engineering
Posted Sep 23, 2025Datacenter Networking Technician, AI Compute Deployment - Stargate
at openai
San Francisco, United StatesOn-site
Responsibilities
- - Troubleshoot and optimize cabling routes, patching, and equipment turn-up to ensure clean, reliable handoff to network operations.
- - Develop repeatable engineering standards, as-built documentation, and deployment playbooks to accelerate future OpenAI campuses - Transition to hands-on design and deployment leadership for upcoming OpenAI data center expansions, owning network physical-layer deployment from design through commissioning.
Requirements
- About the Team: OpenAI, in close collaboration with our capital partners, is embarking on a journey to build the world’s most advanced AI infrastructure ecosystem.
- Our Stargate program develops and deploys massive, state-of-the-art data center campuses in partnership with industry leaders today—and through future OpenAI infrastructure projects tomorrow.
- As that campus reaches steady state, you will transition to lead network deployment for future OpenAI data center projects, defining standards and guiding implementation across multiple locations.
- Candidates must be able to sit onsite in Abilene, Texas 5 days per week Key
- experience in large-scale datacenter network deployment, structured cabling, or physical-layer installation.
- - Possess deep knowledge of fiber/copper plant design, cabling standards, and hyperscale network best practices.
- - Excel in field work while applying seasoned technical judgment to solve complex installation and testing issues.
- - Are willing to be based at a partner campus during the initial build phase and to travel to future OpenAI data center projects.
- Preferred Skills - Exposure to automation tools (Ansible, SaltStack) or scripting (Python, Shell) for configuration or documentation. -
- Experience with hyperscale Clos fabrics or large-scale network design. - Familiarity with routing and switching concepts (BGP, OSPF, EVPN/VXLAN) and basic Linux/network troubleshooting. - Industry certifications such as BICSI, CCNA/CCNP, or equivalent.
- About OpenAI OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence
Experience
- Qualifications - Have 7+ years of
Additional details
- We design for scale, speed, and reliability, and we need experienced technicians who can translate network blueprints into physical reality.
- About the Role: We are seeking a Senior Data Center Networking Technician who thrives in fast-moving build environments and is eager to roll up their sleeves during active datacenter deployments.
- Your first assignment will focus on the physical bring-up of network infrastructure at a large partner-operated campus, collaborating with partner teams and their delivery vendors to achieve agreed performance and reliability targets.
- Responsibilities - Serve as OpenAI’s technical lead technician during the current campus build, partnering with internal engineers and external contractors on design reviews, installation plans, and acceptance criteria.
- - Spend significant time on the data-center floor performing inspections, assisting with cable routing/termination when needed, conducting fiber testing (OTDR, power levels, continuity), and resolving installation challenges in real time.
- - Contribute to design discussions and peer reviews for structured cabling and physical network layouts, providing practical field feedback to engineering teams.
- - Adapt quickly to changing build conditions and enjoy learning emerging networking technologies.
- - Communicate clearly with construction, engineering, and operations teams to drive projects to completion.