Data Center Operations Engineer

WHO WE ARE

Supercomputing built for AI.

Cotidal is building the computing infrastructure that AI companies and research labs need to train and run their models. Starting with TPUs, we design the hardware and software together around their workloads, with the goal of making powerful AI chips easier to use at scale.

Our mission is endless compute for humanity. Over time, we want customers to choose across chip stacks without rebuilding their infrastructure.

THE ROLE

You will be Cotidal’s first person on the ground at our AI data center site in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area. You will own onsite operations from the first equipment delivery through installation, go-live and day-to-day operation.

This is a hands-on role: receiving and tracking hardware, installing and cabling systems, coordinating the colocation provider and integrators, and diagnosing failures. You will report to the Head of Data Center Infrastructure and work with our network, platform, HPC, storage and supply chain teams. When an issue needs another team, you will give them the evidence and a clear path to resolution.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Own site bring-up. Check power, cooling, cable pathways, floor loading and security readiness with the colocation provider and integrators. Build the installation, acceptance-testing and production-handover plan.

• Manage equipment and spares. Receive and inspect deliveries, reconcile purchase orders and packing lists, record serial numbers, and coordinate dock time, rigging, staging and storage. Keep inventory accurate, manage RMAs, and follow chain-of-custody and media-destruction procedures.

• Install and verify infrastructure. Rack and stack compute, accelerator, network and storage systems and install in-rack PDUs. Run, dress, label and test copper and fiber cabling; inspect and clean optics. Supervise third-party installation and cabling crews, check their work and close installation punch lists.

• Run daily onsite operations. Handle remote-hands requests within agreed response times, diagnose and replace failed components by runbook, and coordinate with the colocation provider, OEMs and remote engineering teams. Monitor rack power, temperatures and liquid-cooling alarms, and escalate facility issues to the provider.

• Lead onsite incident response. Investigate hardware, power, cooling and physical-network faults. Resolve issues within your scope, document evidence for escalations, and contribute to root-cause reviews and corrective actions.

• Make the next deployment better. Keep rack elevations, cable maps, asset and access records, and maintenance procedures current. Enforce site safety, access control and change-control practices, turn repeated issues into runbooks, identify tools and spares needs, and help hire and train technicians as the site grows.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• 5+ years in data center operations, deployment or hardware support at a hyperscale, colocation, HPC or AI/GPU site.

• Hands-on experience with rack and stack, copper and fiber cabling, cable management, labeling, and server diagnosis and repair down to the component level.

• Working knowledge of three-phase power, PDUs, breakers, busway, and air and liquid cooling, sufficient to identify problems and work with facilities staff.

• Basic physical-layer and Layer 2 networking, including optics and port troubleshooting, and comfort using the Linux command line.

• Experience receiving, tracking and shipping equipment, maintaining asset inventory, and coordinating vendors, integrators and colocation providers.

• Clear written tickets, escalations and status updates that another team can act on, and the ability to work independently as Cotidal’s only employee onsite.

ESPECIALLY VALUABLE

Experience in one or more of the following:

• Leading or supporting an AI accelerator cluster bring-up from first delivery to production handover.

• Liquid-cooled racks, including CDUs, manifolds, quick disconnects and leak detection.

• 400G/800G optics, RoCE or InfiniBand, and fiber testing with OTDRs or optical power meters.

• Writing SOPs, MOPs and runbooks, and using structured root-cause methods.

• Working as a tenant in a third-party colocation facility, using ticketing, DCIM and inventory tools, or writing Python or Bash scripts.

• Relevant server, networking, cabling, data center or electrical-safety certifications, such as CompTIA Server+ or Network+, CCNA, BICSI, CDCP, NFPA 70E or OSHA training.

WHY JOIN COTIDAL

Help bring our first AI data center site into service and shape how we operate the sites that follow. Your work will connect hardware delivery, installation and engineering with the daily reliability of the systems our customers use.

Own work from equipment delivery through production operations. Help shape the foundations of an early company through direct discussion and work across engineering, infrastructure and supply chain.

LOCATION & WHAT WE OFFER

Location: Minneapolis–St. Paul area, Minnesota. This role is 100% onsite at our colocation facility. You must live locally or be willing to relocate.

Coverage and travel: On-call for site incidents and after-hours work during deployment and maintenance windows. Up to approximately 20% travel for new site bring-ups and Bay Area team meetings.

Work environment: Lift and move 50 lb, stand for extended periods, kneel, climb ladders, and work in hot and cold aisles with high noise. The role requires a background check and compliance with the facility’s access requirements.

Compensation: Competitive salary and equity.

Visa sponsorship: We sponsor work visas and help you navigate the process.

Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, unlimited PTO, and relocation support as needed.