Manager, Facilities Operations

xAI xAI · AI Frontier · Memphis, TN · Data Center

This role is for a Facilities Operations Manager responsible for the reliability, performance, and continuous improvement of data center infrastructure, including power, cooling, and environmental systems. The manager will lead a team, oversee maintenance, implement optimization programs, ensure safety compliance, and manage vendor relationships. The role requires a Bachelor's degree in a related engineering field and extensive experience in managing critical facilities systems and leading technical teams.

What you'd actually do

  1. Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Facilities Operations Supervisors and Technicians, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  2. Own the overall maintenance, monitoring, troubleshooting, and performance of data center infrastructure, including HVAC, power distribution, UPS, generators, and environmental systems.
  3. Develop, implement, and continuously optimize preventive and predictive maintenance programs, equipment calibration strategies, and system performance KPIs.
  4. Create, refine, and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs), emergency response plans, and change management processes to drive operational consistency and excellence.
  5. Ensure full compliance with safety regulations, industry standards, and internal policies; champion a strong safety culture across the facilities team.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or a related engineering field (relevant experience may substitute for degree)
  • 7+ years of experience managing critical facilities systems, including power, cooling, and environmental controls in data center or mission-critical environments
  • 5+ years of people leadership experience in critical facilities or technical operations environments, including direct management of supervisors or technical teams
  • In-depth knowledge of electrical, mechanical, and HVAC systems in data centers
  • Proven track record of leading facilities infrastructure projects from planning through execution
  • Proficiency with building management systems (BMS), environmental monitoring tools, and computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS)
  • Strong prioritization, time management, and decision-making skills under pressure
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment while maintaining rigorous attention to detail
  • Must pass pre-employment and annual post-employment background checks
  • Ability to lift up to 35 lbs. unassisted
  • Comfortable working at heights up to 50 feet with appropriate safety gear
  • Ability to work in environments with exposure to noise
  • Physical dexterity to perform job functions in confined spaces
  • Availability to work evenings and weekends based on site operational needs; flexibility is required
  • Valid driver’s license

Nice to have

  • Experience programming or deeply configuring PLC-based control systems and advanced Building Management Systems
  • Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent
  • EPA Universal Refrigerant Certification (EPA 608 Technician)
  • Experience managing operational budgets and capital expenditure projects in a data center environment
  • Prior experience scaling facilities operations in a high-growth technology or mission-critical setting

What the JD emphasized

  • critical data center infrastructure
  • power, cooling, and environmental systems
  • lead and develop a team
  • hands-on technical excellence
  • strategic operational planning
  • process optimization
  • vendor management
  • cross-functional collaboration
  • maximum uptime, safety, and efficiency
  • preventive and predictive maintenance programs
  • system performance KPIs
  • standard operating procedures (SOPs)
  • emergency response plans
  • change management processes
  • safety regulations
  • industry standards
  • internal policies
  • safety culture
  • engineering, procurement, construction, and operations teams
  • equipment intake, installation, commissioning, and lifecycle management
  • inventory, asset management, and spare parts strategy
  • critical equipment maintenance, repairs, and capital projects
  • root-cause analysis
  • operational efficiency
  • reduce downtime
  • energy and resource utilization
  • vendor relationships
  • service contracts
  • performance management
  • 24/7 on-call leadership
  • critical facilities incidents
  • operational budgets
  • forecasts
  • resource planning
  • critical facilities systems
  • data center or mission-critical environments
  • people leadership experience
  • technical operations environments
  • direct management of supervisors or technical teams
  • electrical, mechanical, and HVAC systems in data centers
  • facilities infrastructure projects
  • building management systems (BMS)
  • environmental monitoring tools
  • computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS)
  • prioritization, time management, and decision-making skills under pressure
  • fast-paced, high-stakes environment
  • rigorous attention to detail
  • pre-employment and annual post-employment background checks
  • lift up to 35 lbs. unassisted
  • working at heights up to 50 feet
  • exposure to noise
  • confined spaces
  • evenings and weekends
  • site operational needs
  • flexibility is required
  • valid driver’s license
  • PLC-based control systems
  • advanced Building Management Systems
  • Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
  • EPA Universal Refrigerant Certification (EPA 608 Technician)
  • operational budgets and capital expenditure projects
  • scaling facilities operations
  • high-growth technology or mission-critical setting