VP, Customer Engineering

About the Company Armada is the hyperscaler for the edge, delivering modular AI infrastructure from first deployment to AI factory with speed, scale and sovereignty. Named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies and to the CNBC Disruptor 50, Armada’s solutions are deployed in over 60 countries globally for organizations ranging from energy to defense. With nearly $500 million in funding to date, Armada is backed by leading investors including Founders Fund, Lux, BlackRock and Microsoft (M12), alongside strategic partnerships with Microsoft, Dell, Palantir, NVIDIA, SpaceX, and Skydio. We are building the infrastructure layer for sovereign and edge AI - rugged, deployable compute for customers that cannot rely on centralized cloud. Working at Armada means taking ownership, driving autonomy, and delivering impact. You’ll tackle challenges that haven’t been solved before and help build something transformative from the ground up. What you do here will not only define your career but help further Armada’s mission to bridge the digital divide for customers around the world. About the Role Armada is seeking a visionary VP of Customer Engineering to lead a world-class, globally distributed team of Customer Engineers at the forefront of AI infrastructure and edge computing. This is a pivotal leadership role for a builder and operator who thrives at the intersection of cutting-edge AI technology and large-scale industrial deployment. As Armada accelerates adoption of its AI-powered edge platform spanning ruggedized modular data centers, GPU-accelerated inference, and real-time edge AI this leader will shape how we engage with customers globally: from initial technical discovery through validated, deployment-ready architectures. You will own the pre-sales technical lifecycle across all regions, ensuring our Customer Engineers operate with rigor, speed, and clarity in North America, EMEA, APAC, and emerging markets. The CE function guides customers from mission-critical AI ambitions and complex operational environments to scalable, field-proven Armada solutions taking each opportunity 80% of the way by scoping requirements, framing AI infrastructure trade-offs, validating feasibility, and ensuring full qualification before moving to detailed engineering. VP, Customer Engineering & Value Engineering About the Role Armada is seeking a visionary VP of Customer Engineering & Value Engineering (Global) to lead a world-class, globally distributed organization at the forefront of AI infrastructure and edge computing. This is a pivotal leadership role for a builder and operator who thrives at the intersection of cutting-edge AI technology, commercial execution, and large-scale industrial deployment. This leader will own and scale both the Customer Engineering (CE) and Value Engineering (VE) functions globally, ensuring tight integration between technical discovery, solution architecture, and business value articulation across the entire pre-sales lifecycle. As Armada accelerates adoption of its AI-powered edge platform—spanning ruggedized modular data centers, GPU-accelerated inference, and real-time edge AI—this role will define how we engage with customers worldwide. From initial technical discovery through validated, deployment-ready architectures and quantified business outcomes, you will drive a consistent and high-impact motion across North America, EMEA, APAC, and emerging markets. The combined CE + VE organization guides customers from mission-critical AI ambitions and complex operational environments to scalable, field-proven Armada solutions—taking each opportunity ~80% of the way by: • Scoping technical and business requirements • Framing AI infrastructure trade-offs • Validating feasibility and ROI • Ensuring full qualification prior to deep engineering engagement You will build a best-in-class global pre-sales engine where: • Customer Engineering drives technical discovery and architecture • Value Engineering quantifies ROI, operational impact, and strategic value • Together, they accelerate revenue while enforcing discipline, consistency, and scale What You'll Do Build & Scale a Global Customer Engineering & Value Engineering Organization • Lead, coach, and develop a globally distributed team across North America, EMEA, APAC, and emerging markets • Own global hiring strategy across Customer Engineering and Value Engineering, building presence in new regions and scaling existing teams • Establish operating rhythms, onboarding frameworks, and standards for technical and commercial excellence worldwide • Create career pathways that develop Customer Engineers into AI infrastructure architects and Value Engineers into strategic advisors • Build a culture of continuous learning across AI, edge computing, and industrial deployments at scale Drive AI-Focused Technical Discovery & Value-Based Solutioning • Champion a rigorous AI-first discovery methodology, integrating both technical and value-based frameworks • Guide teams to uncover: • AI workload requirements • Business drivers and ROI levers • Data sovereignty and regulatory constraints • Connectivity realities across global environments • Ensure translation of complex environments into: • Validated edge architectures (Galleon, Atlas, GPU stack) • Clear economic value propositions and business cases • Define standards for: • AI inference, real-time analytics, and ML pipelines • Value quantification, ROI modeling, and executive-level narratives Elevate Global Pre-Sales Excellence (Technical + Value) • Set the global bar for: • Architecture quality • Discovery rigor • Value articulation • Proof-of-value frameworks • Standardize technical and commercial qualification frameworks ensuring opportunities are: • Technically feasible • Economically justified • Strategically aligned • Implement global review cadences combining: • Architecture validation (CE) • Business case validation (VE) • Drive consistency across regions while maintaining local adaptability Partner Cross-Functionally to Accelerate Global Revenue • Collaborate with Sales, Product, Engineering, and Deployment teams globally • Align technical architectures with business outcomes, including: • ROI • Operational efficiency • AI-driven transformation • Partner closely with verticals including energy, defense, telecom, and industrials • Feed global insights into: • Product roadmap • Hardware evolution • Platform strategy Build Scalable Methodologies & Playbooks • Develop globally consistent: • AI edge reference architectures • ROI frameworks and value playbooks • Proof-of-value methodologies • Create repeatable patterns across: • GPU deployments • Hybrid edge-cloud architectures • Satellite-connected environments • Enable regional teams with: • Localized regulatory and deployment considerations • Partner ecosystem integration • Balance global consistency with regional agility Core Skills & Capabilities Global Leadership & Team Development • Proven experience building and scaling global CE and/or VE organizations • Strong talent builder with ability to develop technical and commercial leaders • Ability to operate in ambiguity and bring structure to high-growth environments • Experience working across international markets, enterprises, and governments AI Infrastructure & Edge Architecture • Deep expertise in: • GPU compute and AI inference • Distributed systems and edge computing • LLM and ML deployment • Strong understanding of infrastructure trade-offs: • Latency vs bandwidth • Edge vs cloud • Sovereignty vs scale System Architecture & Engineering Design • Ability to architect end-to-end systems across: • Modular data centers • Networking, storage, compute • Fluency in: • Engineering documentation • Deployment planning • Real-world infrastructure constraints Value Engineering & Strategic Storytelling • Strong ability to: • Build ROI models and business cases • Translate technical solutions into executive value • Influence C-level stakeholders • Expertise in commercial positioning and competitive differentiation Required Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant technical field • 7+ years leading Customer Engineering, Solutions Architecture, or Value Engineering teams globally • 7–10+ years in pre-sales, AI infrastructure, data center, or distributed systems • Deep expertise in: • GPU infrastructure (NVIDIA ecosystem) • AI frameworks (TensorRT, ONNX, etc.) • Datacenter and edge architecture • Experience with: • Kubernetes, virtualization, cloud (IaaS/PaaS) • Proven ability to influence C-level stakeholders globally • Willingness to travel internationally, including remote/field environments Preferred Qualifications • Experience in energy, defense, telecom, utilities, or industrial sectors • Exposure to modular/mobile data centers • Experience with: • Edge AI optimization • OT/IT convergence • Satellite/LEO connectivity (Starlink, VSAT) • Global experience across EMEA, APAC, or Middle East • Relevant certifications (AI/ML, cloud, datacenter) Compensation & Benefits For U.S. Based candidates: To ensure fairness and transparency, the on-target earnings salary range for this role for candidates in the U.S. are listed, varying based on location experience, skills, and qualifications. In addition to the salary, this role will also be offered equity and subsidized benefits (details available upon request). Benefits • Medical, dental, and vision (subsidized cost) • Health savings accounts (HSA), flexible spending accounts (FSA), and dependent care FSAs (DCFSA) • Retirement plan options, including 401(k) and Roth 401(k) • Unlimited paid time off (PTO) • 14 paid company holidays per year Compensation $357,000—$407,000 USD You're a Great Fit if You're • A go-getter with a growth mindset. You're intellectually curious, have strong business acumen, and actively seek opportunities to build relevant skills and knowledge • A detail-oriented problem-solver. You can independently gather information, solve problems efficiently, and deliver results with a "get-it-done" attitude • Thrive in a fast-paced environment. You're energized by an entrepreneurial spirit, capable of working quickly, and excited to contribute to a growing company • A collaborative team player. You focus on business success and are motivated by team accomplishment vs personal agenda • Highly organized and results-driven. Strong prioritization skills and a dedicated work ethic are essential for you Equal Opportunity Statement At Armada, we are committed to fostering a work environment where everyone is given equal opportunities to thrive. As an equal opportunity employer, we strictly prohibit discrimination or harassment based on race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy applies to all employment decisions, including hiring, promotions, and compensation. Our hiring is guided by qualifications, merit, and the business needs at the time. Unsolicited Resumes and Candidates Armada does not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions from external agencies or recruiters. All candidates must apply directly through our careers page. Any resumes submitted by agencies without a prior signed agreement will be considered unsolicited and Armada will not be obligated to pay any fees.