Principal Systems Lead - Data Center Infrastructure

The Principal Systems Lead (Product Architect Owner) is a senior individual contributor responsible for technical ownership and architectural coherence across all CDU, HVAC, chiller cooling systems and related power distribution CAD models. This role provides hands on architectural leadership focused on preventing design churn, reducing lifecycle inefficiencies and enabling scalable, repeatable engineering execution. 

Rather than managing people, this role actively shapes the product architecture by defining modeling standards, modular strategies and variant logic that ensure consistency, long term maintainability and rapid adaptability to changing requirements. The Principal Systems Lead serves as the primary technical authority for complex system level decisions, design reviews and cross functional alignment. 

Key Responsibilities 

System Architecture & Model Strategy 

• Own the overall CAD system architecture across cooling and power platforms, ensuring coherence between mechanical, electrical, and configuration structures. 

• Define and maintain modular design strategies that enable reuse, scalability and isolation of change across product families. 

• Architect model structures that minimize downstream rework by anticipating growth, option expansion and regional variations. 

• Actively identify and eliminate sources of recurring design churn through architectural refinement. 

Variant Logic & Platform Scalability 

• Define and enforce variant logic supporting differences in: capacity and ratings, redundancy schemes, regional standards (IEC / UL / customer specific) 

• Ensure variants are implemented through configurable logic, not ad hoc duplication or manual rework. 

• Enable product scalability without destabilizing released designs or increasing lifecycle complexity. 

CAD Standards, Templates & Guardrails 

• Establish and maintain CAD modeling standards, structure rules and best practices across all cooling and power systems. 

• Define standard templates, skeletons, references and interface rules to ensure consistent model behavior and long-term maintainability. 

• Ensure standards are practical, enforced through execution, and aligned with PLM and configuration requirements. 

• Continuously refine standards based on real engineering pain points, not theoretical ideals. 

Technical Authority & Design Review Ownership 

• Serve as the primary technical authority during system level and cross domain design reviews. 

• Make or guide technically sound decisions on tradeoffs involving performance, complexity, scalability, manufacturability and serviceability. 

• Resolve ambiguous or conflicting design directions by anchoring decisions to architecture and lifecycle impact. 

• Act as the escalation point for complex system integration issues. 

Cross‑Functional Technical Alignment 

• Work closely with ME CAD, EE CAD, and PLM/configuration roles to ensure architectural intent is properly implemented and maintained. 

• Ensure alignment between product architecture, configuration control and released data structures. 

• Partner with manufacturing, quality, and service teams to ensure architecture supports build, test, and field realities. 

• Influence execution through technical clarity and authority; not managerial control. 

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent professional experience. 

• 10+ years of experience designing and architecting complex electromechanical systems. 

• Proven track record of hands-on CAD architecture ownership in multi variant product environments. 

• Deep understanding of modular design, configuration logic and lifecycle scalability. 

• Ability to operate independently as a senior technical authority across disciplines. 

Strongly Preferred Experience 

• Architecture ownership for CDUs, chillers, HVAC, liquid cooling or power distribution systems. 

• Experience handling product families with multiple ratings, redundancy configurations and regional compliance needs. 

• Deep familiarity with CAD / PLM integration and configuration control discipline. 

• Experience reducing organizational load by eliminating recurring design churn and reactive changes. 

Core Competencies 

• System level architectural thinking 

• Strong technical judgment and decisiveness 

• Ability to prevent churn through foresight and structure 

• Deep understanding of lifecycle engineering impact 

• Clear technical communication across disciplines 

• Independent authority without people management responsibility