Data Center Controls Engineer

About the Team

OpenAI is on a bold mission to build the world's most advanced AI infrastructure. We are seeking a Data Center Controls Engineer with 10+ years of experience designing and implementing advanced SCADA, EPMS, and BMS control system solutions for mission-critical facilities.

The Data Center Engineering team is at the core of this mission-defining infrastructure strategy, driving technical innovation, partnering with research to set performance benchmarks, and developing reference designs that enable rapid, scalable global deployment.

As a member of this team, you will design and deliver next-generation data center infrastructure optimized for AI workloads. You will collaborate across research, site selection, design, construction, commissioning, hardware engineering, deployment, operations, and global partners to bring OpenAI's infrastructure vision to life.

This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of controls, automation, and monitoring at an unprecedented scale. If you are passionate about building cutting-edge systems that push the boundaries of performance and reliability, we encourage you to apply.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain control system design standards, specifications, templates, and reference models for hyperscale AI data centers.

• Design and implement control system architectures for data center infrastructure, including EPMS, SCADA, BMS, PLC, and DDC systems.

• Lead software integration for monitoring and control platforms, ensuring reliability, maintainability, and compliance with industry codes and safety standards.

• Direct the design, testing, deployment, and ongoing maintenance of control solutions for new facilities.

• Manage external vendors, contractors, and consultants to ensure high-quality system delivery and long-term support.

• Partner with engineering and operations teams to align control systems with performance, resiliency, and efficiency goals.

• Optimize telemetry and monitoring capabilities to accurately capture power and cooling load transients and improve overall system performance.

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in control system architecture, design, and implementation for large-scale data centers or mission-critical facilities.

• Strong knowledge of industry codes, standards, and compliance requirements for mission-critical operations.

• Proven expertise in automation and industrial control system protocols (e.g., BACnet, Modbus, OPC, SNMP, LON).

• Hands-on experience with PLC, DCS, SCADA, and HMI systems.

• Deep understanding of data center operations, infrastructure systems, and control system integration.

• Demonstrated ability to rapidly design, test, and implement reliable control software solutions.

• Extensive experience in monitoring and controls for HVAC, power, and mechanical systems.

• Successful track record of selecting, managing, and collaborating with external vendors, contractors, and consultants.

• Bachelor's degree in Controls Engineering or a related field; advanced degree or professional certifications preferred.

Preferred Skills:

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering.

• 15+ years of experience in control systems for global, large-scale data center operations.

• Expertise in AI-driven automation and predictive analytics for control systems.

• Experience with energy-efficient and sustainable control system design practices.

• Strong background in big data telemetry, analytics, and infrastructure monitoring.

About OpenAI

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic.

For additional information, please see OpenAI's Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable law, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act. For unincorporated Los Angeles County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: protect computer hardware entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon termination of employment or end of assignment; and maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, confidential, and non-public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected information technology systems and related data security obligations.

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We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this link.

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At OpenAI, we believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared. Join us in shaping the future of technology.

Compensation Range: $310K - $460K