About the Opportunity
We are partnering with an innovative data center development and infrastructure company supporting the rapidly growing AI and high-performance computing (HPC) industry.
The company develops and operates specialized data center facilities for GPU cloud providers, AI infrastructure companies, and enterprise customers. Its projects range from smaller multi-megawatt deployments to large-scale facilities exceeding 30 MW, including the conversion of existing industrial buildings into high-density computing environments.
We are seeking a Senior Data Center Engineer to oversee critical infrastructure projects from initial site evaluation and utility coordination through engineering design, construction, commissioning, and operational handoff.
This is an owner-side engineering opportunity for someone who can take technical ownership of infrastructure workstreams, coordinate across utilities and external engineering partners, and help deliver reliable, high-density AI data center environments.
What You'll Do
- Site Evaluation & Infrastructure Planning: Evaluate potential sites for electrical power availability, utility capacity, fiber connectivity, water access, structural requirements, and permitting constraints. Develop phased capacity plans, cost estimates, and implementation schedules.
- Electrical Infrastructure: Lead utility coordination and review electrical designs involving transformers, switchgear, UPS systems, generators, and rack-level power distribution.
- Mechanical & Cooling Systems: Review mechanical infrastructure designs for high-density GPU deployments, including air cooling, direct-to-chip liquid cooling, coolant distribution units (CDUs), and facility water systems. Evaluate redundancy, scalability, cost, and implementation timelines.
- Engineering & Construction Oversight: Represent the owner during construction, review technical submittals and RFIs, resolve engineering issues, and coordinate with engineering firms, contractors, and equipment vendors.
- Commissioning & Operational Readiness: Lead commissioning activities and integrated systems testing. Develop operating procedures, preventive maintenance plans, and incident response processes.
- Standards & Continuous Improvement: Help establish repeatable engineering standards, reference designs, and operating procedures that can be applied across future data center projects.
What We're Looking For
- 3+ years of experience in data center engineering, critical infrastructure, or comparable mission-critical facilities.
- Hands-on experience owning a significant electrical, mechanical, construction, commissioning, or critical operations workstream.
- Strong technical knowledge of electrical or mechanical infrastructure, with the ability to understand how power and cooling systems interact in high-density computing environments.
- Experience coordinating with utilities, engineering firms, general contractors, subcontractors, and/or equipment vendors.
- Ability to evaluate engineering designs, identify technical tradeoffs, and communicate recommendations to both technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
- Experience supporting projects through multiple phases, ideally from initial design through construction, commissioning, and operational handoff.
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
- Willingness and ability to travel regularly to project sites throughout the United States, with increased travel during construction and commissioning.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience delivering a multi-megawatt data center or other mission-critical facility from concept through commissioning.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license.
- Experience with liquid-cooled GPU clusters or other high-density computing environments.
- Experience converting industrial or existing commercial buildings into data center facilities.
- Experience coordinating with utilities, particularly within the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) service area.
- Familiarity with data center infrastructure management (DCIM), facility monitoring, and critical infrastructure operating standards.
Compensation & Benefits
Compensation will be based on experience, technical expertise, and project ownership scope. Equity participation may be available for qualified candidates.
Location & Travel
This is a remote position open to candidates throughout the United States. Candidates based in Tennessee are preferred, but applicants nationwide will be considered. Regular travel to active and prospective project sites is required, with heavier travel during construction and commissioning.
Summary
Oversee critical AI and high-performance computing data center infrastructure projects from site evaluation through design, construction, commissioning, and operational handoff. Requires 3+ years in data center or mission-critical engineering, hands-on ownership of infrastructure workstreams, and ability to coordinate with utilities and engineering partners.
Responsibilities
Evaluate sites for power, utility capacity, fiber, water, and permitting; lead utility coordination and review electrical and mechanical designs; oversee construction and resolve engineering issues; lead commissioning, integrated systems testing, and develop operating procedures and standards.
Qualifications
3+ years in data center engineering, critical infrastructure, or comparable mission-critical facilities; hands-on ownership of electrical, mechanical, construction, commissioning, or critical operations workstream; ability to evaluate designs and coordinate with utilities, engineering firms, contractors, and vendors.
Education requirements
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
Experience requirements
3+ years of experience in data center engineering, critical infrastructure, or comparable mission-critical facilities; experience supporting projects through multiple phases from design through construction, commissioning, and operational handoff.