Strategic Sourcing Manager, Data Center Infrastructure: Mechanical

📋 Job Overview

OpenAI's Industrial Compute organization is building the world's most advanced AI infrastructure ecosystem. Working alongside leading cloud providers, engineering firms, construction partners, utilities, and equipment manufacturers, we are delivering hyperscale AI campuses that enable the next generation of frontier AI models.

🏢 About OpenAI

OpenAI's Industrial Compute organization is building the world's most advanced AI infrastructure ecosystem. Working alongside leading cloud providers, engineering firms, construction partners, utilities, and equipment manufacturers, we are delivering hyperscale AI campuses that enable the next generation of frontier AI models.

🎯 The Role

We are seeking a Strategic Sourcing Manager, Data Center Infrastructure to lead sourcing strategy for the critical infrastructure systems that power Industrial Compute campuses. This role will develop commercial strategies, negotiate strategic supplier agreements, and manage relationships across engineering, construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure partners responsible for delivering mission-critical facilities.

✅ Key Responsibilities

• Develop long-term sourcing strategies for data center infrastructure systems supporting Industrial Compute.
• Lead strategic supplier selection, RFx processes, commercial negotiations, and contract execution for major infrastructure programs.
• Build and maintain executive relationships with key suppliers, manufacturers, EPC firms, integrators, and infrastructure vendors.
• Partner with Infrastructure Delivery and Engineering to align sourcing strategies with project schedules, technical requirements, and deployment priorities.
• Collaborate with Capacity Planning to ensure supplier capacity aligns with long-term infrastructure roadmaps.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities across manufacturing capacity, execution quality, financial health, delivery performance, and operational maturity.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks through supplier diversification, long-term agreements, alternative sourcing strategies, and capacity reservations.
• Monitor global market conditions, manufacturing trends, commodity impacts, geopolitical risks, and supplier ecosystems that may affect infrastructure delivery.
• Develop supplier scorecards and performance metrics across quality, cost, schedule, responsiveness, safety, and execution.
• Support executive sourcing decisions through financial analysis, market intelligence, scenario planning, and supplier benchmarking.
• Partner with Legal and Finance to structure scalable commercial agreements that support Industrial Compute's long-term infrastructure strategy.

📌 Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Construction Management, Business, Operations, Finance, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, supplier management, or infrastructure supply chain management.
• Experience sourcing major infrastructure systems, industrial equipment, mission-critical facilities, or large capital projects.
• Proven experience negotiating complex commercial agreements.
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Deep understanding of data center infrastructure, mechanical systems, or related industries.

🎁 Benefits

Compensation: $226K – $285K • 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.

More details about our benefits are available to candidates during the hiring process.

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.