Data Center Safety Engineer

SpaceX
Memphis, TN

Who this role is best for

Best suited to engineers with hands-on data center experience and a strong grasp of electrical and thermal systems working in mission-critical infrastructure environments.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with hands-on data center safety experience and structured risk analysis skills
    — “Hands-on experience in data centers, critical facilities, or mission-critical environments”
  • Engineers with expertise in electrical safety and system reliability for high-density infrastructure
    — “Oversee electrical safety programs including arc-flash analysis, lockout/tagout (LOTO), and safe work practices on UPS, PDUs, switchgear, and generators”
  • Individuals who can align with SpaceX's mission-driven culture and rapid deployment goals
    — “enthusiasm for the mission of enabling multi-planetary life”

Things to consider

  • Relocation is mandatory unless already based in Memphis, TN
    — “This is not a remote or hybrid position and will require relocation if not already local to the Memphis, TN area”
  • Limited flexibility due to the need for in-person presence and occasional travel
    — “Position occasionally requires the ability to travel and support other critical computing infrastructure”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with FMEA and HAZOP studies in your resume and interviews
    — “Perform Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), HAZOP studies, and other structured risk assessments for critical systems”
  • Emphasize your track record in developing and maintaining emergency response plans
    — “Develop, maintain, and regularly drill emergency response plans for power loss, cooling failure, fire, water events, and other critical incidents”
  • Demonstrate proficiency with grounding, bonding, and power quality monitoring
    — “Ensure proper grounding, bonding, and power quality monitoring/telemetry to prevent equipment damage and personnel injury”
  • Showcase your ability to validate generator failover and automatic transfer switch procedures
    — “Validate automatic transfer switch (ATS) and generator failover procedures from a safety perspective”
  • Include certifications such as CSP, PE, or CEM in your qualifications section
    — “CSP (Certified Safety Professional), PE (Professional Engineer) license, CEM (Certified Energy Manager) or data-center-specific credentials”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · MediumAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · TeamLevel · Mid Level

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • safe rapid scaling of compute capacity
  • rigorous control reliability requirements
Typical background
electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial/systems engineering, chemical engineering, fire protection engineering

Skills & requirements

Required

Electrical Safety ProgramsRisk AssessmentsFMEAHazop StudiesGroundingBondingPower Quality MonitoringEmergency Response PlansCompliance With Codes And Standards

Preferred

PLC ProgrammingIot Device AdministrationAutomation ScriptingData Analysis

Stack & domain

Electrical EngineeringMechanical EngineeringIndustrial/systems EngineeringChemical EngineeringFire Protection Engineering

About the role

Original posting from SpaceX via Greenhouse

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

DATA CENTER SAFETY ENGINEER 

The Environmental Health and Safety team is seeking highly driven engineers to establish both human and system safety controls throughout the expansion of SpaceX's large-scale AI infrastructure and supercomputing facilities in the Memphis area. This role is critical in ensuring high-density critical infrastructure meets rigorous control reliability requirements enabling the safe rapid scaling of compute capacity to meet aggressive deployment timelines. The ideal candidate will have a comprehensive understanding of electrical system architecture, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and energy storage system architecture. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:   

Oversee electrical safety programs including arc-flash analysis, lockout/tagout (LOTO), and safe work practices on UPS, PDUs, switchgear, and generators

Conduct regular risk assessments of power systems, cooling infrastructure, fire/smoke, energy storage, and human factors

Perform Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), HAZOP studies, and other structured risk assessments for critical systems

Ensure proper grounding, bonding, and power quality monitoring/telemetry to prevent equipment damage and personnel injury

Validate automatic transfer switch (ATS) and generator failover procedures from a safety perspective

Monitor and mitigate risks related to cooling failures, hot spots, thermal runaway, and extreme temperature/humidity conditions

Establish safe operating limits and emergency response procedures for CRAC/CRAH, chillers, energy storage systems, and liquid cooling systems

Develop, maintain, and regularly drill emergency response plans for power loss, cooling failure, fire, water events, and other critical incidents

Ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards (NFPA, OSHA, IEC, local building/fire codes, Uptime Institute guidelines, ISO 45001, etc.)

Oversee electrical safety programs including arc-flash analysis, lockout/tagout (LOTO), and safe work practices on UPS, PDUs, switchgear, and generators

Conduct regular risk assessments of power systems, cooling infrastructure, fire/smoke, and human factors

Ensure proper grounding, bonding, and power quality monitoring/telemetry to prevent equipment damage and personnel injury

Validate automatic transfer switch (ATS) and generator failover procedures from a safety perspective

Monitor and mitigate risks related to cooling failures, hot spots, thermal runaway and extreme temperature/humidity conditions

Establish safe operating limits and emergency response procedures for CRAC/CRAH, chillers, energy storage and liquid cooling systems

Develop, maintain, and regularly drill emergency response plans for power loss, cooling failure, fire, water events, and other critical incidents

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:  

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial/systems engineering, chemical engineering, fire protection engineering, or related field

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:  

Experience with programming PLCs, IoT device administration, and scripting/coding for automation or data analysis 

Proficiency with PFMEA, root cause analysis, statistical process control, and structured problem-solving methodologies 

Experience with CAE / CFD tools (Ansys) 

CSP (Certified Safety Professional) 

PE (Professional Engineer) license 

CEM (Certified Energy Manager) or data-center-specific credentials 

NFPA-related certifications 

Hands-on experience in data centers, critical facilities, or mission-critical environments 

Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, enthusiasm for the mission of enabling multi-planetary life  

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:  

This is not a remote or hybrid position and will require relocation if not already local to the Memphis, TN area 

Position occasionally requires the ability to travel and support other critical computing infrastructure 

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.  

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com. 

Source: SpaceX careers (Greenhouse)

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