HPC Mechanical Lead

IREN • Childress, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The HPC Mechanical Lead supports safe, reliable 24x7 operation of the Central Utility Plant (CUP) and critical cooling infrastructure at a hyperscale AI/ML data center in West Texas. Working under the direction of the HPC Mechanical Manager, this role is a key shift-level operator and technical resource — executing rounds, responding to alarms, coordinating contractors, and maintaining the systems that keep high-density GPU compute online. This is a hands-on, high-accountability position for an experienced operator ready to take ownership on shift in a Tier III/IV-equivalent environment. This role reports to the HPC Mechanical Manager. Works alongside Control Room Operators and Field Technicians, and serves as a shift-level technical lead and escalation resource for junior operators. We have grown substantially since 2019, from our inception in Australia to now having several facilities across North America and being listed on NASDAQ… and we are just getting started! By joining us, you will be contributing to the future of sustainable high-performance compute and the local communities we strive to have a positive impact on.

Requirements

• Valid 3rd Class Power Engineering License (or ability to obtain/maintain per site/authority requirements)
• 5+ years operating and maintaining industrial or mission-critical utility systems (data centers, central utility plants, hospitals, heavy industrial, or oil & gas)
• Strong CUP fundamentals: chillers, condenser water systems, hydronic/glycol loops, pumps, heat exchangers, VFDs, and mechanical refrigeration
• Experience with HPC liquid cooling (CDUs, manifolds, filtration, leak detection, pressure/flow control)
• Proficient with BMS/SCADA/PLC systems; ability to interpret alarms and make safe setpoint changes within approved procedures
• Ability to read one-lines, MEP drawings, and P&IDs; strong documentation and shift turnover communication
• Strong troubleshooting skills across rotating equipment, hydronic systems, and mechanical refrigeration
• Must lift 50 lbs., climb ladders, and work in varied environments; on-call rotation required

Nice To Haves

• EPA 608 Universal (or ability to obtain); OSHA 10/30; NFPA 70E or equivalent electrical safety training
• Cooling tower and closed-loop water treatment knowledge or certification
• CMMS proficiency: work order creation, PM tracking, outage coordination, and closeout documentation
• Experience with hydronic balancing and data center thermal operations
• Background in hyperscale data center, heavy industrial, or oil & gas processing environments

Responsibilities

• Operate, monitor, and optimize the CUP and site cooling systems in a 24/7 mission-critical environment
• Perform operating rounds; record readings, trends, and equipment status for chillers, pumps, cooling towers/dry coolers, heat exchangers, expansion tanks, strainers, and hydronic distribution
• Support liquid-cooled HPC infrastructure (CDUs, manifolds, filtration, leak detection) and coordinate thermal alignment with IT load requirements
• Support air-cooled data halls (CRAH/CRAC, AHUs/MAUs, humidity and temperature control)
• Use BMS/SCADA/PLC systems to monitor equipment, trend performance, and adjust setpoints within approved operating envelopes
• Monitor and support water treatment/chemistry programs for condenser water, glycol/hydronic loops, and DLC circuits; coordinate sampling and corrective actions
• Follow safe chemical handling and storage procedures; support spill prevention and HSE compliance
• Contribute to environmental incident reporting, near-miss documentation, and corrective action closure
• Respond to alarms and abnormal conditions; troubleshoot root cause and execute corrective actions to prevent downtime or thermal excursions
• Execute alarm response and plant upset recovery per approved EOPs/SOPs/MOPs; escalate promptly to shift lead/manager and communicate risk and status clearly
• Maintain accurate operating logs, work orders, incident reports, and high-quality shift turnover notes; participate in RCAs and continuous improvement
• Execute and improve preventative maintenance (PM) programs; coordinate contractors and verify work quality, documentation, and safe return-to-service
• Support vendor site access, JHA/method statement compliance, and quality checks during planned maintenance windows

Benefits

• 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
• Paid professional development and access to financial planning and legal services
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays
• Professional development to support certifications, continuing education, or role related training
• Company events and team-building activities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED