What are the responsibilities and job description for the Advanced Systems Engineering Director position at Exowatt?
About Exowatt
Exowatt is revolutionizing the energy landscape for the AI era with our groundbreaking P3 system that captures solar energy, stores it as heat, and generates electricity on demand. Founded in 2023 and backed by leading investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Sam Altman, and Felicis, we're committed to providing clean, modular, and scalable power that meets the rapidly growing demands of AI infrastructure. Our mission is to make sustainable renewable energy always available and almost free, enabling technological advancement while protecting our planet.
About The Role
We are seeking an Engineering Director to lead the design and development of advanced, next-generation data center systems. This is a deeply technical, high ownership role that sits at the intersection of mechanical and electrical engineering, IT infrastructure, thermal modeling, and manufacturing. You will drive designs from concept through production, working closely with our energy, software, and operations teams to deliver world-class modular data center products.
What You'll Do
Systems Design & Architecture
What We're Looking For
Competitive salary and equity options.
Comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and retirement plans.
A dynamic work environment that fosters creativity and innovation.
Opportunities for professional growth and development in a rapidly evolving industry.
Relocation assistance.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
Exowatt is revolutionizing the energy landscape for the AI era with our groundbreaking P3 system that captures solar energy, stores it as heat, and generates electricity on demand. Founded in 2023 and backed by leading investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Sam Altman, and Felicis, we're committed to providing clean, modular, and scalable power that meets the rapidly growing demands of AI infrastructure. Our mission is to make sustainable renewable energy always available and almost free, enabling technological advancement while protecting our planet.
About The Role
We are seeking an Engineering Director to lead the design and development of advanced, next-generation data center systems. This is a deeply technical, high ownership role that sits at the intersection of mechanical and electrical engineering, IT infrastructure, thermal modeling, and manufacturing. You will drive designs from concept through production, working closely with our energy, software, and operations teams to deliver world-class modular data center products.
What You'll Do
Systems Design & Architecture
- Lead end-to-end mechanical and electrical design of modular data center systems, including structural enclosures, power distribution, cooling infrastructure, and IT hardware integration
- Define system architecture trade-offs across density, thermal performance, reliability, and cost
- Develop and own detailed design specifications, BOMs, and engineering drawings
- Architect rack-level and pod-level IT layouts for high-density GPU and CPU compute deployments
- Specify and validate server, networking, storage, and power hardware configurations in collaboration with hyperscale and neocloud customers
- Ensure designs meet evolving requirements for AI/ML workloads, including high power density (40–100 kW per rack) and advanced cooling compatibility (liquid, immersion, rear-door)
- Build and validate CFD and thermal models to predict and optimize airflow, cooling performance, and PUE across a range of operating conditions
- Develop power distribution models covering UPS, PDU, busway, and generator integration
- Use simulation tools to iterate designs rapidly before physical prototyping
- Partner with internal and contract manufacturers and suppliers to translate designs into manufacturable, scalable products
- Define DFM (Design for Manufacturability) and DFA (Design for Assembly) requirements
- Lead design reviews, tolerance analyses, and factory acceptance testing protocols
- Manage engineering change processes and maintain design documentation through the product lifecycle
- Collaborate with energy, controls, and software teams to integrate data center systems with Exowatt's P3 solar and storage platform
- Serve as a technical lead and mentor to junior engineers on the team
- Engage directly with customers and partners on design requirements, site adaptations, and deployment planning
What We're Looking For
- 7 years of engineering experience, with at least 4 years focused on manufacturing, design, and/or mission-critical infrastructure
- Deep expertise in at least two of the following: mechanical/structural systems, power distribution, thermal management, or IT hardware architecture
- Hands-on experience with thermal or power modeling tools (e.g., 6SigmaRoom, FloEFD, ANSYS, or equivalent)
- Experience taking designs from concept through manufacturing and deployment
- Excellent technical communication skills — able to write crisp specs, lead reviews, and explain trade-offs clearly
- Experience with modular or prefabricated products at large scale
- Familiarity with high-density liquid cooling architectures (direct liquid cooling, rear-door heat exchangers, immersion)
- Background working with hyperscale, colocation, or neocloud customers
- Exposure to renewable energy integration or microgrid/behind-the-meter power systems
- Strong working knowledge of data center standards (TIA-942, ASHRAE, Uptime Institute tier classifications)
- Product lifecycle management (PLM) expertise
- 2 years of experience with Nvidia and other compute platforms
- Experience in a fast-paced startup or hardware product company
Competitive salary and equity options.
Comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and retirement plans.
A dynamic work environment that fosters creativity and innovation.
Opportunities for professional growth and development in a rapidly evolving industry.
Relocation assistance.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.