AI Data Center Power Architect & R&D Engineer

OpenAI, Inc.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

OpenAI in San Francisco seeks an experienced Data Center Electrical R&D Engineer to develop and validate next-generation power architectures for high-density AI infrastructure. This role emphasizes research, design, modeling, prototyping, and technical validation, not routine facility operations.

You will collaborate with compute hardware, mechanical, controls, and external partners to translate workload needs into robust electrical systems, spanning utility interconnection, rack-level power,

Qualifications

• 10+ years of electrical engineering experience in data-center or critical-infrastructure environments.
• Deep expertise in power distribution, medium- and low-voltage systems, substations, transformers, UPS, and generators.
• Experience designing high-availability electrical facilities.
• Strong understanding of power-system modeling, load flow, fault analysis, and reliability.
• Ability to translate evolving requirements into testable architectures.
• Proven track record leading prototypes, pilots, or validation programs.

Responsibilities

• Develop advanced electrical architectures for high-density AI data centers from utility interconnection to rack delivery.
• Translate compute requirements into electrical capacity and topology considerations.
• Create designs, diagrams, standards, and reusable reference architectures.
• Model performance and reliability under fault conditions and transients.
• Lead testing, validation, and deployments across labs, pilots, and sites.
• Collaborate with mechanical, controls, and external partners to optimize integrated systems.

Skills

Power distribution

Electrical design

Technical writing

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering

Job description

OpenAI in San Francisco seeks an experienced Data Center Electrical R&D Engineer to develop and validate next-generation power architectures for high-density AI infrastructure. This role emphasizes research, design, modeling, prototyping, and technical validation, not routine facility operations.

You will collaborate with compute hardware, mechanical, controls, and external partners to translate workload needs into robust electrical systems, spanning utility interconnection, rack-level power,