Application Guide
How to Apply for Principal, Power Systems & Data Centers - Impact Consulting
at RMI
🏢 About RMI
RMI is a leading nonpartisan nonprofit that partners with businesses, policymakers, and communities to accelerate the clean energy transition, with a bold goal of transforming global energy systems by 2030. Working here means joining a mission-driven, entrepreneurial team that punches above its weight in impact, influencing markets and policies at scale. The culture values independence, collaboration, and systems thinking, making it ideal for those who want to tackle complex energy challenges without partisan constraints.
About This Role
As Principal, Power Systems & Data Centers, you will build and lead RMI’s cross-program strategy and advisory work focused on the rapidly growing data center sector. You will integrate expertise from teams like Electricity, Buildings, Industries, and Climate Finance to address challenges spanning electricity systems, generation and transmission, water, backup power, site selection, permitting, finance, and community engagement. This role is pivotal in shaping how AI and digital infrastructure growth can align with a clean, resilient energy future.
💡 A Day in the Life
You might start your day with a cross-team call to align on a proposal for a major data center client, then dive into analyzing transmission interconnection options for a new facility. Later, you'd brief RMI leadership on strategy, mentor junior staff, and engage with an external partner on a joint initiative to accelerate clean backup power solutions.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who RMI Is Looking For
- 10+ years of experience in power systems, energy consulting, or data center infrastructure, with a track record of leading cross-functional teams and advising senior stakeholders.
- Deep understanding of electricity markets, transmission planning, and the energy needs of large loads like data centers, including familiarity with backup power, cooling, and sustainability strategies.
- Strong business development and client advisory skills, with the ability to build relationships across sectors and translate technical insights into actionable strategies.
- Experience working with nonprofits, think tanks, or mission-driven organizations, and a passion for accelerating the energy transition through market-based solutions.
📝 Tips for Applying to RMI
Emphasize your experience bridging technical power systems expertise with strategic advisory work, especially in fast-growing sectors like data centers.
Highlight any cross-sector collaboration you've led, particularly involving electricity, buildings, finance, or policy teams, as this role requires integrating across RMI's programs.
Show familiarity with RMI's existing work and publications on data centers, electricity, and climate finance; reference specific reports or initiatives in your cover letter.
Demonstrate your ability to build and lead new initiatives from scratch, as this role involves establishing RMI's institutional strategy in a nascent area.
Use quantifiable outcomes to illustrate your impact, such as MW of clean energy enabled, emissions reduced, or revenue generated through advisory services.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your vision for how RMI can uniquely address the intersection of data center growth and clean energy, leveraging its cross-program capabilities.', "Specific examples of how you've integrated diverse expertise (e.g., power systems, finance, policy) to solve complex energy challenges.", 'Your experience advising senior leaders and building partnerships with industry, utilities, or policymakers in the data center or power sectors.', "Why you are drawn to RMI's mission and how your background aligns with its entrepreneurial, impact-focused culture."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Review RMI's website, especially the Electricity, Climate Finance, and US Program pages, to understand their current initiatives and thought leadership.
- → Read RMI reports on data centers, such as 'The Carbon Footprint of Data Centers' or related publications, to grasp their perspective and gaps.
- → Research recent data center growth trends, major players (e.g., hyperscalers), and emerging solutions in clean energy procurement and grid integration.
- → Understand RMI's organizational structure and key programs (e.g., Third Derivative, Buildings, Industries) to identify potential collaboration areas.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing only on technical power systems knowledge without demonstrating strategic advisory and cross-sector integration skills.
- Underestimating the importance of RMI's nonprofit, mission-driven context and treating the role as purely commercial consulting.
- Neglecting to articulate a clear vision for how to bridge data center growth with clean energy goals in a way that aligns with RMI's systems-level approach.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!