Data Center Operations Lead

Job Type: Full-Time l Location: Childress, TX l Department: Operations l Reporting to: Senior Data Center Technician |
Work Location Type: #onsite

IREN is a vertically integrated AI Cloud provider, delivering large-scale data centers and GPU clusters for AI training and inference. IREN’s platform is underpinned by its expansive portfolio of grid-connected land and power in renewable-rich regions across North America, Europe and APAC.

Join our dynamic, fast-paced team as a Data Center Operations Lead
, where you'll play a pivotal role in developing new data center projects. This is your chance to thrive in a high-growth environment, driving impactful projects at the cutting edge of energy and technology infrastructure.

With 100% renewable energy, we build, own and operate our data centers and take pride in being at the forefront of sustainable solutions for the ever-evolving applications of high-performance compute. We believe that human progress is invaluable, but it should be done in the right way – responsibly, sustainably and having a positive impact on the communities we operate in.

• 3-5 years in mission-critical, 24/7 data center operations or network operations center, including leadership, mentoring, and shift‑lead roles for small teams.
• Expert in real‑time incident management, ensuring accurate categorization, prioritization, triage, and stabilization of IT hardware, network, and facility issues.
• Skilled in monitoring GPU compute clusters, network environments, and facility infrastructure, validating alerts and coordinating immediate response actions.
• Proficient in ITSM ticketing: validation, prioritization, routing, and initial root‑cause assessment for engineering follow‑up.
• Experienced in coordinating on‑site smart‑hands support, directing technicians and facilities staff based on incident priority and operational impact.
• Strong commitment to operational continuity through shift handovers, accurate logging, risk communication, and clear inter‑team collaboration.
• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field or equivalent military/technical operations experience.

• Serve as the primary real‑time decision‑maker for active incidents while embedded onsite with shift teams, ensuring accurate categorization, prioritization, timely triage, clear communication, and stabilization actions across IT hardware, network, GPU clusters, and facility systems.
• Monitor IOC dashboards for GPU cluster, network, and facility alerts, validating signal quality, assessing operational impact, and coordinating appropriate response actions in real time alongside the shift team.
• Validate ticket prioritization, ensure accurate routing, and identify emerging ticketing patterns or repeat issues, directing follow‑up tasks to IOC analysts, day‑shift leads, or on‑site technicians as needed.
• Coordinate smart‑hands activities and support requests related to GPU clusters, facility systems, and network operations, providing guidance to technicians and ensuring safe, timely execution.
• Escalate critical or high‑impact incidents to the IOC Manager or Tier 2/Engineering teams with clear context, documented evidence, and recommended next steps.
• Perform initial root‑cause assessment (RCA) by collecting evidence, timelines, logs, and observations to establish category and priority, then coordinate the handoff of deeper investigation and full RCA tasks to IOC analysts and day‑shift leads.
• Conduct structured shift handover briefings and maintain precise operational logs, ensuring operational continuity, situational awareness, and seamless transition between shifts.
• Contribute to process improvements by identifying operational gaps, recurring issues, or workflow inefficiencies observed during the shift, and…