Manager, IT Infrastructure (Data Centers)

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars. MANAGER, IT INFRASTRUCTURE (DATA CENTERS) SpaceX is looking for a rockstar IT infrastructure manager with proven expertise in building and operating next-generation data centers from the ground up. This leader will manage a world-class team of IT and facilities engineers, owning the end-to-end design, construction, and management of hyperscale data centers that power SpaceX's engineering, production, and mission operations. The ideal candidate is a hands-on visionary with deep IT and facilities knowledge, exceptional leadership, and the drive to innovate in high-stakes environments. You will coach and inspire your team while diving into critical design, procurement, and execution decisions. RESPONSIBILITIES Lead the design, buildout, and ongoing management of next-gen data centers, including site selection, capacity planning, power infrastructure (e.g., PDUs, UPS, generators), advanced cooling systems (e.g., liquid cooling, CRAC/CRAH), and scalable racking/modular solutions across SpaceX locations. Oversee core data center facilities services such as HVAC optimization, redundant power systems, fire suppression, and environmental monitoring to ensure 99.999% uptime in mission-critical environments. Build and continuously develop a high-performing team of engineers focused on enterprise infrastructure, including virtualization (VMware/Hyper-V), high-performance storage (NAS/SAN/object), and purpose-built servers optimized for HPC and AI workloads. Drive high-availability architectures, disaster recovery strategies, and resilience testing, including multi-site failover and automated recovery. Mentor engineers in designing, procuring, and deploying performance-optimized server fleets; establish hardware standards, negotiate with vendors (e.g., Dell, HPE, Supermicro), and ensure scalability to meet SpaceX's explosive compute demands. Hands-on supervision of data center installations, configurations, cabling, and commissioning; perform rack-and-stack, BIOS/firmware tuning, and integration testing as needed. Implement infrastructure-as-code, automation, and holistic monitoring (e.g., DCIM tools like Schneider EcoStruxure or Nlyte) for proactive operations in automated, green data centers. Schedule and execute off-peak maintenance, upgrades, and expansions, including high-risk downtimes, with 24/7 on-call readiness. Collaborate with SpaceX stakeholders (engineering, facilities, security) to deliver tailored solutions, resolve issues proactively, and align data center evolution with long-term roadmap goals. BASIC QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline and 5+ years in data center leadership (design/build/ops), OR 8+ years in IT infrastructure leadership with hands-on data center experience. 7+ years of experience leading two or more of: hyperscale data center design/construction, critical facilities management (power/HVAC), enterprise server/storage infrastructure, or high-availability operations. PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE Proven track record building next-gen data centers from greenfield sites, including modular/prefab designs, liquid immersion cooling, green power (renewables/PUE <1.2), and Tier III/IV certifications. Expertise in data center facilities: power distribution (high-density racks >50kW), advanced cooling (direct-to-chip, rear-door heat exchangers), seismic/structural engineering integration, and sustainability best practices. Deep knowledge of storage ecosystems (NFS/CIFS/iSCSI, NetApp, Pure Storage, Ceph) and server specs for HPC/AI (e.g., GPU clusters, NVIDIA DGX). Experience with DCIM, IaC (Terraform/Ansible), scripting (Python/PowerShell/Bash), and monitoring (Prometheus/Grafana, DC-specific tools). Hands-on with virtuali