Datacenter Networking Technician, AI Compute Deployment - Stargate

OpenAI; California (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

OpenAI seeks a Senior Data Center Networking Technician to lead the physical deployment of network infrastructure on large partner campuses, starting with an active campus build in Abilene, Texas. You will collaborate with partner teams, perform on‑site inspections, cabling, and testing, and guide the deployment toward reliable handoff to network operations.

As the campus reaches steady state, you will define standards and lead future OpenAI data center deployments, owning the end‑to‑end

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in large‑scale datacenter network deployment or physical‑layer installation.
• Deep knowledge of fiber/copper plant design and cabling standards.
• Strong field engineering and hands‑on troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to adapt to dynamic build environments and emerging networking tech.
• Strong communication with construction, engineering, and operations teams.

Responsibilities

• Serve as OpenAI’s technical lead technician during campus builds with internal and external teams.
• Spend substantial time on the data center floor inspecting, routing cables, and performing fiber testing.
• Troubleshoot cabling routes and equipment turn‑up to ensure clean handoff to operations.
• Contribute to design reviews for structured cabling and network layouts.
• Develop repeatable engineering standards and deployment playbooks.
• Transition to leadership for future OpenAI data center expansions.

Skills

7+ years datacenter deployment

fiber/copper plant design

structured cabling

field engineering

clear communication

Tools

Ansible

SaltStack

Python

Shell

Job description

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. 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. 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 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.

• Troubleshoot and optimize cabling routes, patching, and equipment turn‑up to ensure clean, reliable handoff to network operations.

• Contribute to design discussions and peer reviews for structured cabling and physical network layouts, providing practical field feedback to engineering teams.

• 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.

Qualifications

• Have 7+ years of 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.

• 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.

• 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 benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic.

For additional information, please see OpenAI’s affirmative action and equal employment opportunity policy statement.

Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable law, and qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with those laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, for US‑based candidates. For unincorporated Los Angeles County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: protect computer hardware entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon termination of employment or end of assignment; and maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, confidential, and non‑public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected information technology systems and related data security obligations.

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