Design Manager

xAI's mission is to create AI systems that can accurately understand the universe and aid humanity in its pursuit of knowledge. Our team is small, highly motivated, and focused on engineering excellence. This organization is for individuals who appreciate challenging themselves and thrive on curiosity. We operate with a flat organizational structure. All employees are expected to be hands-on and to contribute directly to the company's mission. Leadership is given to those who show initiative and consistently deliver excellence. Work ethic and strong prioritization skills are important. All engineers are expected to have strong communication skills. They should be able to concisely and accurately share knowledge with their teammates.

xAI is building artificial intelligence to accelerate human scientific discovery, guided by our mission to advance our collective understanding of the universe. We develop AI systems to empower researchers, scientists, and innovators, aiming to solve humanity's greatest challenges and share the benefits of AI broadly.

We are seeking a Design Manager for our Memphis location to lead the design of cutting-edge AI infrastructure at an unprecedented scale. As the head of design, you will unify design strategies across all engineering disciplines, driving decisions that shape xAI's infrastructure, compute, and supplier ecosystems. This role oversees data center design and construction administration, ensuring alignment with xAI's strategic technical roadmap across all project phases.

• Lead as head of design, unifying mechanical, electrical, structural, and network systems for cohesive, optimized AI infrastructure.
  
• Apply engineering codes, principles, and practices to guide design, analysis, and problem-solving.
  
• Collaborate with internal teams to define infrastructure requirements.
  
• Partner with external design teams and stakeholders to develop and issue design documents.
  
• Manage design change processes to align with project goals.
  
• Review and respond to contractor Requests for Information (RFIs).
  
• Conduct site reviews and deliver technical reports.
  
• Support project closeout and as-built documentation.
  
• Review commissioning scripts and reports to validate system performance.
  
• Identify process improvements, optimize designs, and balance schedule, performance, and cost tradeoffs.
  
• Mitigate design risks and implement robust QA/QC practices.
  
• Align designs with xAI's technical and business objectives.
  
• Integrate sustainability, energy efficiency, and resiliency into designs.
  
• Travel between xAI's Memphis location and project sites in the US and internationally as needed.
  

• BS in Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
  
• 7+ years of experience in mission-critical infrastructure design.
  
• Experience stamping construction drawing packages.
  
• Deep knowledge of industry standards, building codes, and safety regulations.
  
• Proficiency in Revit/BIM, Autodesk, or similar design software.
  
• Expertise in data center infrastructure design, construction, commissioning, and operation.
  
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced environments, balancing long-term planning with immediate execution needs.
  

• Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Architect (RA) license.
  
• Experience building AI infrastructure or supercomputers at scale.
  
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and align them around a shared technical vision.
  
• Comfort with ambiguity and skill in turning loosely defined goals into structured execution plans.
  
• Strong communication skills to convey complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and influence executive decisions.
  
• Systems-level thinking, understanding how decisions impact performance, cost, and schedule.
  
• Track record of mentoring teams and fostering technical excellence and accountability.
  
• Ability to prioritize design quality and optimize for speed, scalability, or resilience based on project needs.
  

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