Hybrid Space–Liquid Cooling Mechanical Operations Manager

Hybrid SpaceLiquid Cooling Mechanical Operations Manager

Location: Spartanburg SC (On-Site)

The Company

Our client is a privately backed organization operating at the forefront of high-performance computing (HPC) and advanced data center infrastructure. The company designs builds and operates mission-critical environments that support next-generation compute workloads enabling large-scale research simulation analytics and AI-driven innovation.

The Position

The Hybrid SpaceLiquid Cooling Mechanical Operations Manager will serve as the senior authority responsible for the operation maintenance and performance optimization of advanced liquid cooling systems supporting high-density compute environments within a High-Performance Compute Center (HPCC).

This role leads an internal team of subject matter experts (SMEs) along with third-party service providers responsible for owner-directed operations and maintenance of hybrid space cooling systems. These systems include direct-to-chip liquid cooling Coolant Distribution Units (CDUs) Rear Door Heat Exchangers (RDHXs) and associated mechanical and control systems.

The position ensures reliable and efficient thermal performance by coordinating closely with Mechanical Electrical and Controls teams that support upstream chilled water power and control infrastructure.

This role also owns technical water system chemistry management ensuring corrosion control biological stability and fluid quality in accordance with manufacturer requirements and system design standards. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in advanced cooling technologies and industrial fluid systems with strong leadership capabilities in a 24/7 mission-critical environment.

Responsibilities

Operations & Team Leadership

• Lead manage and develop an internal team of SMEs and third-party service providers responsible for hybrid space liquid cooling operations.

• Define and maintain operational standards shift coverage models and escalation protocols to ensure continuous availability.

• Ensure clear communication and coordination during planned maintenance and incident response to minimize compute downtime.

Cooling System Operations & Performance

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

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

• Coordinate with Controls & Integration teams to maintain stable control logic setpoints and interlocks.

• Monitor trends collect performance data and analyze system behavior to identify optimization opportunities.

• Collaborate with Mechanical Electrical and Controls teams to ensure proper hydraulic balance redundancy and thermal management across interconnected systems.

Maintenance & Reliability

• Maintain and continuously improve preventive maintenance programs task documentation and vendor coordination.

• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for cooling-related incidents.

• Maintain accurate as-built documentation maintenance records and equipment specifications.

• Participate in change management reviews impacting the compute cooling environment.

Water Chemistry & Treatment

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

• Ensure routine monitoring and testing of system chemistry including pH conductivity corrosion inhibitors and biological activity.

• Coordinate sampling filtration and chemical dosing programs to maintain fluid integrity within design and manufacturer specifications.

• Manage water treatment vendors and ensure compliance with environmental and operational standards.

• Provide chemistry performance reports including trends deviations and corrective actions.

Safety Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure all cooling operations comply with EHS Lockout/Tagout confined-space and chemical handling requirements.

• Enforce PPE and training requirements for all operators and contractors.

• Report regularly to senior leadership on system performance reliability KPIs and operator effectiveness.

• Track and report metrics such as loop temperatures delta-T performance CDU utilization and system availability.

Requirements

• Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering Facilities Engineering or a related technical discipline; or equivalent experience.

• 8 years of experience in mission-critical environments (data centers HPC facilities or industrial cooling systems).

• Direct experience with liquid cooling systems including CDUs RDHXs or other high-density compute thermal technologies.

• Proven success managing operational teams or contracted workforces in 24/7 environments.

• Hands-on experience with water chemistry management corrosion control and industrial cooling fluids.

• Strong understanding of integrated mechanical electrical and control systems supporting high-performance compute.

• Familiarity with NFPA ASHRAE and OSHA standards applicable to mission-critical cooling systems.