Senior Electrical Engineer (Data Centers & Mission-Critical Facilities)
Location: Houston, TX or Chicago, IL (Hybrid)
Role Type: Full-Time (W-2)
Start Date: ASAP
Company: Guardian Engineering Enterprises, LLC – https://guardianengent.com
Company Overview
Guardian Engineering Enterprises is a premier engineering and project management firm serving the energy, rail, and industrial infrastructure sectors. With 30+ years of experience, we deliver end-to-end support—from engineering design and consulting through project management and design-build execution—grounded in innovation, safety, and long-term client partnerships. As an MBE, SDVOSB, and SBE, we’re building a high-performing team that takes pride in technical excellence, collaborative delivery, and doing the job right.
Role Description
The Senior Electrical Engineer will serve as a hands-on technical leader responsible for the design and execution of mission-critical electrical infrastructure for data center facilities. This role is ideal for a true designer—someone deeply involved in electrical engineering work rather than operating solely as a project or people manager.
You will lead the electrical design of enterprise and hyperscale data center facilities ranging from 10–300+ MW, supporting Guardian’s growing data center practice across commercial, colocation, hyperscale, and government-facing programs.
Responsibilities
- Lead electrical system design for mission-critical data center facilities, from utility interconnection through rack-level power distribution
- Design medium-voltage and low-voltage power systems including 15kV–35kV distribution, primary/secondary systems, and redundant utility feeds
- Engineer UPS architectures (2N, 2N+1, distributed redundant), emergency diesel generation systems, and automatic transfer schemes
- Develop power distribution designs including switchgear specifications, transformer sizing, bus duct routing, panel schedules, and branch circuit distribution
- Perform electrical studies including load analysis, short circuit analysis, arc flash analysis, protective device coordination, and harmonic distortion assessments
- Produce technical deliverables such as single-line and three-line diagrams, grounding and bonding systems, raceway routing, and lighting designs specific to data center environments
- Coordinate with utility providers on service entrance requirements, redundant feeds, capacity planning, and emergency power interconnections
- Collaborate closely with mechanical, plumbing, fire protection, and structural disciplines on spatial coordination, redundancy strategies, and infrastructure capacity planning
- Support electrical construction administration including equipment submittal reviews, RFI responses, site observations, commissioning oversight, and integrated systems testing
- Ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards including NEC (NFPA 70), NFPA 75/76/110, IEEE standards, Uptime Institute Tier III/IV requirements, and state/local codes
- Mentor junior engineers and provide technical quality control on electrical design deliverables
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program
- Professional Engineer (PE) license required
- 7+ years of electrical engineering experience, with a minimum of 5 years focused on data centers or mission-critical facilities
- Demonstrated hands-on design experience (not a purely managerial background)
- Proven experience with 480V/277V and medium-voltage power systems, generator paralleling, and automatic transfer switch configurations
- Strong understanding of Uptime Institute Tier classifications, ASHRAE TC 9.9 guidelines, and data center electrical best practices
- Ability to independently own and deliver complex electrical designs for critical facilities
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline
- Professional certifications such as RCDD, CEM, LEED AP, or Uptime Institute credentials
- Experience with hyperscale (100MW+) data center campuses
- Experience leading electrical scope on projects exceeding $50M in construction value
- Knowledge of sustainable power system design including renewable energy integration, energy storage systems, and PUE optimization strategies
- Familiarity with colocation, enterprise, and cloud service provider operational requirements
- Federal or DoD data center experience (security clearance a plus)
Tools & Technologies
- Design & Analysis: AutoCAD, Revit MEP, SKM PowerTools (or equivalent), electrical analysis software
- Electrical Systems: Medium- and low-voltage distribution, UPS systems, generators, switchgear, PDUs
- Codes & Standards: NEC (NFPA 70), NFPA 75/76/110, IEEE, Uptime Institute Tier standards
Compensation & Benefits
- Base Salary: $130,000 – $165,000
- Employment Type: Full-time W-2
- Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) plan
Career Growth: Opportunity to grow into leadership as Guardian scales its data center practice
Additional Job Application Terms
This job is part of LinkedIn’s Full-Service Hiring beta program. Eligibility is limited to candidates located in and performing services in the United States, excluding those based in Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, South Carolina, or West Virginia.
We’re committed to making our hiring process as smooth and timely as possible, and we understand that waiting to hear back can add to the anticipation. If you’re a potential fit, our team will reach out within two weeks to progress you to the next stage. If you don’t hear from us in that time, we encourage you to explore other opportunities with our team in the future, and we wish you the very best in your job search.
