Chiller Technician III

IREN•Childress, TX

3h•Onsite

About The Position

The Chiller Technician III is a senior technician operating the central utility plant (CUP) at IREN’s liquid-cooled hyperscale campuses in West Texas and Oklahoma. Working on shift as part of the mechanical team, this role independently manages the full range of plant that removes heat from some of the densest AI compute in North America – centrifugal and screw chillers, cooling towers, pumps, heat exchangers, coolant distribution units and the direct-to-chip liquid cooling loops that serve the racks themselves. This is a hands-on, high-accountability role for an experienced technician ready to take on the deepest technical problems on shift, short of full plant ownership. Reporting to the Associate Director of Operations and working closely with the Chiller Specialist, the successful candidate acts as the first point of technical escalation on shift, provides technical guidance to Chiller Technician Is and IIs, and follows a clear progression path toward Chiller Specialist as the portfolio grows. With 100% renewable energy, we build, own and operate our data centers and take pride in being at the forefront of sustainable solutions for the ever-evolving applications of high-performance compute. We believe that human progress is invaluable, but it should be done in the right way – responsibly, sustainably and having a positive impact on the communities we operate in.

Requirements

5+ years of hands-on experience maintaining and troubleshooting commercial or industrial chillers and HVAC plant, including central utility plant systems; mission-critical or industrial process cooling experience is required
EPA Section 608 Universal certification is required
Strong working knowledge of chiller refrigerant circuits, cooling towers, pumps, heat exchangers, VFDs and hydronic systems, with the ability to diagnose complex or intermittent faults
Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, P&IDs, schematics and control sequences
Direct, hands-on experience with direct-to-chip and immersion liquid cooling systems is required
Proficiency with BMS or building automation front ends, and comfort using a CMMS for work order and record management
Ability to work 12-hour rotating shifts including nights, weekends and holidays, and to participate in an on-call rotation
Physically able to climb ladders and stairs, work at height and in confined spaces, lift up to 50 pounds, and work in mechanical spaces and outdoor West Texas conditions
Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel between the Texas and Oklahoma campuses as required
Must live within, or be willing to relocate to, commutable distance of the assigned campus; relocation assistance is available
A safety-first mindset, reliable attendance, and the discipline to follow written procedures precisely in a live critical environment

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or equivalent required; trade school, apprenticeship, military technical training or an associate degree in HVAC, refrigeration or mechanical technology preferred
At least one additional credential required: NATE, RETA CRO, HVAC journeyman license, Texas TDLR registration, or manufacturer-specific chiller certification

Responsibilities

Operate, monitor and maintain the central utility plant (CUP) – centrifugal, screw and air-cooled chillers, cooling towers, pumps, heat exchangers, dry coolers, valves and associated piping – on assigned shifts, acting as the senior technician on shift and providing technical guidance to Chiller Technician Is and IIs.
Carry out and quality-check scheduled preventive maintenance on central utility plant equipment to the published programme and quality standard, completing all documentation accurately and on time.
Maintain and troubleshoot direct-to-chip and immersion cooling infrastructure including CDUs, manifolds, quick-disconnects, filtration and leak detection, escalating only the most complex issues to the Chiller Specialist.
Perform routine rounds, take operational readings across mechanical systems, and escalate abnormal trends, alarms or conditions promptly.
Diagnose and repair complex mechanical faults on chillers, pumps, towers and controls independently, leading corrective work as directed and escalating only the highest-risk issues to the Chiller Specialist or Associate Director of Operations.
Support condenser and technical cooling water treatment programmes through sampling, testing, dosing and record-keeping.
Act as the senior on-shift responder for thermal alarms and mechanical events in the absence of the Chiller Specialist, execute recovery steps per approved procedures, and contribute to post-incident reviews.
Execute all work on critical plant strictly in accordance with approved Methods of Procedure, SOPs and the change management process – no improvisation on live systems.
Follow lockout/tagout, confined space, hot work, arc flash and refrigerant handling requirements without exception, and raise safety concerns immediately.
Escort and monitor OEM and specialist contractors on site, verifying that work matches the approved scope and meets IREN safety expectations.
Keep work orders, asset histories, readings and refrigerant records accurate and current in the CMMS.
Participate actively in the training and qualification programme, contributing to Methods of Procedure peer review and building toward Chiller Specialist competency on liquid cooling and central utility plant operations, while providing technical guidance to Chiller Technician Is and IIs.

Benefits

Base salary
Annual performance incentives
Equity programs
100% company paid health insurance premiums (medical, dental, and vision) for employees
75% company paid coverage for dependents
Company-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance
Voluntary life, critical illness, and accident coverage available
Health Savings Accounts (HSA) – when combined with the High Deductible Health Plan
Employee Assistance Program and wellness resources
401(k) retirement plan with company match
Access to financial planning and legal services
Paid Time Off (PTO)
Paid holidays
Internal skills training and advancement pathways
Professional development to support certifications, continuing education, or role related training
Company events and team-building activities
Relocation assistance