Data Center Ops Manager

About Groq Inference is the engine that powers AI, and Groq was built from the silicon up to deliver the world's fastest inference at scale. We pioneered the LPU - the first processor designed specifically for AI inference - and are transforming that innovation into a global cloud platform powering production AI workloads. With the capital, infrastructure, and team to execute, we're uniquely positioned to define the next era of AI infrastructure. The opportunity is massive, and it's still wide open. Now let's go build it!

Mission:

Lead operational excellence at Groq's Buffalo, NY data center, building consistent, reliable, and scalable operations in a liquid-cooled environment. You will lead the on-site team, own day-to-day site operations, and drive the processes, systems, and partnerships required to operate mission-critical infrastructure with urgency and discipline. This role combines hands-on people leadership, technical depth, and operational execution. You will establish and uphold consistent operating standards at the site while staying close to the team and infrastructure to identify issues, remove barriers, and continuously improve how we operate.

Location:

United States, based in Buffalo, NY . This is an on-site role at Groq's Buffalo data center, with occasional domestic and international travel as needed.

Responsibilities & opportunities in this role:

Lead and develop the on-site data center operations team at the Buffalo data center. Own day-to-day operational performance of the site, driving consistent standards for reliability, security, safety, execution, and accountability. Build scalable operating rhythms for the site, including staffing and scheduling, training, performance management, site reviews, escalation processes, and communication with Groq's wider data center organization. Hire, develop, and retain technical talent while building a strong local team that operates effectively as part of Groq's distributed data center organization. Partner closely with infrastructure, networking, security, engineering, logistics, and other teams to maintain stable and efficient mission-critical environments. Maintain strong technical engagement across Linux systems, networking, security, hardware, and data center infrastructure, providing leadership and sound judgment during complex operational issues. Own day-to-day operation of the site's liquid cooling infrastructure, including coolant distribution units (CDUs), secondary fluid networks, and rack-level cooling, working with facilities teams and vendors on monitoring, maintenance, leak response, and change control. Lead response to high-severity incidents, coordinating on-site staff, vendors, and cross-functional teams to restore operations quickly and translating lessons learned into durable improvements. Drive continuous improvement and automation at the site, reducing manual work, improving reliability, and creating repeatable processes that scale. Own vendor relationships, asset management, resource planning, and operational budgets for the site. Lead data center improvement programs from planning through execution, balancing immediate operational priorities with longer-term infrastructure needs. Develop, maintain, and test business continuity and disaster recovery practices for the site. Use operational data and performance indicators to identify risks, prioritize improvements, and drive accountability at the site. Maintain a visible, hands-on leadership presence on the data center floor through daily team engagement, operational reviews, and direct support. Help shape and improve Groq's data center operating model, sharing lessons from running a liquid-cooled site with peer sites as infrastructure and operational requirements evolve.

Ideal candidates have/are:

Experienced leaders in mission-critical data center or infrastructure operations, with demonstrated success running a data center site and leading its on-site team. Proven people managers who have hired, developed, coached, and retained technical talent. Strong operational leaders who create clear expectations, consistent standards, and accountability for their team and site. Deep technical knowledge of Linux systems, networking, security, hardware, and data center infrastructure, with the ability to troubleshoot complex infrastructure issues and effectively lead technical teams. Experienced managing high-severity outages or operational crises with structured decision-making, clear communication, and urgency. Experience operating or maintaining liquid cooling systems in a data center environment, such as coolant distribution units (CDUs), direct-to-chip cooling, secondary fluid networks, or rear-door heat exchangers, is highly desired. Familiar with infrastructure automation and configuration management tools such as Ansible, Puppet, or Chef, with experience using automation to improve operational efficiency and reliability. Experienced managing vendors, assets, budgets, resources, and operational planning within complex infrastructure environments. Strong program managers who can prioritize and execute infrastructure and operational improvement initiatives. Experienced with disaster recovery and business continuity planning for mission-critical environments. Effective cross-functional partners who can build alignment and influence technical and business stakeholders. Clear communicators who can lead an on-site team and keep remote stakeholders across time zones informed. Able to work on site in Buffalo, NY, with occasional domestic and international travel as needed. Motivated by ownership, continuous improvement, technical excellence, and building operational systems that scale.

Why Join Us:

Purposeful Hiring : You’re not here by accident, and neither is anyone else. Every teammate is handpicked with intention because who we build with matters. Builders Wanted : You’re not just riding the rocket ship, you’re building it. Your work directly shapes the trajectory of our company. Mission-Driven Work : We’re here to make a real impact. Our mission fuels everything we do. Tackling Hard Problems : If easy isn’t your thing, you’re in the right place. We solve some of the most complex and exciting challenges in our space. Excellence Is The Standard : High performance isn’t just encouraged, it’s the baseline. And it’s contagious.

Compensation

Groq is committed to providing competitive compensation through our Total Cash philosophy, which incorporates potential bonus value directly into base pay. The total cash salary range for this position, which is inclusive of the potential bonus value, is $169,700–$199,600, with individual placement determined by your geographic location, experience, skills, and alignment with internal compensation standards. This range is specific to candidates located in the United States. Compensation for international candidates will vary based on local market dynamics. Beyond cash compensation, Groq also offers a Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Program and a robust suite of employee benefits.

US Job Posting This position may require access to technology and/or information subject to U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). To comply with these requirements, candidates for this role must meet certain citizenship or residency criteria. Specifically, they must qualify as U.S. Persons for export control purposes (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder), or a protected individual under 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3) such as a refugee or asylee), or otherwise be eligible for an applicable export license. Non-US Job Postings This position may require access to technology and/or information subject to U.S. export control laws and regulations, as well as applicable local laws and regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). To comply with these requirements, candidates for this role must meet all relevant export control eligibility criteria.

Groq is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Groq complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any protected characteristic. Groq is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application or to participate in the hiring process, please contact us at talent@groq.com . This contact is for accommodation requests only, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All offers of employment are contingent upon verification of the applicant’s identity and employment authorization in accordance with federal law. Groq encourages people with criminal record histories to apply for employment, and values diverse experiences, including prior contact with the criminal legal system. To that end, Groq welcomes such applicants in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles City Fair Chance Act Ordinance, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Act Ordinance, and San Francisco Fair Chance Act Ordinance. Philadelphia applicants can review information pertaining to Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Ordinance here: https://www.phila.gov/documents/fair-chance-hiring-law-poster . As part of our hiring process, Groq may use artificial intelligence (“AI”) tools or automated systems to assist with activities such as reviewing applications, evaluating qualifications, scheduling interviews, analyzing assessment responses, or supporting recruiting operations. These tools are designed to assist - not replace - human decision-making, and hiring decisions are subject to human review. We may process information you provide during the application process, including resumes, application materials, interview responses, assessments, and, where applicable, audio, video, or transcript data. If legally required, we will request consent before using technologies that analyze biometric or video interview data. Candidates may request reasonable accommodations, an alternative evaluation process, additional information regarding the use of AI in the hiring process, or review of certain automated decisions by contacting ta-operations@groq.com.