Staff Electrical Operator

PTR Global; Abernathy (TX); On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

PTR Global in Abernathy, TX seeks an experienced Staff Electrical Operator to oversee high-voltage systems in a live data center. You will operate, troubleshoot, and maintain 480V–15kV power distribution and supporting infrastructure, ensuring safety and reliability.

Role requires NFPA 70E knowledge, arc-flash safety, and ability to drive incident response, with potential shift-based coverage and on-call duties in a fast-moving environment. On-site requirement emphasized.

Qualifications

• Minimum eight years operating large electrical systems in critical facilities.
• Experience with 480V–15kV distribution and associated equipment.
• Familiarity with BMS/EPMS monitoring and safety protocols.
• Ability to develop procedures for incomplete or changing docs.

Responsibilities

• Operate, monitor, and troubleshoot 480V–15kV distribution.
• Manage generators, MV switchgear, UPS, protection systems, transformers.
• Perform electrical switching and energization per procedures.
• Enforce lockout/tagout and NFPA 70E requirements.
• Lead incident response and post-incident reporting.
• Create and maintain operating procedures as capacity grows.
• Document switching events and system changes.
• Mentor junior operators on safety and procedures.

Skills

Electrical troubleshooting

NFPA 70E knowledge

Live data center operations

Shift-based readiness

Job description

Position Type: Critical Facilities Operations

Position Overview

Our client is building and operating the infrastructure required to accelerate the development of aligned artificial intelligence. The organization is focused on acquiring power, designing and constructing large-scale data centers, and operating advanced compute environments through integrated hardware, software, and infrastructure teams.

The Data Center Operations team is responsible for keeping live, mission-critical facilities running safely and reliably while construction, commissioning, and capacity expansion activities continue around them. The Staff Electrical Operator will serve as a senior electrical subject-matter expert responsible for operating, troubleshooting, and maintaining high-voltage electrical systems in an active data center environment.

This role is ideal for an experienced electrical operator, chief engineer, data center field engineer, electrical design engineer, or mission-critical facilities professional who has worked with large-capacity power systems and can operate independently in complex, fast-moving environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Operate, monitor, and troubleshoot electrical distribution systems ranging from 480V through 15kV and higher.
• Manage and support generators, medium-voltage switchgear, UPS systems, protection systems, transformers, controls, and associated electrical infrastructure.
• Perform electrical switching, energization, de-energization, isolation, and restoration activities in accordance with approved procedures.
• Execute lockout/tagout procedures and maintain compliance with NFPA 70E, arc-flash boundaries, electrical safety standards, and site-specific requirements.
• Lead electrical incident response activities, including fault isolation, emergency power restoration, system stabilization, and post-incident reporting.
• Investigate electrical failures and develop detailed root-cause analyses and corrective action plans.
• Monitor electrical and facility conditions through Building Management Systems and Electrical Power Monitoring Systems.
• Review and tune alarm thresholds, escalation paths, response procedures, and system notifications.
• Create, update, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures, Method of Procedures, and Emergency Operating Procedures as new electrical capacity comes online.
• Develop procedures and documentation for systems that may have incomplete, evolving, or inconsistent records.
• Partner with construction, commissioning, controls, mechanical, engineering, and operations teams during facility expansion and equipment turnover.
• Support commissioning activities, testing, equipment energization, system validation, and operational readiness.
• Maintain accurate records of switching activities, system conditions, incidents, maintenance events, and operational changes.
• Train and mentor junior electrical operators on switching procedures, electrical safety, emergency response, and facility operating standards.
• Serve as an electrical subject-matter expert for a large site, campus, or portfolio of mission-critical facilities.
• Identify opportunities to improve reliability, safety, documentation, procedures, and team performance.

Required Qualifications

• At least eight years of hands-on experience operating and troubleshooting electrical systems in live, mission-critical facilities.
• Experience working onsite in data centers or comparable environments across electrical, controls, mechanical, or related critical-facility disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience with electrical distribution equipment from 480V through 15kV or higher.
• Strong working knowledge of generators, medium-voltage switchgear, UPS systems, protection systems, transfer systems, and electrical controls.
• Experience using or monitoring BMS and EPMS platforms.
• Strong understanding of NFPA 70E, arc-flash boundaries, electrical safe work practices, and lockout/tagout procedures.
• Experience supporting shift-based, on-call, or 24/7 critical-facility operations.
• Proven ability to respond to electrical emergencies, isolate faults, restore power, and document incidents.
• Ability to independently create procedures and operational documentation for systems with incomplete or changing documentation.
• Experience training, mentoring, or providing technical direction to junior operators and field personnel.
• Ability to work safely and effectively in active construction, commissioning, and live production environments.
• Strong communication, judgment, troubleshooting, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to take ownership of work from initial assessment through resolution and closeout.

Preferred Qualifications

• NETA certification.
• Experience commissioning greenfield data centers or large-scale electrical campuses.
• Experience supporting or overseeing a 100-megawatt campus or similarly sized mission-critical facility.
• Experience with medium-voltage testing, protection systems, relay coordination, or electrical commissioning.
• Experience serving as an electrical subject-matter expert for a large site, campus, or fleet of facilities.
• Experience coordinating consultants, contractors, vendors, or technical project teams.
• Background as a data center field engineer, chief engineer, electrical design engineer, critical facilities engineer, or senior electrical operator.
• Prior people management experience is not required.
• This is an onsite position supporting active data center operations in Abernathy, Texas.
• The role will operate in a live production environment while construction and commissioning activities continue.
• The position may require shift-based coverage, on-call support, emergency response, and work outside standard business hours.
• Employees must be comfortable working around energized electrical equipment, construction activity, industrial systems, and changing site conditions.
• Additional openings may be available at related sites in Louisiana.

Successful team members are expected to:

• Own the outcome: Work with autonomy and take responsibility from start to finish.
• Move with urgency: Respond quickly, maintain momentum, and act decisively when conditions change.
• Reason from first principles: Challenge assumptions, investigate root causes, and prioritize the strongest technical solution.
• Bring energy to the work: Approach complex infrastructure challenges with focus, intensity, and enthusiasm.
• Build infrastructure that matters: Contribute to the reliable systems supporting the future of artificial intelligence.

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive total compensation package, including salary and equity.
• Retirement or pension plan based on applicable local standards.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off policy based on applicable local standards.
• Opportunity to support the development and operation of large-scale AI infrastructure.

Range: $200,000 - $250,000 annual salary plus benefits (Depending on experience)

The specific compensation for this position will be determined by a number of factors, including the scope, complexity and location of the role as well as the cost of labor in the market; the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; and other conditions of employment. Our full-time consultants have access to benefits including medical, dental, vision as well as 401K contributions