HPC Mechanical Manager

IREN•Childress, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The HPC Mechanical Manager is the senior operations authority for the Central Utility Plant (CUP) at a hyperscale AI/ML data center in West Texas. This role holds full accountability for the safe, continuous 24x7 operation of all thermal, water, and mechanical systems enabling high-density GPU compute — including direct liquid-to-chip (DLC) cooling, chilled water plants, and air-side infrastructure. It combines deep technical authority with hands-on people leadership in a Tier III/IV-equivalent, mission-critical environment. 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 2nd Class Power Engineering License (or ability to obtain/maintain per site authority)
5+ years operating mission-critical or industrial utility systems with progressive leadership responsibility
Strong CUP fundamentals: chillers, hydronic/glycol loops, pumps, heat exchangers, VFDs, mechanical refrigeration
Hands-on experience with HPC liquid cooling (CDUs, manifolds, filtration, leak detection)
Ability to read one-lines, P&IDs, and MEP drawings; proficient with BMS/SCADA/PLC systems
Proven ability to lead teams in high-availability, high-consequence environments
Must lift 50 lbs., climb ladders, work in varied environments; on-call rotation required

Nice To Haves

Boilers, steam systems, large-frame gas or steam turbines; hyperscale data center or heavy industrial background
EPA 608 Universal; OSHA 10/30; NFPA 70E; cooling tower water treatment certification
CMMS proficiency; hydronic balancing and data center thermal operations experience

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end CUP operation targeting 99.999% availability of cooling, water, and thermal services
Operate, monitor, and optimize chillers, pumps, cooling towers, dry coolers, heat exchangers, CDUs, hydronic distribution, and expansion systems
Oversee demineralized water treatment; ensure ultrapure make-up water quality for DLC loops, secondary cooling, closed-loop circuits, and buffer tanks
Support liquid-cooled HPC (CDUs, manifolds, filtration, leak detection) and air-cooled data halls (CRAH/CRAC, AHUs, humidity and temperature control)
Operate BMS/SCADA/PLC systems; interpret alarms, trend performance, and adjust setpoints within approved operating envelopes
Control chemistry for chilled water, condenser water, glycol/hydronic loops, and DLC circuits; manage scaling, corrosion, fouling, and biological risk
Oversee safe handling and storage of bulk chemicals (acids, caustics, biocides); ensure HSE and spill prevention compliance
Act as site authority for environmental incidents, near misses, RCAs, and corrective action closure
Lead Control Room and Field Operations: alarm management, trend-based fault detection, and rapid response to abnormal conditions and thermal excursions
Execute EOPs during plant upsets; communicate status and recovery actions to stakeholders; coordinate during maintenance windows and commissioning
Maintain accurate operating logs, shift turnover documentation, incident reports, and work orders
Govern Permit-to-Work and LOTO; enforce procedural discipline and exercise stop-work authority
Champion a “safety first, always” culture.
Own MOPs/SOPs/EOPs — draft, validate during execution, and incorporate lessons learned
Coordinate with maintenance and engineering teams for safe return-to-service without impact to live loads
Lead a multi-disciplinary CUP team: Power/Stationary Engineers, Control Room Operators, and Field Technicians
Manage 24x7 shift coverage, staffing, overtime, and on-call rotations
Conduct performance management, coaching, and development; drive training in DLC cooling, water chemistry, and emergency operations
Lead recurring drills: alarm response, thermal excursion, and leak events
Track KPIs: utility availability, chemistry compliance, incident metrics, PM completion, backlog health, and energy/water performance
Lead RCAs; drive corrective actions and optimization of plant efficiency, WUE, and thermal performance
Maintain Tier III/IV design intent compliance and regulatory readiness

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