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Director, Memphis Power Plant Operations

xAI· Data Center
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Memphis, TNfull-timePosted 2mo ago

About the role

Strategic and operational leadership for the gas turbine power generation facility supporting SpaceXSI's Colossus data center campus in Memphis, Tennessee. Responsible for 24/7 power reliability, safety, regulatory compliance, and leading cross-functional teams through rapid scale-up and concurrent construction/expansion of the power plant.

Responsibilities

  • Provide strategic and operational leadership for the Memphis gas turbine power plant, including 24/7 operations, maintenance, commissioning, and ongoing construction and capacity expansion
  • Own end-to-end delivery of electrical power to the Colossus data center sites, ensuring industry-leading reliability, availability, power quality, and redundancy
  • Lead multidisciplinary teams of operators, maintenance technicians, engineers, contractors, and support staff in a 24/7 operational and construction environment
  • Oversee plant performance, commissioning, testing, and seamless integration with data center electrical infrastructure and load
  • 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 of the existing plant
  • Ensure full compliance with environmental, safety, and regulatory requirements, including air permits, emissions controls, TDEC, EPA, OSHA, and local authorities
  • Partner closely with SpaceXSI 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, safety metrics, and operational processes
  • Establish and promote a culture of uncompromising safety, accountability, operational excellence, rapid execution, and collaboration
  • Serve as the site leader and primary representative to the Memphis community, regulators, and stakeholders
  • Recruit, develop, coach, and retain high-performing talent; manage staffing, resource allocation, and contractor oversight for both operations and construction

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, electrical, or other engineering discipline
  • 8+ years of experience in power generation operations, plant management, or related industrial or aerospace operations
  • 5+ years of leadership experience managing teams of operators, technicians, and engineers
  • Experience operating or managing gas turbine power plants (simple cycle or combined cycle)

Skills

Required:Mechanical or electrical engineering fundamentalsPower plant operations leadershipGas turbine technology
Nice to have:Regulatory and environmental compliance
Last updated Oct 14, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

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