Category Manager, Infrastructure Cooling Equipment

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 company backed by SoftBank and Ares pairing cutting-edge innovation with best-in-class execution. Our Mission is to provide reliable, affordable energy at scale to support America’s growing energy demands.

Headquartered in Redwood City, CA, SB Energy develops, builds, owns & operates some of the largest and most technically advanced energy and data center infrastructure projects in the United States. Since launching in 2019, the company has rapidly grown into a top-tier integrated platform with over 3 gigawatts (GW) in operation and a multi-GW pipeline of energy and data center infrastructure nationwide. SB Energy also utilizes its strong culture of innovation to identify and incorporate new technology into our projects, including our AI-based digital platform, to deliver energy infrastructure that is local, reliable, and matched to load. We are building the energy and technology future—today.

Come join us in accelerating the energy transition to cleaner, more sustainable sources of power!

Basic Function

SB Energy is seeking a strategic and technically capable Category Manager, Infrastructure Cooling Equipment (HVAC/Thermal) to lead sourcing, supplier management, manufacturing coordination, and category execution activities for mission-critical electrical infrastructure supporting next-generation AI factory and advanced data center deployment programs.

Reporting to the Director, the Category Manager will be responsible for managing supplier relationships, sourcing strategies, commercial negotiations, manufacturing coordination, and supply continuity planning across critical electrical infrastructure equipment categories.

The Category Manager will work closely with engineering, construction, commissioning, logistics, procurement engineering, and project stakeholders to support deployment readiness, Basis of Design alignment, manufacturing scalability, and long-range infrastructure growth across a rapidly expanding portfolio.

This role will play a key part in securing supply continuity, improving supplier performance, managing commercial and operational risk, and supporting deployment velocity for critical electrical infrastructure systems supporting hyperscale AI infrastructure.

The ideal candidate combines strong strategic sourcing and supplier management capabilities with technical understanding of mission-critical electrical systems, manufacturing operations, and infrastructure deployment environments.

Responsibilities

Lead sourcing and category management activities for mechanical, HVAC infrastructure equipment supporting AI factory and advanced data center deployment programs

Develop and execute sourcing strategies across categories including:

Liquid cooling systems

Chillers

CRAH/CRAC systems

Cooling towers

Heat exchangers

Pumping systems

Hydronic systems

Thermal skids and modular cooling infrastructure

Support supplier selection, bid evaluations, commercial negotiations, and contract execution activities

Develop long-term supplier relationships and strategic sourcing plans supporting infrastructure growth and deployment scalability

Identify opportunities to improve supply continuity, supplier competitiveness, deployment velocity, and commercial performance

Manage supplier relationships and ongoing commercial coordination activities across thermal infrastructure suppliers

Monitor supplier manufacturing schedules, production readiness, lead times, and delivery commitments

Coordinate with suppliers regarding:

Manufacturing status

Capacity planning

Forecast alignment

Delivery schedules

Operational risks

Escalation management

Support supplier operational reviews, performance management, and continuous improvement initiatives

Assist with supplier onboarding, qualification, and manufacturing readiness evaluations

Collaborate with engineering and design teams to align sourcing activities with standard OFCI Basis of Design requirements

Support technical review and procurement coordination for equipment specifications, supplier submittals, and performance requirements

Participate in supplier technical review meetings and equipment evaluation activities

Coordinate with procurement engineering and commissioning teams supporting FAT, SAT, and equipment validation activities

Support standardization initiatives and technology evaluation efforts across thermal infrastructure systems

Supply Planning, Logistics & Deployment Coordination

Support long-range supply planning and integrated business planning (IBP) activities related to thermal infrastructure deployment forecasts

Coordinate closely with Supply Chain Operations & Control Tower teams regarding:

Delivery schedules

Logistics coordination

Inventory visibility

Deployment readiness

Site sequencing requirements

Monitor market conditions, manufacturing constraints, commodity exposure, and supply chain risks impacting thermal equipment availability

Support risk mitigation planning and contingency strategies related to critical thermal equipment deployment

Support management of purchase commitments, commercial obligations, and supplier performance metrics

Develop reporting and analytics related to:

Support management of purchase commitments, commercial obligations, and supplier performance metrics

Develop reporting and analytics related to:

Supplier performance

Manufacturing readiness

Delivery reliability

Lead time trends

Capacity constraints

Commercial exposure

Coordinate with finance, sourcing, operations, and project controls teams to support forecasting and deployment planning activities

Maintain accurate supplier documentation, procurement records, and operational reporting data

Qualifications/Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field required

5+ years of experience in category management, strategic sourcing, supplier management, procurement, or supply chain operations within infrastructure, industrial, manufacturing, HVAC, thermal systems, or mission-critical environments

Minimum 7+ years of professional experience

Strong understanding of thermal management infrastructure systems supporting data centers, industrial facilities, energy infrastructure, or large-scale construction projects

Experience sourcing or managing categories such as chillers, cooling systems, HVAC infrastructure, liquid cooling technologies, or related thermal equipment preferred

Strong supplier management, commercial negotiation, and operational coordination capabilities

Familiarity with manufacturing operations, lead time management, supplier capacity planning, and deployment coordination processes

Ability to work cross-functionally with engineering, construction, logistics, operations, and supplier organizations

Experience supporting large-scale infrastructure, hyperscale data center, industrial, or mission-critical deployment programs strongly preferred

Strong analytical, communication, organizational, and stakeholder management skills

Ability to manage multiple priorities in fast-paced infrastructure deployment environment

Location: San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, CA, or Denver, CO. Hybrid.

Remote locations within the United States will also be considered on a case by case basis.

Base Pay - $140,000-$165,000

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 teams. 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 .

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