📋 Job Overview
OpenAI is helping build the infrastructure that powers the next generation of artificial intelligence. Through Stargate, we are developing and operating large-scale AI compute campuses that require world-class execution across data center design, construction, commissioning, and operations.
🏢 About OpenAI
The Infrastructure Operations team is responsible for bringing AI infrastructure online and ensuring it operates reliably at scale. We partner closely with hardware, network, deployment, construction, and operations teams to deliver mission-critical environments capable of supporting frontier AI workloads. As our footprint expands, operational excellence becomes increasingly important to ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient campus operations.
🎯 The Role
We are seeking a Critical Facilities Manager to support the commissioning, operational readiness, and long-term operation of next-generation AI data center campuses.
This role sits at the intersection of construction, commissioning, hardware deployment, and facilities operations. You will be responsible for ensuring mission-critical infrastructure is prepared to support hardware deployment, transitioned successfully into production operations, and maintained to the highest standards of reliability and availability.
You will lead day-to-day operational execution across electrical, mechanical, controls, and supporting infrastructure systems while partnering closely with commissioning teams, site operators, vendors, and engineering organizations. This role requires a strong blend of technical depth, operational leadership, and cross-functional execution.
✅ Key Responsibilities
- Lead day-to-day operations of mission-critical facility infrastructure across AI compute campuses.
- Own operational readiness activities supporting new campus deployments and infrastructure expansion.
- Partner with commissioning teams to transition facilities from construction and startup into steady-state operations.
- Develop, implement, and continuously improve operating procedures, maintenance programs, and response plans.
- Lead infrastructure incident response efforts and coordinate recovery activities during critical events.
- Drive root cause analysis investigations and corrective action programs to improve reliability and operational performance.
- Manage vendors, contractors, and service providers supporting facility operations.
- Partner with hardware deployment, networking, and engineering teams to coordinate infrastructure changes and maintenance activities.
- Monitor facility performance, operational risk, and capacity utilization across critical systems.
- Support staffing, training, and development of facilities operations personnel.
- Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and operational standards.
- Establish operational processes that scale alongside OpenAI's rapidly growing infrastructure footprint.
📌 Required Qualifications
- 8+ years of experience operating mission-critical facilities, data centers, industrial infrastructure, or large-scale technical operations environments.
- Possess strong knowledge of electrical distribution systems, generators, UPS systems, cooling systems, and building controls.
- Have experience supporting commissioning, operational readiness, or infrastructure turnover programs.
- Have led facility operations teams, contractors, and third-party vendors.
- Are comfortable responding to incidents and making decisions in high-pressure operational environments.
- Have experience developing maintenance strategies, operating procedures, and reliability programs.
- Enjoy operating in fast-paced environments with significant ambiguity and rapid growth.
- Communicate effectively across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
⭐ Desirable Experience
- Experience supporting hyperscale, cloud, AI, HPC, or mission-critical data center environments.
- Experience with liquid cooling systems and high-density compute deployments.
- Familiarity with reliability
🎁 Benefits
Base pay: $159K – $240K • Offers Equity
The base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. If the role is non-exempt, overtime pay will be provided consistent with applicable laws. In addition to the salary range listed above, total compensation also includes generous equity, performance-related bonus(es) for eligible employees, and the following benefits.
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family, with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts
- Pre-tax accounts for Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, and commuter expenses (parking and transit)
- 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
- Paid parental leave (up to 24 weeks for birth parents and 20 weeks for non-birthing parents), plus paid medical and caregiver leave (up to 8 weeks)
- Paid time off: flexible PTO for exempt employees and up to 15 days annually for non-exempt employees
- 13+ paid company holidays, and multiple paid coordinated company office closures throughout the year for focus and recharge, plus paid sick or safe time (1 hour per 30 hours worked, or more, as required by applicable state or local law)
- Mental health and wellness support
- Employer-paid basic life and disability coverage
- Annual learning and development stipend to fuel your professional growth
- Daily meals in our offices, and meal delivery credits as eligible
- Relocation support for eligible employees
- Additional taxable fringe benefits, such as charitable donation matching and wellness stipends, may also be provided.
This role is at-will and OpenAI reserves the right to modify base pay and other compensation components at any time based on individual performance, team or company results, or market conditions.
🛂 Visa & Eligibility
No specific visa or eligibility information provided.
