Data Center Electrical R&D Design Engineer

OpenAI

. Develop advanced electrical architectures for high-density AI data centers, from utility interconnection through rack-level power delivery .

Posted 10/26/2026full-timeSan Francisco • California • United StatesSeniorLead💰 $257,000 - $327,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates extensive expertise in electrical power distribution and system design for high-density AI data centers, with a strong focus on modeling, testing, and optimizing complex electrical architectures. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and communicate technical concepts effectively to diverse audiences.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Electrical Power DistributionPower-System ModelingElectrical Design DevelopmentTechnical WritingProject Leadership

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Medium-Voltage SystemsLow-Voltage SystemsShort-Circuit AnalysisLoad Flow AnalysisArc-Flash AnalysisPower QualityGroundingReliability EngineeringDesign StandardsValidation Frameworks

Soft Skills

Communication SkillsCollaborationProblem-Solving

Tools & Technologies

ETAPSKMEasyPowerPSCADMATLAB/Simulink

Certifications & Qualifications

Professional Engineer LicenseMaster’s Degree in Electrical EngineeringPhD in Electrical Engineering

Industry Keywords

Data-Center InfrastructureAI InfrastructureCritical InfrastructureEnergy StorageMicrogridsAdvanced Industrial FacilitiesHyperscale ComputingElectrical CodesUtility RequirementsSafety Standards

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Flash

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Develop advanced electrical architectures for high-density AI data centers, from utility interconnection through rack-level power delivery
Translate evolving compute-platform requirements into electrical capacity, topology, redundancy, power-quality, protection, and control requirements
Create conceptual designs, basis-of-design documents, specifications, one-line diagrams, design standards, and reusable reference architectures
Model electrical-system performance, capacity, efficiency, reliability, fault conditions, transient behavior, and failure scenarios
Evaluate emerging technologies such as medium-voltage distribution, solid-state power conversion, advanced UPS systems, energy storage, alternative generation, and direct-current architectures
Build technical and economic comparisons across competing design approaches
Develop prototypes, test plans, acceptance criteria, and validation frameworks
Lead laboratory, factory, pilot-site, and field testing
Partner with mechanical and thermal engineers to optimize power and cooling architectures
Collaborate with AI hardware and compute teams on workload behavior, rack density, utilization, power variability, and future platform requirements
Work with controls and software teams on instrumentation, telemetry, protection, monitoring, and automated-control requirements
Partner with construction, commissioning, and operations teams to ensure designs can be safely built, tested, operated, and maintained
Engage equipment manufacturers, utilities, engineering consultants, and research partners
Investigate system failures and unexpected test results, identify root causes, and translate findings into design improvements
Document validated designs, technical decisions, operating envelopes, lessons learned, and deployment guidance
Provide technical direction and design-review leadership across internal teams and external engineering partners

Requirements

What you’ll need

10+ years of experience in electrical engineering, power-system design, data-center infrastructure, industrial power, or another critical-infrastructure environment
Deep expertise in electrical power distribution, including medium- and low-voltage systems, substations, transformers, switchgear, protection, UPS systems, generators, and rack-level power delivery
Demonstrated experience developing electrical designs for large, complex, or high-availability facilities
Strong understanding of power-system modeling, short-circuit analysis, load flow, coordination studies, arc-flash analysis, power quality, grounding, and reliability
Experience translating uncertain or evolving technical requirements into testable engineering concepts and system architectures
Experience designing experiments, prototypes, pilots, or validation programs for new equipment or infrastructure technologies
Ability to reason across electrical, mechanical, controls, compute hardware, construction, commissioning, and operational boundaries
Experience evaluating engineering tradeoffs using quantitative analysis, simulation, testing, and field data
Strong technical writing and communication skills, including the ability to explain complex engineering decisions to technical and executive audiences
Experience directing engineering consultants, equipment manufacturers, and external technology partners
Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or a related engineering discipline
Preferred: Master’s degree or PhD in electrical engineering, power systems, power electronics, energy systems, or a related field
Preferred: Professional Engineer license or equivalent professional certification
Preferred: Experience supporting high-density data centers, AI infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing, advanced industrial facilities, or hyperscale computing environments
Preferred: Experience with ETAP, SKM, EasyPower, PSCAD, MATLAB/Simulink, or comparable power-system analysis tools
Preferred: Experience with power electronics, energy storage, microgrids, alternative generation, or advanced grid-interconnection technologies
Preferred: Familiarity with digital twins, hardware-in-the-loop testing, real-time simulation, and data-driven infrastructure optimization
Preferred: Experience carrying a new technology from research or prototype through qualification, commissioning, and scaled deployment
Preferred: Knowledge of electrical codes, utility requirements, safety standards, and regulatory requirements across multiple geographies
Preferred: Published research, patents, technical standards contributions, or demonstrated invention in electrical or critical-infrastructure systems

Benefits

Comp & perks

Equity
Performance-related bonus(es) for eligible employees
Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family, with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts
Pre-tax accounts for Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, and commuter expenses (parking and transit)
401(k) retirement plan with employer match
Paid parental leave (up to 24 weeks for birth parents and 20 weeks for non-birthing parents)
Paid medical and caregiver leave (up to 8 weeks)
Paid time off: flexible PTO for exempt employees and up to 15 days annually for non-exempt employees
13+ paid company holidays
Multiple paid coordinated company office closures throughout the year for focus and recharge
Paid sick or safe time (1 hour per 30 hours worked, or more, as required by applicable state or local law)
Mental health and wellness support
Employer-paid basic life and disability coverage
Annual learning and development stipend
Daily meals in offices, and meal delivery credits as eligible
Relocation support for eligible employees
Additional taxable fringe benefits, such as charitable donation matching and wellness stipends, may also be provided