CleanSpark (Nasdaq: CLSK), is a market-leading data center developer with a proven track record of success. We control a portfolio of more than 1.8 GW of power, land, and data centers across the United States powered by globally competitive energy prices. Sitting at the intersection of Bitcoin, energy, operational excellence, and capital stewardship, we optimize our infrastructure to deliver superior returns to our shareholders. Monetizing low-cost, high reliability energy by producing a global emerging critical resource – compute – positions us to prosper in an ever-changing world.
Job Overview
The Senior Director, Data Center Design & Engineering – AI Data Centers serves as CleanSpark’s owner-side engineering authority, setting standards and technical direction for power, cooling, resilience, and facility performance from design through commissioning and operational handover. This role partners across teams to deliver reliable, buildable facilities and strengthen CleanSpark’s in-house engineering capabilities.
Reporting to the VP, Projects, the Senior Director provides technical leadership to the Director, Data Center Design, who manages external consultants and design deliverables. The Senior Director owns engineering standards, system architecture, and technical decisions, partnering with project and construction leadership on matters affecting cost, schedule, or contractual commitments.
Key Responsibilities
Own and maintain CleanSpark’s AI data center engineering standards, Basis of Design (BoD), and design criteria across electrical, mechanical, civil, structural, controls, telecom, and site infrastructure disciplines
Define and approve system architecture for medium-voltage and low-voltage electrical distribution, generation and backup power, UPS, and mechanical cooling (air and liquid) for high-density AI/HPC loads, including redundancy and resilience targets (e.g., N, N+1, 2N) and associated trade-offs
Lead engineering interfaces with utilities and substation owners: load studies, interconnection requirements, substation and switchyard design, protection and coordination, metering, and energization sequencing in support of path-to-power planning
Provide technical direction to the Director, Data Center Design and external design consultants; review and approve technical studies, calculations, single-line diagrams, equipment selections, and design deliverables at each stage gate
Lead constructability, value engineering, and design-for-schedule reviews with Construction and Pre-Construction; resolve technical issues, RFIs, and design conflicts that exceed consultant or project-team authority
Own the owner-side commissioning program: define commissioning scope and levels, approve commissioning agents and test scripts, witness integrated systems testing, and sign off on energization and turnover readiness
Lead operational readiness from an engineering standpoint: handover documentation, as-builts, O&M requirements, spare parts and maintainability criteria, and alignment of design intent with Operations’ requirements
Evaluate and recommend equipment vendors, long-lead procurement specifications, and standard equipment platforms; support procurement with technical bid evaluations and scopes of work
Assess engineering risk across the portfolio; identify design, power, cooling, and integration risks early and drive mitigation into standards and project plans
Support tenant and customer technical requirements, including design review responses, change evaluations, and technical representation in customer and partner forums
Drive standardization and repeatability across sites so designs scale across the portfolio with predictable cost, schedule, and performance
Build and mentor the in-house engineering team; define roles, technical competencies, and development paths as the organization grows
Provide clear technical recommendations and updates to project and executive leadership
This role requires professionalism, respect, strong communication, and the ability to work well with others in a team-oriented, inclusive environment.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline
15+ years of progressive experience in the design and engineering of data center, mission-critical, or large-scale power and industrial facilities, including at least 5 years in a senior technical leadership role
Deep working knowledge of data center electrical infrastructure (MV/LV distribution, generation, UPS, protection and coordination) and mechanical infrastructure (chilled water, air and liquid cooling, heat rejection) for high-density compute
Demonstrated experience defining redundancy and resilience topologies and translating availability targets into design criteria
Hands-on experience with utility interconnection, substation design, and energization planning for large loads
Experience leading commissioning (Levels 1–5 / integrated systems testing) and facility turnover on mission-critical projects
Proven ability to lead engineering consultants, contractors, and internal technical staff, and to make and defend technical decisions with executives, customers, and partners
Strong constructability judgment and experience partnering with construction teams through design, procurement, and field execution
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical trade-offs clearly to non-technical stakeholders
Preferred Qualifications
Professional Engineer (PE) license strongly preferred
Experience with AI, HPC, or hyperscale data center design, including liquid-cooled and high-density rack deployments
Owner-side experience with a hyperscaler, colocation provider, or large infrastructure developer
Experience developing and governing engineering standards or Basis of Design programs across multiple sites
Familiarity with Uptime Institute Tier concepts, ASHRAE TC 9.9 guidelines, NEC/NFPA 70 and NFPA 70E, IEEE power system standards, and applicable energy codes
Master’s degree in engineering or an MBA
Experience in a fast-growth owner organization building in-house technical capability
This position may involve duties that require operation of a company vehicle or travel between job sites. As such, candidates must be insurable under CleanSpark's vehicle insurance policy.
CleanSpark is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
