards, playbooks, and repeatable engineering practices
- Mentor engineers and influence technical direction across regions
- Support multiple concurrent projects across geographic locations
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field
- 12+ years of engineering experience, including 8+ years in data center or mission-critical environments
- Deep expertise in electrical infrastructure including UPS, generators, switchgear, transformers, ATS/STS, and power distribution systems
- Strong ability to interpret P&IDs, schematics, wiring diagrams, and MEP drawings
- Experience reviewing protection systems, relays, and commissioning/test procedures
- Strong analytical skills, including system modeling and data-driven decision-making
- Professional Engineer (PE) license
- Experience working with EPCs, OEMs, and large-scale infrastructure providers
- Experience influencing engineering standards across multiple regions