Director, Data Center Construction Quality – Mission Critical

Title : Director, Data Center Construction Quality – Mission Critical

Basic Function:

The Head of Data Center Construction Quality is responsible for managing the quality of the project (NTP to COD) to ensure the project is constructed and performs in accordance with the established requirements and standards. The qualified candidate will work closely with the SB Energy Project Manager and the EPC’s Quality and Construction Manager to ensure all goals are achieved. The role also includes direct oversight and review of the entire documentation and physical inspection phase of the workflow process and collaborating with other in-house personnel (e.g.: Construction Manager, Project Engineer etc.) and external personnel to produce and document a quality product. This role will report directly to the VP of Operational Excellence and secondary reporting to the VP of Data Center Projects.

Leadership Traits We Value

• Technically fearless—comfortable challenging flawed assumptions
• Detail-driven without losing sight of system-level outcomes
• Calm under pressure with the judgment to halt work when necessary, and communication/discernment ability to ensure its constructive, and effective.
• Builder mindset—creates durable systems, not paperwork

Responsibilities:

• Quality Strategy & Governance
  • Establish and maintain a developer-wide Quality Management System (QMS) aligned with ISO 9001 principles and tailored for mission-critical infrastructure.
  • Define QA policies, inspection regimes, acceptance criteria, and escalation pathways for all projects.
  • Serve as final technical authority on quality disputes between designers, contractors, vendors, and commissioning agents.
  • Have a thorough and complete knowledge and understanding of EPC contracts (specifically quality portion of the contracts) in order to assist the Project Manager in development of the onsite procedures
  • Carry forward lessons learned and continuous improvements across the program from project to project into the future.
• Vendor & Supply Chain Quality
  • Qualify and audit critical equipment vendors (switchgear, generators, UPS, cooling systems).
  • Review factory acceptance testing (FAT) protocols and results.
  • Establish performance benchmarks and corrective-action expectations for suppliers.
• Design Phase Quality Assurance
  • Lead constructability, coordination, and quality reviews of:
    • Electrical one-lines, protection studies, grounding, and arc-flash mitigation
    • Mechanical systems (chilled water, DX, liquid cooling, redundancy topology)
    • Structural systems supporting high-density IT loads and equipment anchorage
  • Verify alignment between Basis of Design (BOD), Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR), and final construction documents.
  • Ensure lessons learned are systematically captured and fed back into standard designs.
  • Review construction drawings/specifications and submittals for conformance with project specifications by direct review and by leveraging the knowledge and experience of others in the project team when necessary
• Construction Quality Control Oversight
  • Oversee project-level QA/QC teams and third-party inspectors.
  • Define inspection and test plans (ITPs) for all critical systems including:
    • Medium-voltage distribution, switchgear, UPS, generators
    • Cooling plants, CRAHs/CDUs, piping systems
    • Fire protection and life safety systems
  • Audit contractor QC programs, subcontractor workmanship, and material traceability.
  • Lead root-cause analysis for defects, non-conformances, and field failures.
  • Review the project submittal log and all other project specific quality control reports
  • Co-leader of “Golden Reviews” with EPC Contractor (i.e., per row, per inverter, per string)
  • Lead weekly quality meetings/reviews with the project teams
  • Provide weekly reports and metrics that show the project is being constructed in conformance with each specific project's established standards and objectives and constructively confronts non-conformances to produce the desired outcome in a timely manner
  • Audit construction, documentation, and processes of the project – both on-going and acceptance audits
  • Perform quality control testing and inspection in adherence with contract requirements and company best practices
  • Manage and validate that all non-conformances and audit findings are closed with appropriate Corrective and Preventive actions (CAPA) to prevent repeat issues
  • Drive lessons learned and continuous improvements during the construction phase
• Commissioning & Turnover
  • Ensure quality continuity from construction into integrated systems testing (IST) and commissioning.
  • Validate that functional performance testing reflects real-world operating scenarios and failure modes.
  • Oversee punch-list resolution, deficiency closure, and readiness for client acceptance.
  • Ensure turnover documentation meets operational and long-term maintainability standards.
  • Review and audit and document the testing and commissioning of building systems
  • Ownership of the quality scope of the data center project from NTP to COD
  • Co-leader of Handover-Turnover (HOTO) prior to project hand-off to O&M.

 Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, or Structural required)
• 12+ years in quality, engineering, commissioning, or construction leadership within: Data centers, Semiconductor fabs, Power generation or other mission-critical infrastructure
• Demonstrated authority interacting with EPCs, designers, and hyperscale clients
• Proven ability to identify latent defects and systemic risks before they reach operations

Preferred:

• PE license
• Commissioning or quality certifications (CxA, PMP, ISO lead auditor, etc.)
• Experience in design-build and fast-track delivery models

Technical Requirements

• Mission-critical electrical systems up to and including medium-voltage distribution
• Mechanical cooling systems for high-density and liquid-cooled environments
• Redundancy architectures (N, N+1, 2N, distributed redundancy)
• Commissioning methodologies and failure-mode testing
• Applicable codes and standards:
• NEC, NFPA, IBC, IFC
• IEEE, ASHRAE, ASME
• Uptime Institute / TIA-942 concepts (formal certification not required)

Location: San Francisco/Bay Area, CA or TX is preferred. Hybrid.

Base Pay - $190,000 - $220,000

The pay range mentioned above is a guideline. We tailor each offer based on your unique skills, experience, location, and market benchmarks—while ensuring internal parity across our teams. In addition to competitive base pay, total compensation may include a discretionary annual bonus and a market leading comprehensive health and wellness benefits package. Final details will be discussed during the later stages of the hiring process.

Our Health & Wellness Benefits

At SB Energy, we invest in our people and their families with benefits designed for flexibility, support, and peace of mind. Full-time employees enjoy:

• 100% Company-Paid Medical, Dental & Vision (for employees and dependents)
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Generous Paid Time Off + 11 Paid Holidays
• 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
• Life, AD&D & Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Medical, Dependent Care, Transit & Parking (with company contributions)
• Mental, Physical & Social Wellness Support (with company contributions)
• Flexible Work Arrangements & Hybrid Office Setup Benefits
• Monthly Reimbursement for Phone, Internet & Data
• Optional Legal & Pet Insurance Plans
• Device Purchase Support

At SB Energy, the success of our projects is driven by a desire to see our projects benefit as many people as possible. We work to serve local communities through volunteering, fundraising, and much more. For example, we’re proud to support access and opportunity in engineering and clean energy through impactful mentorship programs and workforce training. When you join SB Energy, you can become a part of these efforts, collaborating with team members who share a vision of building a better future now! 

SB Energy is built on a foundation of collaboration and inclusion. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other legally protected class.

To learn more about us, visit www.sbenergy.com.

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