Datacenter Hardware Operations Technician, AI Compute Infrastructure - Stargate

About the Role

The Stargate program at Openai is dedicated to building the world's most advanced AI infrastructure ecosystem. This involves developing and deploying massive, state-of-the-art data center campuses in partnership with industry leaders. As part of this program, you will play a key role in designing for scale, speed, and reliability, and ensuring that the high-density compute environment operates at peak performance.

What You Will Do

• Serve as Openai's primary on-site hardware contact, collaborating with Oracle teams and vendors to plan and coordinate maintenance, repairs, and lifecycle activities.
• Share technical requirements and verify that work performed supports Openai's compute needs and agreed quality targets.
• Coordinate schedules, spare-parts planning, and issue escalation with partner teams to minimize downtime and keep operations running smoothly.
• Work with Openai fleet-health engineers to translate software-detected issues into on-site hardware actions in partnership with Oracle.
• Track hardware trends and provide joint recommendations with partner teams for design or operational improvements.
• Prepare documentation and runbooks that capture joint best practices and can be applied at additional campuses.
• Offer technical guidance and context to partner personnel while respecting their operational ownership.
• Collaborate with supply-chain teams to plan spares and manage hardware lifecycle activities.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including Oracle teams, vendors, and internal engineering stakeholders.
• Participate in the development of standards and playbooks to guide hardware operations at future Openai infrastructure projects.

What We Are Looking For

• 7+ years of experience in datacenter hardware operations, hardware engineering, or large-scale server maintenance, with at least 2 years in a senior or lead technician capacity.
• Deep knowledge of high-density server hardware, including x86 platforms, GPUs, storage devices, and power/cooling systems.
• Experience in diagnosing hardware issues, coordinating complex repairs, and maintaining strong working relationships across organizations.
• Ability to set technical expectations and validate outcomes through collaboration, not direct management.
• Adaptability to changing operational conditions and enjoyment of solving problems at both strategic and on-site levels.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to build trust across partner teams, vendors, and internal engineering stakeholders.
• Willingness to be based full-time at a partner-operated campus.
• Familiarity with large-scale cluster management or monitoring tools.
• Experience with GPU-accelerated compute clusters or other high-performance computing hardware.
• Knowledge of Linux/Unix system administration and command-line diagnostic tools for hardware validation.

Nice to Have

• Familiarity with large-scale cluster management or monitoring tools (IPMI, BMC, Prometheus, Nagios) to interpret alerts and coordinate partner responses.
• Experience with GPU-accelerated compute clusters or other high-performance computing hardware.
• Knowledge of Linux/Unix system administration and command-line diagnostic tools for hardware validation.
• Industry certifications such as CompTIA Server+, OEM hardware certifications, or equivalent.

Benefits and Perks

• Opportunity to work with a leading AI research and deployment company.
• Collaborative and dynamic work environment.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Competitive compensation package.
• Health insurance benefits.
• Remote work stipend.
• Flexible PTO policy.
• Access to cutting-edge technology and tools.

• Ensure your resume and cover letter highlight your experience with high-density server hardware and large-scale cluster management.
• Be prepared to discuss specific examples of diagnosing hardware issues and coordinating complex repairs in your previous roles.
• Familiarize yourself with Openai's Stargate program and the company's mission to advance AI infrastructure.
• Develop a strong understanding of the skills and qualifications required for the role, and be prepared to explain how your experience aligns with them.
• Practice your communication skills, as building trust across partner teams, vendors, and internal engineering stakeholders is crucial in this role.
• Research the current market trends and demands for datacenter hardware operations technicians to negotiate your salary effectively.
• Be prepared to discuss your experience working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and your ability to adapt to changing operational conditions.