What are the responsibilities and job description for the Data Center Engineering Lead position at VAILEXA?
Job Title: Data Center Engineer Lead
Location:Santa Clara
Duration: 6 months
Work Authorization - USC, GC & GC-EAD
Job Description:
The IPP (Infrastructure, Planning & Process) division at designs, scales, and optimizes the global data center footprint powering our AI platforms and cloud environments. We are seeking a Data Center Engineering Lead (Contract) to architect and direct large-scale infrastructure programs supporting Cloud Platform and global AI product lifecycle.
This role will drive IPPs DC readiness across multiple vectors and teams to ensure our data center ecosystem scales efficiently, reliably, and sustainably across the world.
This position directly influences portfolio-level infrastructure decisions, including:
• Super lab expansions
• Rack & bench capacity modeling
• Liquid versus air cooling implementation strategy
• Global site prioritization
• Executive-level reporting on critical metrics and readiness oversight!
This is a highly transparent role demanding technical expertise, executive presence, and the capability to convert infrastructure complexity into clear, actionable outcomes for senior leadership.
What You’ll Be Doing
? Lead Global Infrastructure Data Center Build out programs.
o Drive execution of super lab and data center buildouts from concept approval through operational readiness.
o Own coordinated schedules linking power delivery, cooling deployment (air & liquid), rack installation, network readiness, and occupancy planning.
o Establish and enforce launch readiness criteria across global sites!
? Orchestrate multi-functional alignment.
o Partner with Cloud Platform, SPT (System Product Teams), Facilities, Engineering, Real Estate, and Operations.
o Act as the connective tissue between tenant demand (product bring-up) and landlord infrastructure readiness (IPP).
o Facilitate executive business reviews with clear R/Y/G status and quantified risk.
? Capacity & Space Planning Integration
o Translate portfolio-level demand signals into actionable infrastructure plans.
o Model rack density, MW capacity, bench allocation, and cooling distribution.
o Identify portfolio cooling gaps (liquid vs. air) and bring up risk mitigation strategies.
? Benchmark Governance & Executive Reporting
o Develop measurable benchmarks tied to schedule predictability, MW delivery, rack availability, and readiness dates.
o Present concise executive updates to VP-level and senior leadership collaborators.
o Drive root-cause analysis and capture lessons learned into future build cycles.
? Risk & Prioritization
o Identify infrastructure constraints early (power, chilled water, space).
o Lead scenario planning for site contingencies and global redistribution.
o Actively reduce schedule risk affecting product launch timelines.
What We Need to See
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Data Center Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 7 years designing and delivering complex data center or high-density compute facilities (hyperscale or enterprise level).
• Strong technical understanding of large-scale power distribution (MW-level planning), cooling systems, and infrastructure reliability design principles.
• Experience leading cross-functional engineering integration across facilities, network, and operations.
• Proven ability to create and manage engineering KPIs, readiness metrics, and executive-level reporting around infrastructure health and capacity.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to distill complex engineering tradeoffs into actionable strategies for executive and technical audiences.