Chiller SME

Applied Digital Corporation•Ellendale, ND

4h•Onsite

About The Position

At Applied Digital, we are the epicenter of AI innovation, crafting cutting-edge data center solutions tailored for the demands of high-performance computing. Designed from the ground up to support AI and machine learning workloads, our infrastructure is the backbone of tomorrow’s technological advancements, including AI-driven video and generative platforms. We are forward-thinkers, resilient, and innovative designers, committed and steadfast in solving intricate problems, advancing business initiatives, maximizing operational efficiency, and reducing our carbon footprint. The Chiller Subject Matter Expert (SME) is a senior technical authority responsible for the operational reliability, performance optimization, and lifecycle management of chiller plants supporting Applied Digital’s hyperscale Data Center portfolio. This role serves as the primary escalation point for complex chiller and cooling plant issues and provides expert guidance to Operations, Engineering, Construction, and Commissioning teams. The Chiller SME focuses heavily on post-commissioning operations, long-term reliability, plant optimization, and continuous improvement of mission-critical cooling infrastructure supporting high-density compute and AI workloads.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, HVAC Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
10+ years of experience working with large-scale chiller plants in mission-critical environments (Data Centers, healthcare, industrial, or similar).
Deep hands-on knowledge of air-cooled and water-cooled chiller systems, pumping systems, and heat rejection equipment.
Strong understanding of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and plant-level control strategies.
Proven experience leading RCAs for chiller plant and cooling infrastructure failures.
Ability to interpret mechanical drawings, P&IDs, sequences of operation, and control logic.
Experience supporting live, production Data Center environments with zero tolerance for downtime.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting hyperscale or high-density AI/HPC Data Centers.
Experience with advanced cooling strategies (e.g., high-efficiency plants, economization, or hybrid cooling).
Familiarity with modern refrigerants and regulatory compliance considerations.
Professional Engineer (PE) license or relevant industry certifications.
Experience standardizing mechanical infrastructure across multi-site portfolios.

Responsibilities

Act as the primary technical authority for chiller plants across Applied Digital Data Centers.
Serve as the highest-level escalation point for complex chiller system faults, alarms, capacity constraints, and efficiency issues.
Lead root cause analysis (RCA) for chiller, pump, and cooling plant incidents, developing corrective and preventive actions.
Analyze plant performance data, trends, and control sequences to improve reliability and efficiency.
Develop, review, and continuously improve chiller plant operating procedures, maintenance strategies, and emergency response playbooks.
Evaluate plant redundancy, available cooling capacity, and operational margins in live Data Center environments.
Partner with site operations teams to reduce unplanned downtime, optimize availability, and improve system resiliency.
Support load increases, seasonal transitions, and high-density cooling demands.
Provide operational input during design reviews, equipment selections, and plant architecture decisions.
Support commissioning and integrated systems testing (IST), with emphasis on real-world operational readiness.
Identify design, installation, or controls deficiencies that could impact long-term chiller plant reliability.
Collaborate with mechanical and controls engineering teams to ensure plant designs align with operational best practices.
Review and validate chiller plant control sequences and operating modes.
Support optimization initiatives focused on plant efficiency, part-load performance, and energy consumption.
Analyze chiller staging, pumping strategies, condenser water performance, and heat rejection effectiveness.
Partner with controls teams to improve fault detection, alarming, and automation strategies.
Act as the technical interface with chiller OEMs, service providers, water treatment vendors, and testing firms.
Evaluate vendor service performance, maintenance practices, and contract effectiveness.
Support lifecycle planning including major overhauls, refrigerant transitions, and end-of-life replacement strategies.
Stay current on chiller technologies, refrigerants, and regulatory requirements relevant to Data Center operations.
Develop and maintain chiller plant standards, technical guidelines, and best practices across the Data Center fleet.
Review and approve chiller-related MOPs, SOPs, and EOPs.
Provide technical training, mentorship, and guidance to Data Center Operations, Engineering, and field teams.
Contribute to corporate reliability, sustainability, and energy efficiency initiatives.