Data Center Chief Engineer - ORD

Socket.dev; Aurora (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k) retirement plan

PTO

Job summary

Edged Data Centers is seeking a Site Operations Manager to lead a team of facility technicians across electrical, mechanical, HVAC, and life-safety systems. You will ensure compliance with safety standards and company policies while driving reliable, high-availability operations.

You will supervise maintenance programs, manage budgets and CMMS/BMS workflows, and act as the primary escalation point for incidents, coordinating with IT, Projects, and vendor teams to minimize downtime.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or technical degree or equivalent military training required or equivalent experience.
• 5–7 years of experience in datacenter, critical facilities, or mission-critical environments.
• 2–3 years in a supervisory or lead role.
• Strong technical expertise in electrical, mechanical, HVAC, and fire life safety systems.
• Experience with CMMS, BMS, and other monitoring tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of facility technicians.
• Oversee shift coverage, work assignments, and resource allocation to maintain site readiness.
• Develop and enforce maintenance plans and ensure safety and regulatory compliance.
• Lead incident management, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Coordinate with customers, vendors, and internal teams to align facility operations.

Skills

Team leadership

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Associate/Technical degree or equivalent military training

Tools

CMMS

BMS

Monitoring tools

Job description

About Edged Data Centers

Edged is a fast-growing provider of sustainable data centers and energy infrastructure. The company builds and operates a global network of ultra-efficient, AI-ready data centers with waterless cooling for colocation, hyperscale and build-to-suit customers. The highly differentiated infrastructure platform is the first large-scale, global deployment of waterless cooling platform-wide and transforms data center growth into a catalyst for sustainable development. Edged is backed by a deep proprietary technology stack that will include renewable microgrid systems, ultra-clean generators, and waste-to-fuel solutions. The platform is designed for rapid deployment with more than a dozen new data centers operating or under construction across Europe and North America and a gigawatt-scale project pipeline.

The North American division of Edged is a joint venture between one of the largest private multinational corporations in the world and an affiliate of Endeavour. Endeavour is a purpose-driven organization helping innovators to develop and launch breakthrough solutions for global challenges in the areas of energy, water, and waste. Endeavour companies are made up of passionate change-makers who want to leave the world better than the way we found it. Today, Endeavour is deploying solutions that are immediately scalable and deliver both high financial returns and positive impact, including EV charging, waterless data center cooling, and advanced energy systems.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, andmanagea team of facility technicians, ensuring high performance, accountability, and professional growth.

• Oversee shift coverage, work assignments, and resource allocation tomaintainsite readiness and operational reliability.

• Conduct performance evaluations, deliver coaching, and support career development for direct reports.

• Foster a culture of safety, compliance, and teamwork across all operations.

• Report staffing performance, issues, and needs to theSite Operations Managerfor alignment with organizational goals.

Operations & Compliance

• Ensure all operationscomply withcompany policies, safety standards, and regulatory requirements.

• Review and approve Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), Methods of Procedure (MOPs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and Emergency Operating Procedures (EOPs).

• Conduct audits, inspections, and training tomaintainoperational readiness and compliance with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

• Supportcomplianceeffortswith ISO 27001,PCIand SOC 2 Type I standards.

• Provide regular operational updates to theSite Operations Managerfor transparency and site alignment.

Facility & Systems Oversight

• Oversee the operation, maintenance, and performance of electrical, mechanical, HVAC, andfirelife safety systems.

• Approve and prioritize preventative and corrective maintenance activities in the CMMS(Computerized Maintenance Management System).

• Ensure documentation, reporting, and system logs areaccurateand complete.

• Analyze performance trends,identifyrisks, and drive preventive solutions tomaintainuptime.

Incident Management & Escalations

• Serve as theprimary escalation point for abnormal conditions, incidents, or system failuresat the site.

• Escalate unresolved or high-impact issues directly to theSite Operations Managerfor awareness and decision-making.

• Lead root cause analysis, corrective action plans, and post-incident reporting.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance resilience, reliability, and operational maturity.

Customer, Vendor & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act asadditionalsite-level point of contactfor customers, vendors, and contractors on technical and operational matterssupporting the SOM.

• Coordinate vendor and contractor activities, ensuring safety, compliance, and adherence to scope.

• Support customer requirements, installations, and escalations with professionalism and urgency.

• Partner with the Site Operations Managerand internal teams (IT, Operations, Projects) to align facility operations with business needs.

Planning & Reporting

• Develop and manage maintenance schedules, work orders, and capacity plans to ensure long-term readiness.

• Review and approve daily shift reports, turnover notes, and incident documentation.

• Track spare parts, and inventory tooptimizeresources and reduce downtime risk.

• Provide regular reports and operational updates to theSite Operations Managerand senior management.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate degree, technical degree, equivalent military trainingrequiredorequivalent experience

• 5–7 years of experience in datacenter, critical facilities, or mission-critical environments.

• 2-3 years in a supervisory or lead role.

• Strong technicalexpertisein electrical, mechanical, HVAC, andfirelife safety systems.

• Experience with CMMS, BMS, andothermonitoring tools.

• Proven ability to lead teams under pressure, manage escalations, and deliver results in high-availability environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Industry specific certification(s)

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering(Mechanical/Electrical)

Skills

• Leadership and people management skills with a focus on team development.

• Strong problem-solving, root cause analysis, and decision-making capabilities.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

• Proficiencyin Microsoft Office, CMMS, and reporting tools.

• Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends, holidays, and on-call rotations asrequired.

EEO Statement:

Edged is an equalopportunitiesemployer. We believe in ensuring equal access to employment opportunities for all. We assess candidate qualifications and make recruiting decisions based on the experience,capabilitiesand skills you share with us in your application and applicable materials. Hiring and employment decisions within Edged are not based on religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or marital, veteran, or disability status.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Total Rewards Statement:

• medical
• dental
• vision
• life
• disability insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• flexible spending and HSA accounts
• paid holidays
• PTO
• employeeassistanceprogram
• and other company benefits

Compensation for the role will depend on a number offactors, including your qualifications,location,skills, competencies, and experience and may fall outside of the range shown.

Great Place to Work

Enjoy…

• A fast-paced, entrepreneurial culture focused on innovation.
• A flexible, autonomous work environment.
• A culture of respect, learning, and excellence.
• Experienced, highly talented experts as team peers.
• Growth and travel opportunities.
• Ateam of change-makers having a significant impact on people and the planet.

Contact: [e-mail]