Description
OpenAI's data center construction teams work with various partners to deliver infrastructure supporting computing needs. As a Mechanical Lead, you will oversee mechanical field delivery for data center construction, focusing on cooling infrastructure, piping, and data hall fit-out.
Key Responsibilities:
- Manage mechanical contractors, equipment installers, and general contractors against approved scope, schedule, and quality requirements.
- Oversee installation readiness and delivery of cooling plant, pumps, heat rejection equipment, air handling, piping, and liquid-cooling infrastructure.
- Coordinate equipment placement, pipe routing, and maintainability with structural, electrical, controls, and hardware teams.
- Review contractor work plans, constructability, submittals, RFIs, and change proposals; resolve field issues with engineering teams.
- Oversee pressure testing, flushing, cleaning, and inspection records; verify completion, defect closure, and commissioning readiness.
- Support commissioning specialists with mechanical startup and system tests, corrective work, and documentation.
- Set contractor priorities, review staffing and progress, identify constraints, and coordinate recovery actions with construction leadership.
- Maintain clear progress, risk, and change reporting.
Qualifications:
- Substantial mechanical construction, installation, or field engineering experience in data center cooling or comparable critical facilities.
- Demonstrated leadership of mechanical contractors or crews.
- Practical knowledge of cooling, ventilation, hydronic, and pumping systems.
- Ability to review drawings, specifications, and submittals for constructability and installation readiness.
- Experience coordinating inspection, pressure testing, and controls checkout.
- Clear communication and sound judgment.
Preferred Skills:
- Owner-side or specialist-contractor experience with high-density data center cooling, liquid cooling, or phased cooling-system startup.
- Experience with integrated systems testing, factory or site acceptance activities, and digital commissioning or field-reporting tools.
- Relevant mechanical trade, controls, balancing, or commissioning qualifications, or professional engineering credentials.