Data Center Research & Development Engineer, Mechanical - Stargate at OpenAI

San Francisco, California, United States

OpenAI Logo
$310,000 – $460,000Compensation
Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
AI, Data Centers, TechnologyIndustries

Requirements

  • 20+ years of experience in data center design, operations, and critical systems maintenance
  • Proven leadership across design, commissioning, and operation of large-scale data center campuses
  • Deep expertise in infrastructure systems (power, cooling, controls, networking) and operational workflows
  • Hands-on experience with critical infrastructure equipment and testing protocols
  • Strong track record in lab development, equipment selection, and facility operations
  • Familiarity with engineering tools (CAD, CFD, PLM, etc.) and their integration across teams
  • Experience navigating regulatory environments and working with government agencies
  • Excellent cross-functional communication and stakeholder collaboration
  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering required; advanced degree preferred
  • Extensive experience in designing, performing validation testing, commissioning, and operating large-scale power, cooling, and high-performance computing systems

Responsibilities

  • Oversee electrical, mechanical, controls, and telemetry design and operations for large-scale data centers, including review of building and MEP drawings across all project phases from concept design to permitting, construction, commissioning and production
  • Develop, test and implement operational procedures and workflows from design through commissioning and deployment
  • Perform validation testing of all critical equipment and hardware in partnership with equipment vendors and ODMs
  • Lead buildout of R&D lab, including equipment selection, test infrastructure for high-density liquid-cooled racks, and staffing plans
  • Select and manage engineering tools (CAD, CFD, PLM, PDM, electrical, mechanical, power/network management)
  • Collaborate with external vendors to select, procure, and manage critical infrastructure equipment (e.g., UPS, generators, transformers, DC to DC converters, chillers, VFDs)
  • Ensure seamless integration of power, cooling, controls, networking, and construction systems into facility design
  • Provide technical direction to teams and vendors, ensuring safety, quality, and compliance with local codes, standards and regulations
  • Manage vendor relationships and ensure adherence to safety, performance, and operational standards
  • Develop and validate new infrastructure and hardware, including high-voltage rectifiers, UPS systems, battery storage, transformers, DC to DC converters, and power supplies
  • Create detailed models and test procedures, and ensure hardware compatibility across edge-case data center operating conditions
  • Work closely with hardware vendors to assess manufacturing test protocols, throughput, and liquid-cooled GPU rack performance

Skills

Mechanical Design
Power Systems
Cooling Systems
High-Voltage Rectifiers
UPS Systems
Battery Storage
Transformers
DC-DC Converters
Power Supplies
Validation Testing
Commissioning
Liquid Cooling
GPU Racks
Hardware Validation
Vendor Management

OpenAI

Develops safe and beneficial AI technologies

About OpenAI

OpenAI develops and deploys artificial intelligence technologies aimed at benefiting humanity. The company creates advanced AI models capable of performing various tasks, such as automating processes and enhancing creativity. OpenAI's products, like Sora, allow users to generate videos from text descriptions, showcasing the versatility of its AI applications. Unlike many competitors, OpenAI operates under a capped profit model, which limits the profits it can make and ensures that excess earnings are redistributed to maximize the social benefits of AI. This commitment to safety and ethical considerations is central to its mission of ensuring that artificial general intelligence (AGI) serves all of humanity.

San Francisco, CaliforniaHeadquarters
2015Year Founded
$18,433.2MTotal Funding
LATE_VCCompany Stage
AI & Machine LearningIndustries
1,001-5,000Employees

Benefits

Health insurance
Dental and vision insurance
Flexible spending account for healthcare and dependent care
Mental healthcare service
Fertility treatment coverage
401(k) with generous matching
20-week paid parental leave
Life insurance (complimentary)
AD&D insurance (complimentary)
Short-term/long-term disability insurance (complimentary)
Optional buy-up life insurance
Flexible work hours and unlimited paid time off (we encourage 4+ weeks per year)
Annual learning & development stipend
Regular team happy hours and outings
Daily catered lunch and dinner
Travel to domestic conferences

Risks

Elon Musk's legal battle may pose financial and reputational challenges for OpenAI.
Customizable ChatGPT personas could lead to privacy and ethical concerns.
Competitors like Anthropic raising capital may intensify market competition.

Differentiation

OpenAI's capped profit model prioritizes ethical AI development over unlimited profit.
OpenAI's AI models, like Sora, offer unique video creation from text descriptions.
OpenAI's focus on AGI aims to create AI systems smarter than humans.

Upsides

OpenAI's $6.6 billion funding boosts its AI research and computational capacity.
Customizable ChatGPT personas enhance user engagement and satisfaction.
OpenAI's 'Operator' AI agent could revolutionize workforce automation by 2025.

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