Technical Global Categories Director

Who are we?

Job Summary
Who are we? 

At Equinix, we make the internet work faster, better, and more reliable. We hire hardworking people who thrive on solving hard problems and give them opportunities to hone new skills, try new approaches, and grow in new directions. Our culture is at the heart of our success, and it’s our authentic, humble, gritty people who craft The Magic of Equinix. They share a real passion for winning and put the customer at the center of everything they do. 

If you are looking to join a company that can offer long term career opportunities on a global scale backed by a positive and high-energy culture, then Equinix is the place for you. 

Under Global Leadership 

Leads global technical categories across Major Capital Equipment (MCE)—spanning electrical, mechanical, and critical infrastructure systems—with accountability for strategy, global supplier portfolio, capacity/pre‑buy, standardization, cost, on‑time delivery (OTD), and quality. 

Core scope includes: 

• Electrical: MV/LV switchgear, transformers, PDUs/RPPs, busways, ATS/STS, grid/substation interfaces 

• Mechanical: chillers, cooling towers, CRAH/CRAC units, pumps, heat exchangers, liquid cooling systems 

• Critical Systems: generators, UPS, battery systems (BESS/VRLA/Li-ion), integrated power/cooling modules 

• Strong interface with Integrated Products, Grid Solutions, Design Engineering, and Commissioning teams to deliver scalable, standardized, and resilient infrastructure.

The Technical Global Categories Director (Mechanical, Electrical & Critical Systems) will own the end‑to‑end global category strategy and execution across technical disciplines. 

Build diversified supplier capacity, drive pre‑buy and fungibility strategies where feasible, and embed technical, safety, and commissioning rigor into supplier obligations. Deliver resilient supply, faster award‑to‑signature cycles, improved delivered quality, and measurable savings—while partnering cross-functionally to meet required on‑site dates (ROS). 

Responsibilities 

Category Strategy 

• Define global category vision and playbooks across electrical, mechanical, and critical systems 

• Establish vendor tiering, regionalization strategies, and risk posture by category 

• Maintain multi‑vendor strategies and standardized equipment lists across regions (no sole sourcing) supported by capacity agreements 

• Align category strategies with campus, program, and weave planning globally  

• Develop structured product insertion framework including qualification checklist, site readiness criteria, commissioning validation, and lessons-learned feedback loop into global standards 

• Establish vendor manufacturing capability assessment and audit framework (capacity, quality systems, localization strategy, supply chain resilience) for for NPI approval and scaling 

Capacity, Pre‑Buy & Fungibility 

• Structure global capacity agreements (RoFR, minimum commitments, flexible windows) 

• Lead pre‑buy strategies aligned to long-lead critical equipment 

• Account for engineering maturity (IFC vs preliminary design) to avoid rework or stranded inventory 

• Drive fungibility where feasible (e.g., CRAH/CRAC, UPS modules, PDUs, busways) 

• Clearly define non‑fungible systems (e.g., large chillers, transformers, generators) with inventory risk controls 

Technical Governance & Standards 

• Establish global technical standards and specification frameworks across categories 

• Embed safety requirements (e.g., electrical system studies (SCCS/Arc Flash,), DCOS points list adherence, mechanical safety, pressure systems compliance) into RFQs and contracts 

• Define clear demarcation/ownership matrices across OEMs, integrators, and GCs 

• Ensure alignment with IEC/IEEE/ASHRAE and regional regulatory requirements 

• Drive cross-functional alignment across Electrical and Mechanical disciplines with cross functional stakeholders  (GOE, Eng Dev, GDC, Cx, Ops, Commercial) to productize new equipment into repeatable reference designs 

• Translate pilot/NPI learnings into standardized reference architectures (e.g., MV UPS, SST, CDU-integrated systems)

• Ensure early design validation with commissioning and operations teams (maintainability, access, redundancy philosophy) through FOAK and standard company processes 

• Embed lessons learned from EMEA/APAC/AMER deployments into global specifications and templates 

 Supplier Quality & Commissioning Readiness 

• Ensure suppliers deliver commissioning-ready systems (FAT, IST, CTB/CTS evidence) 

• Embed traceability, testing coverage, and lifecycle quality requirements into contracts 

• Prevent late-stage commissioning risks through OEM receipt inspection and preservation controls 

• Drive consistent quality frameworks across electrical and mechanical scopes 

• Standardize global QMS and supplier requirements (ISO alignment, ITPs, FAT/FOAK rigor, traceability, and digital turnover documentation) across all regions and categories 

• Implement structured manufacturing quality audits covering factory capability (MCR), critical processes, sub-tier controls, and recurring surveillance 

• Track and govern vendor quality performance via KPIs (DPU, OTD-Q, FAT pass rates, field failures) with centralized dashboards tied to sourcing decisions 

• Establish closed-loop quality improvement linking field/commissioning data to RCA, design updates, and continuous refinement of specifications and manufacturing processes 

 Sourcing & Commercials 

• Own global frameworks and commercial strategy across all technical categories, including driving cost reduction through quality improvement, standardization, and minimization of equipment SKUs to maximize utilization across reference designs 

• Standardize RFQ packages and technical/commercial evaluation methodologies 

• Drive total cost of ownership optimization through standardization, VE, quality issue reduction and scale leverage 

• Partner with Regional Procurement for local execution and supplier development 

Stakeholder Engagement 

• Internal: GDC Design, Construction, Commissioning (Cx), Global Operations Engineering (GOE), Integrated Products, Regional Procurement, Finance, Legal 

• External: OEMs, system integrators, testing labs, commissioning agents 

Executive Communications & Reporting 

• Monthly category QBRs and quarterly executive roll-ups (GOLT/GFR) 

• Track and report

• Capacity secured 

• OTD to ROS 

• Award-to-signature cycle time 

• Savings performance 

• Supplier diversification 

• Delivered quality and defect rates

Role-Specific Expectations & Scope 

• Global accountability across multi-billion-dollar MCE categories 

• Drive cross-category standardization and SKU rationalization 

• Enable transition from bespoke (“snowflake”) solutions to scalable, repeatable architectures 

• Maintain ≥3 qualified vendors per category/region with defined share allocations 

Work Model / Travel 

Hybrid; 20–35% travel to suppliers, factories, and key project sites globally 

Qualifications

• 15+ years in data center or mission-critical infrastructure across electrical, mechanical, and critical systems 

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (ME) or Electrical Engineering (EE)  with end-to-end project lifecycle experience spanning design, construction, commissioning, and operations 

• Proven experience building global category strategies and managing multi-region supplier networks 

• Demonstrated success in capacity management, pre-buy programs, and supply risk mitigation 

• Strong knowledge of IEC, IEEE, ASHRAE, NFPA, and commissioning practices 

• Executive presence, strong commercial acumen, and data-driven decision making 

The targeted pay range for this position in the following location is / locations are:

United States - Dallas Infomart Office DAI : 177,000 - 265,000 USD / Annual

Canada - Toronto Office TRO : 182,000 - 272,000 CAD / Annual

Our pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum target for new hire pay for the full-time position determined by role, level, and location.The pay range shown is based on our compensation structure in place at the time of posting and may be updated periodically based on business needs. Individual pay is based on additional factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education and/or training.

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.

Equinix Benefits

As an employee, you become important to Equinix’s success. We ensure all your benefits are in line with our core values: competitive, inclusive, sustainable, connected and efficient. We keep them competitive within the current marketplace to ensure we’re providing you with the best package possible. So, wherever you are in your career and life, you’ll be able to enhance your experience and bring your whole self to work.

Employee Assistance Program: An Employee Assistance program is available to all employees.

Equinix is committed to ensuring that our employment process is open to all individuals, including those with a disability.  If you are a qualified candidate and need assistance or an accommodation, please let us know by completing this form.

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. 

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