Senior Innovation Manager - Data Centers

Do you want to work with high-caliber professionals in a dynamic and growing company? Are you entrepreneurial, hard-working, and collegial? Join us at SB Energy, a leading infrastructure company backed by SoftBank Group and Ares Infrastructure, pairing cutting-edge innovation with best-in-class execution. Our mission is to deliver reliable and secure data center and power infrastructure to strengthen America's future.

Founded in 2019, SB Energy is a SoftBank Group company headquartered in Redwood City, California. In 2026, SoftBank Group and OpenAI announced a $1 billion investment to support SB Energy as their leading development and execution partner for data center campuses, while Ares Infrastructure continues its long-standing support of the company's growth. SB Energy develops, builds, owns, and operates some of the largest and most technically advanced energy and data center infrastructure projects in the United States. Since its founding, the company has rapidly grown into a top-tier integrated platform with more than 3 gigawatts (GW) in operation and a multi-GW pipeline of energy and data center infrastructure nationwide.

SB Energy also leverages a strong culture of innovation to identify and integrate new technologies into its projects, including its AI-based digital platform, delivering energy infrastructure that is local, reliable, and matched to load. We are building the energy and infrastructure future—today.

Come join us in accelerating the energy and infrastructure transition!

Title : Senior Manager, Datacenter Innovation

Basic Function:

The Engineering and Innovation (E&I) team at SB Energy provides technical insights and assists decision-making across all life cycle phases of renewable projects, from development, construction, and to operations and maintenance. The Innovation program ideates, evaluates, demonstrates, and deploys at-scale first-of-a-kind technologies. To that end, SB Energy operates an Innovation Center near Denver, Colorado for first-hand field demonstrations of hardware, software, and business models, such as emerging solar technologies, different types of storage, flexible compute loads, AI-based control strategies, and more.

The E&I team is seeking a Senior Manager to lead the ideation, evaluation, demonstration, and deployment of innovations that push the bounds of the status quo in datacenters. This highly visible position will engage across multiple business units within the company, executives, and implement strategic direction and business decisions. Examples of projects the successful candidate would lead include options that accelerate datacenter speed-to-power, inclusive of grid interconnection, bridge power solutions, construction automation and modularity, and so on; minimize impact to existing infrastructure and communities, such as electrical grid, water, air pollution; update datacenter reference designs to incorporate next generation technologies; improve datacenter operations; and other projects as assigned. Initial focus for this position will be on our VoltGuard initiative, which provides a range of grid stability and energy support functions for datacenters.

In general, the Senior Manager will lead datacenter-focused innovation efforts by:

• Gathering requirements, such as from potential customers, engineering and construction companies, equipment manufacturers, financiers, subject matter experts, and so on.
• Developing commercialization strategy, such as business model, partnerships, intellectual property, and so on.
• Retiring outstanding risks that may impede successful commercialization. Utilize SBE’s Innovation Center and/or other real-world facilities as needed for technology demonstrations.
• Assisting first-of-a-kind deployment into commercial projects and supporting the operational phase as needed to ensure success.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Ideate, identify, collect, and track new innovations through participating in industry events, site visits, engaging with SB Energy colleagues, leveraging network connections, self-guided research, and so on.
• Evaluate new technologies (hardware and software), execution methods, internal processes, finance and business model innovations. Perform comprehensive analysis of technical, financial, risk, and other business perspectives to inform go/no-go decisions.
• Convene internal and external (e.g., vendors, suppliers, entrepreneurs) stakeholder meetings to brainstorm ideas, evaluate ideas with appropriate experts and stakeholders, coordinate and report out on progress innovation initiatives, and drive a culture of innovation in the company.
• Lead new product introduction of innovative technologies as described above.
• Collaborate across the multiple business units in SB Energy.
• Prepare and give presentations to various Innovation stakeholders, including executives at SB Energy.
• Increase the awareness and reputation of SB Energy and Innovation efforts in the industry. For examples, publish whitepapers, present at conferences, and/or generate content for internal and external marketing.
• Perform other job duties as assigned.
• The position requires up to 25% domestic travel.

Job Qualifications

• Minimum eight (8) years’ professional experience in commercializing new products. Direct experience with datacenters or similar mission-critical infrastructure is strongly desired.
• B.S. Engineering from ABET-accredited University or other technical degree. Advanced degrees are a plus.
• Direct experience developing, demonstrating, and deploying hardware and software technologies. Experience with supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems is a plus.
• Demonstrated strong engineering, commercialization, communication skills, and an ability to work in a dynamic team environment to think outside the box and solve traditional problems in new ways.

• Demonstrated ability to understand and contextualize highly-technical concepts, then effectively distill into easily understandable and actionable takeaways, especially to an executive audience.

• Demonstrated ability to quantify the value of new technologies / opportunities and prioritize focus accordingly.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills to manage multiple projects at a time.
• Detail oriented.
• Self-starter with ability to prioritize efforts and drive towards completion.
• Ok with ambiguity. Takes ownership.

Location : Strong preference for Denver, CO or San Francisco Bay Area, CA. Remote possible for the right candidate.

Base $160,000 - $190,000

The pay range mentioned above is a guideline. We tailor each offer based on your unique skills, experience, location, and market benchmarks—while ensuring internal parity across our team. In addition to competitive base pay, total compensation may include a discretionary annual bonus and a market leading comprehensive health and wellness benefits package. Final details will be discussed during the later stages of the hiring process.

 Our Health & Wellness Benefits 

At SB Energy, we invest in our people and their families with benefits designed for flexibility, support, and peace of mind. Full-time employees enjoy: 

• 100% Company-Paid Medical, Dental & Vision (for employees and dependents) 

• 401(k) with Company Match 

• Generous Paid Time Off + 11 Paid Holidays 

• 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave 

• Life, AD&D & Long-Term Disability Coverage 

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Medical, Dependent Care, Transit & Parking (with company contributions) 

• Mental, Physical & Social Wellness Support (with company contributions) 

• Flexible Work Arrangements & Hybrid Office Setup Benefits 

• Monthly Reimbursement for Phone, Internet & Data 

• Optional Legal & Pet Insurance Plans 

• Device Purchase Support 

At SB Energy, the success of our projects is driven by a desire to see our projects benefit as many people as possible. We work to serve local communities through volunteering, fundraising, and much more. For example, we’re proud to support access and opportunity in engineering and clean energy through impactful mentorship programs and workforce training. When you join SB Energy, you can become a part of these efforts, collaborating with team members who share a vision of building a better future now!  

 SB Energy is built on a foundation of collaboration and inclusion. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other legally protected class. 

 To learn more about us, visit www.sbenergy.com.