Data Center Design Engineer, Electrical (Industrial Compute)

TL;DR

Data Center Design Engineer, Electrical (Industrial Compute): Designing and overseeing large-scale AI infrastructure ecosystems with an accent on MEP systems, power distribution, and critical facility maintenance. Focus on integrating power, cooling, and networking systems to ensure reliability and performance of high-compute environments.

Location: San Francisco, USA

Salary: $360K – $530K + Equity

Company

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity.

What you will do

• Oversee building and MEP design, operation, and maintenance across all project phases.
• Lead operational activities for large-scale data center campuses from early design through delivery and daily operation.
• Operate and maintain critical data center facilities and equipment, ensuring reliability and performance.
• Collaborate with external vendors to select, procure, and manage critical equipment such as generators, UPS, chillers, and CDUs.
• Ensure seamless integration of power, cooling, networking, and construction systems into overall design.
• Develop data center operational workflows from design requirements through commissioning and deployment.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in data center design, operation, and maintenance.
• Extensive expertise in MEP design, operation, and maintenance of critical infrastructure systems.
• Deep understanding of power, cooling, networking, and construction systems.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related fields.
• Professional engineering certificate and other similar certificates required.
• Must be located in or able to work in San Francisco.

Nice to have

• Experience in global, matrixed organizations and vendor negotiations.
• Experience managing global, multi-site data center operations.
• Expertise in logistics and supply chain management for large-scale operations.
• Familiarity with sustainability and energy-efficient data center designs.

Culture & Benefits

• Highly competitive compensation package including base salary and equity.
• Opportunity to lead transformative, high-visibility projects in the AI infrastructure space.
• Collaborative environment at the intersection of commercial, technical, and strategic operations.
• Commitment to equal opportunity and a diverse, inclusive workforce.