Data Center (Liquid Cooling) Mechanical Operations Manager

Location: Spartanburg, SC

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Data Center (Liquid Cooling) Mechanical Operations Manager to lead operations, maintenance, and performance optimization for advanced liquid cooling systems supporting high-density compute environments within a High-Performance Compute Center (HPCC).

This role provides leadership and direction to a team of internal subject matter experts (SMEs) and third-party operators responsible for maintaining direct-to-chip liquid cooling systems, Coolant Distribution Units (CDUs), Rear Door Heat Exchangers (RDHXs), and associated control systems. The position ensures reliable thermal performance and coordination across all supporting mechanical, electrical, and controls infrastructure.

The ideal candidate will combine deep technical knowledge of liquid and hybrid cooling technologies with the leadership skills required to manage a specialized operations team in a 24/7 mission-critical environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of internal SMEs and third-party operators responsible for the operation and maintenance of hybrid liquid cooling systems.

• Maintain operational standards, shift coverage models, and escalation protocols to ensure continuous availability and consistency across teams.

• Oversee system monitoring, alarm response, and fault isolation for CDUs, RDHXs, and rack-level cooling systems.

• Drive continuous improvement in cooling system reliability, efficiency, and thermal performance.

• Partner with Controls and Integration teams to maintain stable system logic, setpoints, and interlocks within CDUs and rack cooling loops.

• Analyze performance trends, identify optimization opportunities, and ensure hydraulic balance and redundancy across mechanical, electrical, and controls systems.

• Participate in change management reviews and coordinate maintenance or incident response activities to minimize compute downtime.

• Develop, refine, and uphold preventive maintenance programs and task documentation for all liquid cooling components.

• Lead root-cause investigations for cooling-related incidents, ensuring timely corrective actions.

• Maintain accurate and current documentation, including as-builts, maintenance records, and equipment specifications.

Water Chemistry & Fluid Management

• Oversee chemical and mechanical treatment of technical water systems supporting liquid cooling.

• Monitor and manage fluid chemistry parameters (corrosion inhibitors, pH, conductivity, and biological activity).

• Coordinate sampling, filtration, and chemical dosing programs to maintain water quality and system reliability.

• Manage vendor relationships for water treatment and ensure compliance with environmental and operational standards.

Safety & Compliance

• Ensure all operations comply with EHS, Lockout/Tagout, and confined-space safety programs.

• Enforce PPE and training requirements for all staff and contractors working with liquid cooling systems.

• Maintain compliance with OSHA, ASHRAE, and other applicable safety and mechanical standards.

Reporting & Performance

• Provide regular reports to leadership on cooling performance, reliability KPIs, and system efficiency.

• Track and report loop temperatures, delta-T performance, CDU utilization, and system availability.

• Generate chemistry and system performance reports, documenting trends, deviations, and corrective actions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Facilities Engineering, or a related technical discipline (or equivalent experience).

• 8+ years of experience in mission-critical environments such as data centers, HPC facilities, or industrial cooling systems.

• Direct experience with liquid cooling technologies, including CDUs, RDHXs, or direct-to-chip systems.

• Proven success managing technical teams or contracted workforces in 24/7 operations.

• Experience with water chemistry management, corrosion control, and industrial fluid systems.

• Strong understanding of integrated mechanical, electrical, and controls systems for high-performance compute environments.

• Familiarity with NFPA, ASHRAE, and OSHA standards for mission-critical cooling operations.

• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.