Data Center Operations Manager
This role leads day-to-day and strategic operations of mission-critical data center facilities supporting AI infrastructure, managing teams of technicians and overseeing mechanical, electrical, and cooling systems across one or multiple sites. It distinguishes itself from hands-on technician roles through its focus on regional or multi-site leadership, vendor management, preventive maintenance programs, and executive-level performance accountability for uptime and reliability. These managers sit within larger infrastructure operations teams at hyperscale AI cloud providers, partnering closely with hardware engineering, construction, and capacity planning functions to ensure facilities reliably support dense GPU and compute deployments at scale.
Skills
What companies are looking for in this role.
Managing electrical power distribution systems including UPS, PDUs, switchgear, generators, and automatic transfer switches
Operating and maintaining mechanical cooling systems including CRAC/CRAH units, chilled water plants, and precision air handling
Monitoring facility health and performance through building management systems and data center infrastructure management platforms
Leading preventive and corrective maintenance programs and tracking work orders to completion
Ensuring compliance with electrical, fire, life safety, and occupational safety codes and standards
Reading and interpreting electrical schematics, mechanical drawings, and process flow diagrams
Managing third-party vendors and contractors for specialized maintenance and emergency response
Coordinating data center site selection, expansion projects, and equipment commissioning activities
Developing and executing multi-year facilities strategy aligned to organizational growth and capacity planning
Managing geographically distributed portfolio of data center and manufacturing facilities across multiple regions
Designing operational frameworks including service level agreements, incident management protocols, and reporting methodologies
Integrating renewable energy and on-site generation assets into facilities operations and power management
Tracking and optimizing energy consumption metrics and power usage effectiveness across facility portfolio
Implementing predictive maintenance programs and leveraging data analytics to minimize unplanned downtime
Leading deployment and operations of custom silicon and specialized AI hardware in production environments
Managing direct liquid cooling systems and coordinating leak response protocols for high-density compute environments
Building operational technology platforms and automation systems for unified infrastructure monitoring
Leading and scaling high-performing teams across multiple sites with consistent operational standards
Building cross-functional partnerships with engineering, real estate, finance, and external stakeholders
Communicating technical information clearly to senior leadership and diverse stakeholder groups
Driving operational excellence and continuous improvement through data-driven decision making
Enforcing safety protocols and building strong safety culture across operations
Operating with bias for action and delivering results in fast-paced, ambiguous environments
Managing vendor relationships and holding partners accountable to contractual specifications and performance standards
Mentoring and developing direct reports and ensuring consistent execution across distributed teams
Technology
The tools and technologies that define this role.
Open Jobs
66 open Data Center Operations Manager jobs across 9 companies.
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Secures, procures, and manages power supply for AI compute infrastructure. Covers energy procurement and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), commercial energy development, power transaction management, load interconnection with utilities and grid operators, energy market analysis and forecasting, nuclear/renewable commercial development, and on-site/behind-the-meter generation strategy. Distinct from data center operations (which runs facilities day-to-day) and from sales (which sells software to energy companies) — the defining mandate is securing reliable, cost-effective, and increasingly clean power supply at the scale required by modern AI compute.
Oversees construction projects for data centers, offices, and other facilities from planning through completion.
Provides high-level administrative support to senior leadership, managing schedules, communications, and travel.
Drives cross-functional programs and projects from initiation through delivery.
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