Data Center Operations Leader

Details

Lead operational excellence at Groq's Buffalo, New York data center by building consistent, reliable, and scalable operations in a liquid-cooled environment. This on-site role combines hands-on people leadership, technical depth, and operational execution. The position includes leading the local team, owning day-to-day site operations, and developing the processes, systems, and partnerships required to operate mission-critical infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the on-site data center operations team in Buffalo.
• Own daily operational performance, including reliability, security, safety, execution, and accountability.
• Establish staffing and scheduling, training, performance management, site reviews, escalation processes, and communication rhythms.
• Hire, develop, and retain technical talent while integrating the local team with Groq's distributed data center organization.
• Partner with infrastructure, networking, security, engineering, logistics, facilities, and other teams.
• Maintain technical engagement across Linux systems, networking, security, hardware, and data center infrastructure.
• Operate the site's liquid-cooling infrastructure, including coolant distribution units (CDUs), secondary fluid networks, and rack-level cooling.
• Coordinate monitoring, maintenance, leak response, and change control with facilities teams and vendors.
• Lead high-severity incident response and translate lessons learned into lasting improvements.
• Drive continuous improvement and automation to reduce manual work and improve reliability.
• Manage vendor relationships, assets, resources, and operational budgets.
• Lead data center improvement programs from planning through execution.
• Develop, maintain, and test business continuity and disaster recovery practices.
• Use operational data and performance indicators to identify risks and prioritize improvements.
• Maintain a visible, hands-on leadership presence on the data center floor.
• Help improve Groq's data center operating model and share lessons from operating a liquid-cooled site.

Requirements

• Leadership experience in mission-critical data center or infrastructure operations, including running a data center site and leading an on-site team.
• Experience hiring, developing, coaching, and retaining technical talent.
• Strong operational leadership, with the ability to establish clear expectations, consistent standards, and accountability.
• Deep technical knowledge of Linux systems, networking, security, hardware, and data center infrastructure.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex infrastructure issues and lead technical teams.
• Experience managing high-severity outages or operational crises using structured decision-making, clear communication, and urgency.
• Experience with data center liquid-cooling systems such as coolant distribution units (CDUs), direct-to-chip cooling, secondary fluid networks, or rear-door heat exchangers is highly desired.
• Familiarity with infrastructure automation and configuration management tools such as Ansible, Puppet, or Chef.
• Experience managing vendors, assets, budgets, resources, and operational planning.
• Program management experience delivering infrastructure and operational improvement initiatives.
• Experience with disaster recovery and business continuity planning for mission-critical environments.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder-influencing skills.
• Clear communication skills, including keeping remote stakeholders across time zones informed.
• Ability to work on site in Buffalo, New York, with occasional domestic and international travel.

Compensation

The total cash salary range is $169,700–$199,600, inclusive of potential bonus value. Individual placement depends on geographic location, experience, skills, and alignment with internal compensation standards. The range applies to candidates located in the United States. Groq also offers a Long-Term Incentive Program and employee benefits.

Additional Information

This position may require access to technology or information subject to U.S. export control laws and regulations. U.S. candidates must meet applicable citizenship, residency, protected-person, or export-license requirements. International candidates must meet relevant export-control and local legal requirements. Groq is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals.