Who are we?
Equinix is the world's digital infrastructure company®, operating over 250 data centers across the globe. Digital leaders harness Equinix's trusted platform to bring together and interconnect foundational infrastructure at software speed. Equinix enables organizations to access all the right places, partners and possibilities to scale with agility, speed the launch of digital services, deliver world-class experiences and multiply their value, while supporting their sustainability goals.
Joining our operations team means that you will be at the forefront of all we do, maintaining critical facilities infrastructure as part of a close-knit team delivering best-in-class service to our data center customers. We embrace diversity in thought and contribution and are committed to providing an equitable work environment that is foundational to our core values as a company and is vital to our success.
Innovation Director, Global Design and Construction
Job Summary
The Equinix Global Design & Construction (GDC) Design Innovation Director is an industry-recognized figurehead representing Equinix's ideals and thinking at the highest levels across the data center industry, in public forum and in private with customers, direct vendors and IT hardware partners.
The Innovation Director will incubate new ideas and approaches, taking guidance from across the Design organization, working collaboratively with customers, vendors and industry partners to co-ordinate the Equinix GDC Innovation Roadmap. The Innovation Director will be responsible for driving the Roadmap in terms of studies, whitepapers, industry collaborations, pilots, and in-service improvements. They take a global view to apply best practice from wider industry to the field of data center design.
The Innovation Director will curate and maintain relationships with customers, vendors and partners to deliver Equinix's vision of future data center development, adapted for customer trends, forthcoming data center electrical/mechanical plant developments and IT hardware development. The Innovation Director will lobby customers, vendors and partners for development aligned with Equinix's vision of future data center development.
The Innovation Director has a key role advocating for sustainability in design, and will be a representative of the company in public and private with customers, vendors and industry partners in conjunction with other in-house expertise. They will work to build consensus across internal stakeholders.
The Innovation Director will maintain interpersonal relationships with internal design staff, construction, commercial & procurement teams, wider Equinix partners to GDC, external design consulting partners, customers, vendors and industry partners so as to understand industry news, trends and issues and cultivate a culture of collaboration to solve industry issues.
The Innovation Director is a seasoned data center professional with proven experience across data center civil/structural/architectural design, mechanical/electrical (and sub-trades) design, M&E equipment design & selection, and IT hardware development.
We would particularly value experience in matching and influencing hardware development to data center design, and vice-versa.
The Innovation Director is responsible for design decisions related to a large and/or complex portfolio of datacenter projects which can include: new construction, phased expansion, retrofits and upgrades, acquisition conversions, mechanical and electrical equipment selections, and standards upgrades in either a specific region or globally. They are an industry recognized expert on datacenter design. The Design Director critically assesses design decisions across disciplines and applies required Equinix standards and country specific regulations to make the best design choices. They manage and provide guidance to more junior staff on the relationship and output of key design partners and equipment suppliers for their assigned projects and lead the relationship management with such partners.
Responsibilities
Design Process
Owns and leads a design process (Innovation Roadmap) and interacts with external design partners to deliver a large and/or complex portfolio of world class datacenters with a strong focus on technical excellence, mission critical resilience and cost managementGuides and oversees the development of globally standardized tools, techniques and processes for the management and reporting of the design processWorks with peers in other regions to drive consistency and technical excellence on design and delivery practices and methodologiesThinks and acts in a global manner, considering the applicability of any design decisions, innovations, or standard changes for all regionsCurates customer and vendor trends, translating this into design solutions incorporating latest customer needs, MEP equipment solutions and resolutions to industry technical challenges
Cross-functional Co-ordination
Maintains interpersonal relationships with internal technical staff, external design consulting partners, construction management, commercial management, and regional P&L holders to ensure appropriate stakeholder exposure and buy in to data center projectsEnsures consistent collaboration with the center of excellence teams to augment their individual deep technical expertise to ensure all facets of the datacenter design are adequately considered and approvedGuides and manages internal and external resources via by way of their influence and outstanding industry-recognized competencies
Project Management
Indirectly manages experienced electrical and mechanical engineering staff in the Independent Technical Review and Innovation & Development teams to deliver a large and/or complex portfolio of world-class datacenter designs on time and to budgetOversees the design schedule for assigned projects to ensure on time creation and review of Basis of Designs (BODs), Real Estate Investment Committee (REIC) Submissions, and design documentation for Issued for Permit (IFP) and Issued for Construction (IFC) setsWorks hand-in-hand with the regional design teams and Construction Managers to deliver Concept Designs and Standards that support the delivery of world class datacentersAccountable for the costs of the designs to ensure appropriate balancing of cost flexibility and global standardisationRuns portfolio of pilot projects demonstrating technologies and design approaches in practice, including demonstrating economic viability
Design Oversight
Stays up-to-date on advancements in design being investigated by the centers of excellence teams to ensure technologies support future IBX design and construction needs and feeds back information to construction for incorporation of changesEnsures designs meet Equinix's Global Design Standards and the business needs for capacity, density, and functionApplies design review findings and best practices to advise future design standard updates and revisions
Qualifications
7+ years management experience preferred10+ years experience in a Design MEP Firm or in the design team of a Mission Critical Building operator or subcontractor, OR 10+ years experience as an Architectural lead in a Mission Critical Architectural Design Practice preferredMSc in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering OR MSc in Architecture is preferred, BSc acceptable or extensive and demonstrable experience in role, Architects to hold RA or AIAPE desirable but not essential
Equinix is an Equal Employment Opportunity and, in the U.S., an Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to unlawful consideration of race, color, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, place of birth, citizenship, sex, pregnancy / childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic partnership status, age, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, political / organizational affiliation, status as a victim or family member of a victim of crime or abuse, or any other status protected by applicable law.
The targeted pay range for this position in the following location is / locations are:• San Francisco, CA / Bay Area: $160,000 to $273,000 per year• California (Non-SF/Bay Area), Connecticut, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Washington state: $153,000 to $261,000 per year• Colorado, Nevada, Rhode Island: $139,000 to $237,000 per yearOur pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum target for new hire pay for the full-time position determined by role, level, and location. Individual pay is based on additional factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education and/or training.This position may be offered in other locations. Your recruiter can share more about the specific pay range for your preferred location during the hiring process.The targeted pay range listed reflects the base pay only and does not include bonus, equity, or benefits. Employees are eligible for bonus, and equity may be offered depending on the position.As an employee, you become important to Equinix's success. Details about our company benefits can be found at the following link:USA Benefits eBook