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xAI (SpaceXSI) is seeking a Senior Manager of Power Plant Operations to lead strategic and operational oversight of a dedicated gas turbine power generation facility supporting the Colossus AI supercomputer data center campus in Memphis, Tennessee. This is a high-impact leadership role with full ownership of 24/7 power delivery, plant reliability, and operational excellence for a critical infrastructure asset serving AI training clusters.
You will provide strategic and operational leadership across all aspects of plant operations, maintenance, commissioning, and ongoing construction/expansion. Key responsibilities include:
• Lead multidisciplinary teams of operators, maintenance technicians, engineers, contractors, and support staff in a 24/7 operational and construction environment
• Own end-to-end delivery of electrical power to data center sites, ensuring industry-leading reliability, availability, power quality, and redundancy
• Oversee plant performance, commissioning, testing, and seamless integration with data center electrical infrastructure
• Develop and execute comprehensive operations and maintenance strategies, including preventative/predictive maintenance, outage planning, hot gas path management, and OEM coordination for gas turbines, generators, balance of plant, and high-voltage electrical systems
• Manage concurrent construction, equipment installation, civil works, and phased capacity expansions while maintaining safe, reliable operation
• Ensure full compliance with environmental, safety, and regulatory requirements (air permits, emissions controls, TDEC, EPA, OSHA)
• Partner with data center operations, engineering, fuel suppliers, OEMs, utilities, and regulatory agencies
• Formulate and execute operating budgets, fuel management, O&M, capital projects, and annual operating plans
• Drive continuous improvement in plant availability, heat rate, emissions, cost, and safety metrics
• Establish and promote a culture of safety, accountability, operational excellence, and rapid execution
• Serve as site leader and primary representative to the Memphis community, regulators, and stakeholders
• Recruit, develop, coach, and retain high-performing talent; manage staffing and contractor oversight
This role requires someone unfazed by major strategic shifts, aggressive timelines, and the demands of a fast-paced, startup-like environment within a major AI infrastructure initiative.
REQUIREMENTS:
• Bachelor's degree
• 8+ years of experience in power generation operations, plant management, or related industrial/aerospace operations
• 3+ years of leadership experience managing teams of operators, technicians, and engineers
• Experience operating or managing gas turbine power plants (simple cycle or combined cycle)
• Must be based at the Memphis/Southaven site
• Ability to support plant operations and construction outside normal business hours, including nights, weekends, and on-call response
• Willingness to work extended hours as needed
• General physical fitness required; ability to walk plant site, access equipment, and work in industrial/outdoor environments
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:
• Managing large-scale gas turbine facilities (100 MW+) with high-availability critical power applications (data centers, industrial)
• Proven track record of achieving and sustaining high plant availability and low forced outage rates
• Hands-on experience with plant construction, commissioning, start-up, and concurrent operations/expansion
• Deep knowledge of gas turbine technology (aeroderivative and/or heavy-duty frames), performance optimization, emissions controls (SCR), and balance of plant systems
• Experience with high-voltage electrical systems, generators, switchgear, protection, and data center/industrial interconnection
• Strong understanding of environmental permitting, air quality compliance, and regulatory reporting for combustion turbines
• Experience in fast-paced, high-growth environments requiring simultaneous operations and major construction
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, fuel costs, contractors, and complex stakeholder relationships
• Excellent oral and written communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills
