ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Datacenter Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

TEKsystems

Systems Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$50 - $70/hr

Infrastructure Engineer (Linux, Datacenter & Automation) Location: Santa Clara, CA (Onsite) Duration: Contract Experience Level: Mid-Level to Senior Overview We're seeking experienced Infrastructure ...

TEKsystems

Systems Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$50 - $70/hr

Infrastructure Engineer (Linux, Datacenter & Automation) Location: Santa Clara, CA (Onsite) Duration: Contract Experience Level: Mid-Level to Senior Overview We're seeking experienced Infrastructure ...

Sproutup

Datacenter Server Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$100 - $130/hr

The Datacenter Server Engineer is a hands‑on technical role responsible for building, configuring, troubleshooting, and repairing servers within datacenter and ITAD environments. This position ...

Sprout

Datacenter Server Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

The Datacenter Server Engineer is a hands-on technical role responsible for building, configuring, troubleshooting, and repairing servers within datacenter and ITAD environments. This position ...

Sprout

Datacenter Server Engineer

San Francisco, CA

The Datacenter Server Engineer is a hands-on technical role responsible for building, configuring, troubleshooting, and repairing servers within datacenter and ITAD environments. This position ...

Inficare Technologies

Datacenter Network Lead

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$119K - $164K/yr

Role - Datacenter Network Lead - AWS Cloud & Terraform Location - Palo Alto, CA (Onsite) Note: Only ... Collaborate with cloud, security, DevOps, and infrastructure teams. * Perform capacity planning ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsDatacenter Engineer JobsDatacenter Engineer Jobs in California

Datacenter Engineer information

See California salary details

$50.8K

$145.5K

$194.4K

How much do datacenter engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for datacenter engineer in California is $145,530.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $82,900.00 and $193,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a datacenter engineer?

Datacenter Engineers are IT professionals who design, implement, maintain, and troubleshoot the physical and virtual infrastructure of data centers. Their responsibilities include managing servers, networking equipment, storage systems, and ensuring optimal power and cooling efficiency. They also monitor system performance, address hardware failures, and coordinate with other IT teams to support business operations. Datacenter Engineers play a crucial role in maintaining uptime, security, and scalability of the organization's critical IT assets.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a datacenter engineer?

To thrive as a Datacenter Engineer, you need a strong understanding of server hardware, networking, power/cooling systems, and typically a degree in IT, computer science, or related field. Familiarity with data center infrastructure management (DCIM) tools, virtualization platforms like VMware, and relevant certifications such as CompTIA Server+ or Cisco CCNA are highly valued. Excellent problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for this role. These abilities ensure the reliability, efficiency, and security of data center operations, which are critical for organizational uptime and service delivery.

What are some typical challenges datacenter engineers face when maintaining uptime and reliability?

Datacenter Engineers often encounter challenges such as managing unexpected hardware failures, coordinating timely maintenance without disrupting service, and ensuring robust network connectivity. They must also stay vigilant against security threats and environmental risks like power outages or overheating. Proactively monitoring systems, collaborating closely with IT and facilities teams, and following standardized protocols help address these challenges and ensure the datacenter remains operational and secure.

What is the difference between Datacenter Engineer vs Network Engineer?

AspectDatacenter EngineerNetwork Engineer
CertificationsCompTIA Server+, Cisco CCNA, VMwareCisco CCNA, CompTIA Network+
Work EnvironmentData centers, server rooms, hardware-focusedNetwork infrastructure, routing, switching
Primary ResponsibilitiesManaging servers, hardware, power, coolingDesigning, implementing, maintaining networks
Industry UsageIT, cloud providers, large enterprisesTelecommunications, IT, enterprise networks

While both roles work within IT infrastructure, Datacenter Engineers focus on physical hardware, servers, and data center operations, whereas Network Engineers specialize in network design, configuration, and troubleshooting. Understanding these differences helps organizations assign the right skills to each role.

Datacenter Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Datacenter Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $145,530 per year, or $70 per hour.

Manufacturing Quality Engineer - Datacenter Infrastructure

OpenAI

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$230K - $355K/yr

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

About the Team
OpenAI, in partnership with our capital and technology partners, is building a global network of advanced datacenters to support the most demanding AI workloads. The Infrastructure Quality team ensures that all datacenter systems are manufactured, delivered, and commissioned to the highest standards of quality, reliability, and performance.
We work closely with manufacturing partners, general contractors, engineering teams, and operations staff to ensure that every component is delivered ready for installation, startup, and long-term service. Our work spans from vendor qualification through commissioning, ensuring operational readiness across our global portfolio.
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced Manufacturing Quality Engineer (MQE) to establish, implement, and manage a manufacturing-focused quality program for datacenter infrastructure. This role will be responsible for vendor oversight, quality assurance, process improvement, and issue resolution for all critical systems.
You will lead vendor audits, monitor performance metrics, and coordinate corrective actions to ensure predictable delivery schedules, reduced risks, and operational reliability. By partnering with vendors, construction teams, and internal stakeholders, you will help ensure OpenAI's datacenters are delivered on time and built to the highest operational standards.
Travel
  • Domestic and international travel as needed (estimated 40-60%) to manufacturing sites, datacenter locations, and partner facilities.

Key Responsibilities
Vendor Oversight & Performance Management
  • Conduct manufacturing evaluation, audits, and improve vendor performance across production, inspection, testing, and delivery phases.
  • Develop and track quality metrics to assess manufacturing performance and identify trends.
  • Partner with vendors to refine processes, training, and quality controls to mitigate risks before shipment.

Program Development & Execution
  • Develop and maintain a datacenter-focused manufacturing quality program that supports global deployment schedules.
  • Integrate manufacturing quality requirements into sourcing, design, and construction processes.
  • Establish effective cross-functional communication between manufacturing sites, construction teams, and operations.

Quality Leadership & Collaboration
  • Provide guidance to vendor and contractor quality teams, ensuring adherence to OpenAI's standards and specifications.
  • Collaborate with engineering, sourcing, construction, and operations to align quality processes with project goals.
  • Mentor vendor teams and provide structured feedback to drive continuous improvement.

Issue Resolution & Continuous Improvement
  • Audit quality activities at vendor and project sites to verify compliance with requirements.
  • Lead corrective and preventive action plans for audit findings and quality nonconformances.
  • Facilitate root cause analysis for recurring manufacturing issues and drive systemic process improvements.

Schedule & Documentation Management
  • Monitor manufacturing schedules to ensure on-time delivery to datacenter sites.
  • Ensure testing and inspection documentation is complete, accurate, and aligned with project milestones.
  • Participate in project quality, commissioning, and operational readiness meetings.

Qualifications
  • 10+ years in manufacturing quality management, supplier quality engineering, process improvement, or datacenter engineering/operations.
  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, construction management, or related field (or equivalent work experience).
  • Demonstrated ability to analyze data, solve problems, and improve manufacturing processes.
  • Proven track record managing deliverables for complex projects or supplier programs.
  • Strong communication skills with experience influencing both technical and executive audiences.

Preferred Skills
  • Technical knowledge of datacenter infrastructure systems, including mechanical, electrical, and controls components.
  • Experience in supplier performance management for mission-critical facilities.
  • ASQ Certified Quality Engineer, Quality Manager, or Quality Auditor.
  • PMP or equivalent project management certification.
  • Experience in industrial or high-volume manufacturing environments.

About OpenAI
OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic.
For additional information, please see OpenAI's Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement.
Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable law, and qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with those laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, for US-based candidates. For unincorporated Los Angeles County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: protect computer hardware entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon termination of employment or end of assignment; and maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, confidential, and non-public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected information technology systems and related data security obligations.
To notify OpenAI that you believe this job posting is non-compliant, please submit a report through this form. No response will be provided to inquiries unrelated to job posting compliance.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this link.
OpenAI Global Applicant Privacy Policy
At OpenAI, we believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared. Join us in shaping the future of technology.

Apply