AI Data Center Lead Operator
Company: Beowulf Electricity and Data
Location: Barker, NY
Position Type: Full-Time, Shift Work (Non-Exempt)
Compensation: $42.00 - $45.00 / hour (Based on experience)
Lead the Shift. Protect Critical Operations. Develop the Team.
Beowulf Electricity & Data / TeraWulf is seeking an experienced Lead Operator to support operations at the Lake Mariner data center campus in Barker, New York.
As the shift leader and operational authority for an assigned building or campus area, the Lead Operator helps ensure the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of critical electrical, mechanical, cooling, and facility infrastructure. This position provides hands-on operational leadership, coordinates operator activities, leads the initial response to infrastructure events, and serves as a vital connection between frontline operators and site leadership.
This is an ideal opportunity for a dependable operations professional who remains calm under pressure, values procedural discipline, and is ready to take greater ownership of building-level data center operations.
Lead Shift Operations
- Direct and coordinate Desk Operators, Inside Operators, Outside Operators, and Relief Operators during your assigned shift.
- Conduct shift turnover briefings and maintain operational continuity between crews.
- Assign rounds, inspections, work orders, and operator tasks based on operational priorities.
- Coach operators, reinforce procedures, and provide on-the-job training.
Monitor Critical Infrastructure
- Maintain awareness of electrical, mechanical, cooling, life safety, and facility systems.
- Monitor operating platforms and equipment status, including BMS, EPMS, DCIM, SCADA, CMMS, and alarm consoles, as applicable.
- Confirm systems remain within approved operating parameters and escalate abnormal conditions promptly.
Lead Incident Response
- Serve as the initial Incident Commander for building-level events until relieved by site management.
- Direct the first response to alarms, equipment faults, abnormal readings, and customer-impacting events.
- Coordinate troubleshooting, escalation, event communications, documentation, and post-event follow-up.
Support Maintenance Activities
- Review and support approved SOPs, MOPs, EOPs, and work plans before field execution.
- Verify readiness before maintenance begins and assist with return-to-service checks.
- Coordinate planned work with Facilities, IT, Safety, contractors, vendors, and site leadership.
Promote Safety and Compliance
- Model a strong safety culture and stop unsafe or non-compliant work when necessary.
- Reinforce company safety requirements, OSHA standards, NFPA 70E practices, LOTO requirements, arc-flash PPE, and site procedures.
- Participate in emergency drills, evacuations, tabletop exercises, and after-action reviews.
Maintain Accurate Documentation
- Review shift logs, alarm notes, rounds, event narratives, turnover documentation, and operational summaries.
- Ensure work orders, incident records, and shift reports are accurate, timely, and complete.
- Identify recurring issues and escalate trends that could affect safety, reliability, or customer operations.
Systems You May Support
- Utility power and medium-voltage distribution equipment
- Switchgear, breakers, transformers, PDUs, and power distribution paths
- Generators, fuel systems, ATS/STS equipment, UPS systems, and battery systems
- HVAC, chilled water, liquid cooling, pumps, fans, valves, and CRAH/CRAC units
- Fire detection, suppression, life safety, leak detection, and environmental monitoring systems
- BMS, EPMS, DCIM, SCADA, CMMS, incident management, and alarm monitoring platforms
What We're Looking For
- High school diploma or GED required.
- Technical degree, trade school education, military technical background, or equivalent practical experience preferred.
- Five or more years of experience in mission-critical, industrial, utility, power generation, high-density computing, or data center operations preferred.
- Two or more years of shift lead, crew lead, supervisory, or equivalent operational leadership experience preferred.
- Working knowledge of electrical distribution, HVAC and cooling infrastructure, alarms, monitoring systems, maintenance coordination, and incident escalation.
- Ability to read and follow SOPs, MOPs, EOPs, single-line diagrams, rounds sheets, shift logs, and work instructions.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with disciplined documentation habits.
Preferred Training or Certifications
- OSHA 30
- NFPA 70E
- First Aid, CPR, or AED
- Data Center Certified Associate or CDCP
- LOTO authorized employee training
- Electrical switching, generator, UPS, EPMS/BMS, or equipment-specific training
Schedule and Physical Requirements
This position supports a 24/7 operating environment and may require 8-hour or 12-hour rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, holidays, and overtime.
The role requires the ability to perform operational rounds in indoor and outdoor environments; stand, walk, climb stairs or ladders, kneel, and bend; work in mechanical and electrical rooms; lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 pounds; and wear required PPE, including arc-flash PPE where applicable. Team members may work around noise, heat, cold, dust, weather exposure, restricted spaces, and energized equipment.
Bring Your Leadership to a Mission-Critical Environment
If you have strong technical operations experience, take ownership during critical events, and know how to guide a team safely and effectively, we encourage you to apply for the Lead Operator position at the Lake Mariner campus.