JANITZA NORTH AMERICADirector of R&D (Focus: Data Center Development)LocationRemote (North America) • up to 40% travelEmployment TypeFull-Time
Reports ToVP of Engineering
Compensation$180,000 - $220,000 base + 20% target bonus + full benefits
Role in a NutshellYou will lead Janitza North America's research and early-stage development efforts - identifying where the market is heading, validating new solution concepts with customers, and converting those insights into structured requirements and prototypes that influence global product decisions.
You will be a technically deep engineering leader and thought partner, collaborating across Sales, Product, Solutions Engineering, and our Germany headquarters.
What You'll DoDefine the North American R&D Direction
- Build and maintain a North American R&D roadmap grounded in customer needs, market trends, and Janitza's global strategy.
- Identify emerging requirements in critical infrastructure, AI data centers, industrial power, and energy management before they become table stakes.
- Establish a structured process for converting customer feedback into business cases, technical proposals, and prioritized requirements.
Validate Ideas Through Customer Engagement
- Work directly with key accounts and strategic customers to uncover unmet technical needs.
- Develop proof-of-concepts, prototypes, and reference architectures that test and validate new solution concepts.
- Partner with Sales and Solutions Engineering on strategic opportunities where novel technical approaches create competitive differentiation.
Influence the Global Product Roadmap
- Partner with Janitza Germany's product and engineering teams to translate North American market signals into global product direction.
- Collaborate with Product Management to define requirements for new hardware, firmware, software, and integration capabilities.
- Support development of packaged solution offerings, application notes, and reference architectures.
Technical Focus Areas (Including, but not limited to)Your near-term priorities will be shaped by the roadmap you develop, but initial focus areas include:
- AI data center power monitoring - including DC systems and high-density load profiling
- Power quality analytics - sub-synchronous oscillation, supraharmonic detection, waveform/event capture
- Grid and infrastructure stability monitoring
- Meter-to-software integration architectures (Modbus TCP, OPC UA, MQTT, IEC 61850)
- AI-assisted troubleshooting and anomaly/predictive maintenance applications
- Customer-specific telemetry and data pipeline solutions
What You BringRequired
- S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
- 10+ years of experience in electronic design and R&D, with direct experience in power systems, energy monitoring, or critical infrastructure applications
- Strong understanding of electrical distribution systems, power quality, and power metering
- Hands-on experience developing proof-of-concepts, prototypes, or customer-specific technical solutions
- Proficiency in at least one simulation or prototyping environment: C/C++, MATLAB, or Python
- Excellent communication skills - able to translate complex technical concepts for executives, customers, and sales teams
- Comfort operating in ambiguous, early-stage environments where you create structure, not just follow it
Preferred
- S. or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or Computer Science
- Familiarity with industrial protocols: Modbus TCP, OPC UA, MQTT, BACnet, IEC 61850
- Experience with software integrations, APIs, cloud platforms, or applied AI/ML
- Prior experience working with global product or engineering teams
- Background working with power monitoring platforms, power quality meters, or energy management systems
How We'll Measure SuccessIn your first 12 months, success looks like:
- A North American R&D roadmap is defined, socialized with leadership, and aligned to the global product strategy
- 2-3 validated proof-of-concepts have been developed and presented for product roadmap consideration
- Key customer relationships are deepened through direct technical engagement, resulting in documented unmet needs
- At least one new solution concept has advanced toward a productized offering, partnership, or funded development initiative
- North American customer requirements are consistently surfaced and actioned within the Janitza Germany product process
Compensation & Benefits- Base salary of $180,000 - $220,000 with a 20% target annual bonus.
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- Retirement savings plan with company contribution.
- Paid time off, holidays, and a fully remote work arrangement.
- Professional development support and international collaboration with our German headquarters.
Ready to Shape the Future of Power Intelligence? 
