Mission-Critical (Liquid Cooling) Mechanical Operations Manager - HPCC

Posted:
11/6/2025, 4:00:00 PM

Location(s):
South Carolina, United States ⋅ Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States

Experience Level(s):
Senior

Field(s):
Operations & Logistics

Workplace Type:
Hybrid

The Company

NorthMark Compute & Cloud (NMC²) is backed by dedicated leadership and investment, with a clear mission as it operates at the bleeding edge of technology. Its goal is to scale and enhance the high-performance computing (HPC) and cloud infrastructure that supports its clients' research, production, and delivery, enabling breakthroughs that shape the industries of tomorrow. Its engineers build critical infrastructure to eliminate friction in scientific research, simulations, analysis, and decision-making, accelerating discovery and driving faster innovation

The Position

The Mission-Critical (Liquid Cooling) Mechanical Operations Manager,  will serve as the senior authority responsible for leading the Hybrid Space Liquid Cooling Operations, maintenance, and performance optimization of cooling systems supporting high-density compute environments within the High-Performance Compute Center (HPCC).

The Mission-Critical (Liquid Cooling) Mechanical Operations Manager will direct an internal Team of SMEs, as well as; a third-party service provider, that performs Owner directed maintenance and operations  of the Hybrid Space supporting  direct-to-chip liquid cooling systems, Coolant Distribution Units (CDUs), Rear Door Heat Exchangers (RDHXs), and associated control systems. This position ensures reliable thermal performance across the Hybrid Space environment by coordinating closely with the mechanical, electrical, and controls operations that support the upstream chilled water and power infrastructure.

This role also includes responsibility for monitoring and maintaining the chemistry of the technical water systems, ensuring corrosion control, biological stability, and fluid quality that meet manufacturer and system design standards. The ideal candidate combines strong technical knowledge of advanced cooling technologies and industrial fluid systems with the leadership skills required to manage a specialized operator workforce in a 24/7 mission-critical environment.

Responsibilities:

  • Lead, manage, and develop a team of SMEs and  third-party service provider operators responsible for the operation and maintenance of Hybrid Space cooling systems.
  • Refine and maintain operational standards, shift coverage models, and escalation protocols in collaboration with other departments to ensure consistency, clarity, and continuous availability of cooling systems.
  • Oversee system monitoring, alarm response, and fault isolation procedures for CDUs, RDHXs, and rack-level cooling systems.
  • Drive continuous improvement of liquid cooling system performance, energy efficiency, and reliability.
  • Coordinate with Controls & Integration teams to maintain stable system logic, setpoints, and interlocks within CDUs and rack cooling loops.
  • Oversee trending, data collection, and performance analysis to identify opportunities for Collaborate closely with the Mechanical, Electrical, and Controls departments to ensure proper hydraulic balance, thermal management, and redundancy across interconnected systems.
  • Participate in change management reviews for work that impacts or originates within the compute cooling environment.
  • Ensure precise communication and coordination during planned maintenance and incident response to minimize compute downtime.
  • Continuously enhance and uphold preventive maintenance schedules, task documentation, and vendor coordination for CDUs, RDHXs, and loop isolation valves, ensuring long-term reliability and alignment with evolving operational standards.
  • Lead root cause investigations for compute cooling-related incidents.
  • Maintain up-to-date as-built documentation, maintenance records, and equipment specifications.
  • Oversee chemical and mechanical treatment of the technical water systems that support liquid cooling.
  • Ensure consistent monitoring and testing of system chemistry, including corrosion inhibitors, pH levels, conductivity, and biological activity.
  • Coordinate sampling, filtration, and chemical dosing programs to maintain fluid integrity within manufacturer and system design specifications.
  • Manage relationships with water treatment vendors and ensure compliance with environmental and operational standards.
  • Ensure all compute cooling operations comply with EHS, Lockout/Tagout, and confined-space policies, as well as liquid cooling and chemical handling standards.
  • Enforce PPE and training requirements for all operators and contractors handling liquid cooling systems and associated components.
  • Report regularly to senior leadership on system performance, operator efficiency, and reliability KPIs.
  • Track and report metrics such as loop temperatures, delta-T performance, CDU utilization, and system availability.
  • Provide chemistry performance reports, including trends, deviations, and corrective actions.

Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Facilities Engineering, or related technical discipline; or equivalent experience.
  • 8+ years of experience in mission-critical environments (data centers, HPC facilities, or industrial cooling systems).
  • Direct experience with liquid cooling systems, CDUs, RDHXs, or other high-density compute thermal management technologies.
  • Proven success managing operational teams or contracted workforce in 24/7 environments.
  • Experience with water chemistry management, corrosion control, and industrial cooling fluid systems.
  • Strong understanding of integrated mechanical/electrical/control systems supporting high-performance compute.
  • Familiarity with NFPA, ASHRAE, and OSHA standards applicable to mission-critical cooling systems.

It is impossible to list every requirement for, or responsibility of, any position.  Similarly, we cannot identify all the skills a position may require since job responsibilities and the Company’s needs may change over time.  Therefore, the above job description is not comprehensive or exhaustive.  The Company reserves the right to adjust, add to or eliminate any aspect of the above description.  The Company also retains the right to require all employees to undertake additional or different job responsibilities when necessary to meet business needs.

Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future.

Benefits & Perks:

  • Hybrid-Work Schedule: We provide a hybrid working schedule with 3 days a week in the office

  • Company-Paid Lunch Stipend: Lunch is provided via GrubHub

  • Company-Paid Benefits: 100% Employer-Paid Medical in our High Deductible Health Plan, Dental and Vision benefits for employees and their families, 16 weeks of Paid Parental Leave, Employee Assistance Program, Life insurance, Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability

  • 401(k): Company will match 100% of your contributions up to 6%

  • Optional Employee-Paid Benefits: Medical insurance in our PPO plan and a variety of other benefits such as Health Savings Accounts (with Company Contribution!), Flexible Spending Accounts, Supplemental Life Insurance, Wellhub and more.

  • Time Off:  25 days of Paid Time Off plus 12 company holidays


EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

NORTHMARK STRATEGIES LLC IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. THE COMPANY'S POLICY IS NOT TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANY APPLICANT OR EMPLOYEE BASED ON RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, GENDER, AGE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, MARITAL STATUS, MENTAL OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY, AND GENETIC INFORMATION, OR ANY OTHER BASIS PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. THE FIRM ALSO PROHIBITS HARASSMENT OF APPLICANTS OR EMPLOYEES BASED ON ANY OF THESE PROTECTED CATEGORIES.