Datacenter Networking Technician, AI Compute Deployment - Stargate

OpenAI; United States; Remote; USD 144,000 - 228,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

Relocation support

Daily meals in offices

Job summary

OpenAI is seeking a senior datacenter networking technician to lead the physical bring-up of network infrastructure at a partner campus in Texas. The role requires extensive field work, collaboration with engineers and vendors, and eventual leadership for future OpenAI data center deployments.

You will inspect, cable, test, and validate installations, develop repeatable standards, and guide deployment from design to commissioning across multiple locations.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in large-scale datacenter network deployment, structured cabling, or physical-layer installation.
• Deep knowledge of fiber/copper plant design, cabling standards, and hyperscale network best practices.
• Excellent field-work capabilities with practical, hands-on technical judgment.

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, conducting fiber testing, and resolving installation challenges in real time.
• Troubleshoot and optimize cabling routes, patching, and equipment turn-up to ensure clean handoff to network operations.
• Contribute to design discussions and peer reviews for structured cabling and physical network layouts, providing 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.

Skills

Datacenter networking

Structured cabling

Fiber testing

BGP/OSPF

Troubleshooting

CCNA/CCNP

Ansible

SaltStack

Python

Shell

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-... Our Stargate program develops and deploys massive, state-of-the-...

About the Role

We are seeking a senior datacenter 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

In This Role You Will:

• 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.

You Might Thrive in This Role If You:

• 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 Afforative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable law, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act. 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.

To notify OpenAI that you believe this job posting is non-compliant, please submit a report through this form. No response will be provided to inquiries unrelated to job posting compliance.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this link.

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At OpenAI, we believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared. Join us in shaping the future of technology.

Compensation

$144K – $228K Offers Equity

The base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. If the role is non-exempt, overtime pay will be provided consistent with applicable laws. In addition to the salary range listed above, total compensation also includes generous equity, performance-related bonus(es) for eligible employees, and the following benefits.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family, with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts

• Pre-tax accounts for Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, and commuter expenses (parking and transit)

• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match

• Paid parental leave (up to 24 weeks for birth parents and 20 weeks for non-birthing parents), plus paid medical and caregiver leave (up to 8 weeks)

• Paid time off: flexible PTO for exempt employees and up to 15 days annually for non-exempt employees

• 13+ paid company holidays, and multiple paid coordinated company office closures throughout the year for focus and recharge, plus paid sick or safe time (1 hour per 30 hours worked, or more, as required by applicable state or local law)

• Mental health and wellness support

• Employer-paid basic life and disability coverage

• Annual learning and development stipend to fuel your professional growth

• Daily meals in our offices, and meal delivery credits as eligible

• Relocation support for eligible employees

• Additional taxable fringe benefits, such as charitable donation matching and wellness stipends, may also be provided.

More details about our benefits are available to candidates during the hiring process.

This role is at-will and OpenAI reserves the right to modify base pay and other compensation components at any time based on individual performance, team or company results, or market conditions.