Hiring nowAI data centre networks and facilities

AI Power and Energy Strategist

Also called Power & Energy Strategist (AI) · Energy Procurement Lead · Grid Interconnection Manager

The AI Power and Energy Strategist secures the electricity that AI compute sites run on. Without firm power on a workable schedule, GPUs sit idle and capacity plans stall, so this hire protects the roadmap.

What they do

Builds and runs the power plan for new and existing compute sites. That means assessing grid interconnection options, negotiating power purchase agreements, and weighing sources such as gas, nuclear and small modular reactors against delivery risk. Works with utilities, developers, regulators and internal facilities, network and finance teams. Translates cluster growth forecasts into megawatt requirements and phasing. Tracks interconnection queues, permitting and equipment lead times. Keeps a running view of which sites can energise, when, and what could slip.

What a strong hire delivers

Within the first months, a strong hire gives leadership a clear, honest map of power across current and planned sites, with the main risks named. They get key interconnection requests moving, shortlist credible supply options for the next sites, and set up a regular rhythm with utilities and internal teams. Capacity decisions start to rest on realistic energisation assumptions rather than hope.

How you can tell they are good

Ask them to walk through a real power deal or interconnection from first contact to energisation. Listen for specifics: where it nearly failed, what they traded off, who they had to persuade. Ask how they would test a developer's claim about delivery. Strong people talk about queues, load profiles, firm versus flexible supply and reliability. Be wary of vague talk about renewables and no sign of having been accountable for an outcome.

Why it is hard to fill

Almost nobody has done this exact job, because the demand is new and the title varies. Candidates tend to be strong on one side only: energy markets and utility regulation, or data centre engineering. The hire needs both, plus the commercial nerve to negotiate. Labs and hyperscalers are competing for the same few people, so a clear mandate and access to decision-makers matter as much as the offer.

Where to find them

Look at energy procurement and origination teams, utility interconnection and regulatory staff, and developers of large power projects. On the engineering side, look at electrical, mechanical, facilities, network and HPC engineers who have moved into site selection or capacity planning. Many sit inside hyperscalers, frontier labs, large colocation operators and industrial businesses with heavy, continuous power loads.

Indicative pay

Not enough published evidence yet to give a fair range for this role, which is common for work this new. We benchmark it for you as part of a search.

Interview questions for an AI Power and Energy Strategist

  1. Tell us about a power supply or interconnection you secured for a large load. What nearly went wrong?

    Strong answers give concrete detail on stakeholders, timeline risk, studies, contract terms and a real setback with how they handled it. Worry if they speak only in general terms, take credit for team outcomes without detail, or cannot name a failure.

  2. How would you turn a GPU cluster growth forecast into a power plan?

    Look for translation from compute to megawatts, including cooling overhead, phasing, headroom and uncertainty in the forecast. They should ask clarifying questions. Worry if they treat the forecast as fixed or ignore efficiency and load behaviour.

4 more questions, with what a strong answer covers, are in the Role Kit.

Job description you can post

We build and run large-scale compute for AI workloads, and power is now one of the main limits on how fast we can grow. We are looking for a strategist to secure reliable electricity for our sites and give the business a clear view of what is deliverable.

What you will do

  • Own the power strategy for current and planned compute sites
  • Manage grid interconnection requests with utilities and system operators
  • Negotiate power purchase agreements and other supply arrangements
  • Assess gas, nuclear, small modular reactor and other options for delivery risk
  • Convert compute growth forecasts into power requirements and phasing
  • Work with facilities, network and finance teams on site decisions
  • Report clearly on energisation risks and timelines to leadership

What you will bring

  • Demonstrated work securing power or interconnection for a large industrial or data centre load
  • Working knowledge of energy markets and utility regulation
  • Ability to read engineering studies and challenge developer claims
  • Experience negotiating complex commercial agreements
  • Understanding of data centre power, cooling and reliability constraints
  • Clear communication with executives and technical teams

Nice to have

  • Background in electrical, mechanical, facilities or HPC engineering
  • Experience with on-site generation or emerging nuclear projects
  • Experience planning capacity for GPU clusters

Free to use and adapt. If it saves you time, a link back to this page is appreciated.

Skills that matter

  • Hardware and computer architectureWorkingDesign computing structures and hardware interfaces
  • Cloud and orchestrationWorkingProvision and operate scalable compute services
  • Distributed systemsWorkingDesign reliable work across networked machines
  • Reliability and incident responseWorkingDetect failures, restore service and prevent recurrence

Other roles in aI data centre networks and facilities

Hiring nowAI Cluster Network EngineerAn AI Cluster Network Engineer designs and runs the network that links accelerators during distributed training. A well-built fabric keeps expensive…Hiring nowAI Data Centre Power EngineerAn AI Data Centre Power Engineer plans the electrical capacity and resilience of AI compute sites. They make sure GPU clusters get safe, reliable…Hiring nowAI Thermal Systems EngineerAn AI Thermal Systems Engineer designs and validates the cooling for dense accelerator racks. Good cooling keeps expensive compute inside…Hiring nowAI Compute Scheduler EngineerAn AI Compute Scheduler Engineer decides which model workloads get which cluster resources, and when. Good scheduling keeps expensive GPUs busy…Hiring nowAI Data Centre Programme ManagerAn AI Data Centre Programme Manager delivers gigawatt-scale compute sites, covering land, power, cooling and schedule. They turn a company's compute…

Related roles in other families

Hiring nowMLOps EngineerMLOps and AI platform engineeringAn MLOps Engineer builds the pipeline that packages, tests and releases models in a repeatable way. It matters because releases become predictable…Hiring nowAI Platform EngineerMLOps and AI platform engineeringAn AI Platform Engineer builds the shared services that let teams use models and build AI applications without each reinventing the plumbing. It…EmergingLLMOps EngineerMLOps and AI platform engineeringAn LLMOps Engineer runs prompt, model and retrieval changes as controlled releases. It matters because language model features break quietly, and…Hiring nowModel Registry and Release EngineerMLOps and AI platform engineeringA Model Registry and Release Engineer keeps every model artefact traceable and every deployment approved. It matters because a company that cannot…

How we wrote this

Role definitions are our own editorial work, checked against occupational classifications, standards, research and employer pages. Titles vary by company, and this is a description of the work, not a job advert.

← AI data centre networks and facilitiesAll new job families

Start a search

Hiring an AI Power and Energy Strategist?

Tell us the work. We find the people already doing it, whatever their job title says, and you meet them already interviewed for your role.