Level

xAI

Manager, Data Center Operations

xAI is hiring a Manager, Data Center Operations. Level rates it ; you can apply on xAI.

Level's read on this job

  • On Level's scale, this role is Works on AI ●●●○: the daily work is on AI products, without building the model.
  • Tools and skills the posting cites include data center operations, team leadership and hardware deployment.
  • Level classifies it as a lead role.
  • Level lists 296 other open roles at xAI.

AI in this role

Manage data center operations and technicians ensuring 99.999% uptime for massive AI compute infrastructure.

data-center-operationsteam-leadershiphardware-deploymentinfrastructure-management

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today, SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of making life multiplanetary and expanding consciousness to the stars.

SpaceXSI is building Super Intelligence to help humanity understand the universe. Our teams are building the full Super Intelligence stack: from our Colossus supercomputers, to Grok models, to our suite of applications, including Grok Bot, Grok Build, Grok Imagine, Grok Voice, and X. We're creating a powerful flywheel where more compute trains better models, better models power more useful products, and what we learn from people using those products shapes what we build next.

 

ABOUT THE ROLE:

As the Data Center Operations Manager, you’ll oversee the data center technicians who keep SpaceXSI's AI infrastructure running smoothly. This role is pivotal in ensuring our systems operate at peak efficiency, supporting the compute power behind our mission. You’ll co-lead a skilled team, manage critical operations, and implement smart, sustainable solutions. We’re looking for someone with technical expertise and a proactive approach to maintain and scale our facilities effectively.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Oversee Site Operations: Manage power, cooling, networking, and hardware deployments to ensure 99.999% uptime for SpaceXSI's AI compute systems, keeping our infrastructure reliable and ready for innovation.
  • Guide Your Team: Lead and develop a team of Data Center Operations Technicians through training, performance evaluations, and fostering a collaborative, high-performing environment tied to SpaceXSI's objectives.
  • Streamline Processes: Take charge of hardware lifecycles, incident resolution, and inventory management, refining procedures to ensure your team operates with precision and consistency.
  • Connect Key Players: Coordinate between technicians, SpaceXSI's AI specialists, and external vendors to integrate new technology and expand capacity seamlessly.
  • Drive Sustainable Solutions: Champion energy-efficient practices and sustainability efforts, optimizing resources while supporting the demands of cutting-edge AI workloads.
  • Measure Success: Track and report key metrics like uptime, power efficiency, and issue resolution times, using data to enhance site performance and inform decisions.
  • Handle Emergencies: Lead the team through urgent situations with clear direction, resolving issues quickly to protect our AI systems from disruption.
  • Optimize Operations: Build and refine processes—such as preventative maintenance schedules with vendors and ticket workflows in Jira—to keep operations efficient and scalable.
  • Support Expansion: Work with leadership to standardize best practices across sites (if applicable), ensuring operations align with SpaceXSI's ambitious growth plans.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • 5+ years of experience in data center operations or similar critical environments, with 3+ years managing technical teams.
  • Proven ability to lead teams effectively in fast-paced, high-responsibility settings.
  • Solid expertise in server hardware, cabling, and data center technologies, from setup to lifecycle management.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Experience supporting compute-heavy environments like AI, machine learning, or high-performance computing.
  • Proficiency with tools like Jira and managing collaborative workflows across teams.
  • Strong analytical skills and the ability to explain technical concepts clearly to diverse audiences.
  • Familiarity with scripting (e.g., Python, Bash) to automate tasks and boost team efficiency.
  • A history of partnering with vendors, scaling operations, and advancing sustainability initiatives.
  • Enthusiasm for SpaceXSI's mission to accelerate human discovery and unravel the universe.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Ability to thrive in a dynamic, mission-focused environment with occasional on-call duties.
  • Willingness to travel to data center locations as needed to support operations.
  • Physical capability to handle data center tasks, including lifting up to 50 lbs, standing for long periods, and occasional ladder use

 

SpaceXSI is an equal opportunity employer. For details on data processing, view our Recruitment Privacy Notice.

How we rate this

Manager, Data Center Operations at xAI rates 60 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Works on AI (AI Level 3 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Works on AI. The daily work is on AI products, without building the model.

  1. ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
  2. ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
  3. ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
  4. ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

Data Center OperationsTeam LeadershipHardware DeploymentInfrastructure Management

Questions you could be asked

  1. Tell me about a project where data center operations was part of your work. What did you do?
  2. Tell me about a project where team leadership was part of your work. What did you do?
  3. Tell me about a project where hardware deployment was part of your work. What did you do?
  4. Tell me about a project where infrastructure management was part of your work. What did you do?
  5. Describe a typical day in a role like this one: which parts run through AI directly?

Adapt your resume

  • List these exact terms on your resume: Data Center Operations, Team Leadership, Hardware Deployment, and Infrastructure Management. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
  • Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
  • Show where AI is part of your daily process, not a one-off project. This role expects it to be a running habit.

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