Physical Network & Structured Cabling Engineer

Openai • San Francisco, CA

97d

About The Position

OpenAI is on a bold mission to build the world's most advanced AI infrastructure. We are seeking a Data Center Network and Structured Cabling Engineer with 10+ years of experience in designing and implementing optimized network and structured cabling solutions at large data centers buildings and data center campuses. The Data Center Engineering team is central to this mission defining infrastructure strategy, driving technical innovation, working with research to set performance benchmarks, and developing reference designs that enable rapid, scalable global deployment. As part of this team, you will help design and deliver next-generation data center infrastructure optimized for AI workloads. You'll collaborate across research, site selection, design, construction, commissioning, hardware engineering, deployment, operations, and global partners to bring OpenAI's infrastructure vision to life.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Telecommunications, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of experience in structured cabling design, deployment, and maintenance for large scale data centers.
• Expertise in industry standards such as ANSI/TIA, BICSI and other relevant structured cabling guidelines.
• Proven ability to coordinate with cross-functional teams and external vendors on large-scale projects.
• Strong skills in reviewing and interpreting technical drawings, cable schedules, and documentation management.
• Willingness to travel frequently to global data center sites.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in Engineering, or relevant certifications such as BICSI, RCDD, or equivalent.
• Experience with hyperscale cloud, AI, or high-performance computing environments.
• Proficiency in 2D and 3D engineering tools (e.g., CAD, Revit) for infrastructure design and clash detection analysis.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills for physical layer systems and issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Design and specify structured cabling systems required for all network layers at hyperscale data centers, including fiber, copper, cable tray and duct bank pathways.
• Develop standards, reference designs, and installation guidelines for structured cabling and physical network deployments.
• Partner with internal network engineering and site operations teams to align physical design with logical network architecture.
• Manage fiber vendors and contractors, perform quality control, and commissioning of fiber bundles and structured cabling systems.
• Perform clash detection analysis and conduct site inspections to validate as-built conditions, ensuring compliance with design and operational requirements.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues during build, commissioning, and handover phases to ensure network readiness.
• Maintain documentation, drawings, and asset records for physical network components across global sites.
• Provide feedback to design and operations teams to drive continuous improvement of physical network standards.

What This Job Offers

• Industry: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree