Mechanical Cooling Technician - Data Center

Job Title: Mechanical Cooling Technician

Engagement Type: Full Time

Location: Onsite, Columbiana, AL

Reports To: Operations Director / Operations Lead

Schedule: To be confirmed

Role Overview

This role supports a modular containerized data center facility. The technician will be responsible for operation and maintenance of the mechanical cooling plant serving a high-density compute environment.

Cooling Infrastructure

• Air-cooled screw chillers (Dunham-Bush WCHXHP160SYV): primary mechanical cooling plant
• Closed-loop chilled water distribution system with buffer tank
• Coolant Distribution Units (CDUs): rack-level liquid cooling for high-density compute racks
• Mechanical cooling is the operational default April through September; free cooling viable approximately 3 months per year
• Power Distribution Container, IT Container, Chiller Station Container, and Diesel Generator Container: separate physical structures on a common site
  
  

Experience Requirements

• Minimum: 5 years of hands-on mechanical cooling experience in a commercial, industrial, or critical facility environment
• Preferred: 7 years with demonstrated experience managing or troubleshooting cooling plant failures independently
  
  

Equipment & Skills

Chillers

• Screw chiller operation and maintenance (any major OEM)
• Refrigerant handling and leak detection
• Chiller startup, shutdown, and seasonal changeover procedures
• Compressor troubleshooting: screw type
• Condenser and evaporator maintenance
  
  

Hydronic Systems

• Closed-loop chilled water system operation
• Pump operation, alignment, and bearing inspection
• Chemical treatment and water quality monitoring
• Buffer tank inspection and maintenance
• Pipe fitting, flanges, and valve maintenance
  
  

Controls

• BMS/BAS: reading setpoints, alarms, and trend logs
• Manual override and failover procedures
  
  

Liquid Cooling

• CDU (Coolant Distribution Unit) operation and basic maintenance
• Closed-loop liquid cooling: leak detection and fluid management
  
  

Electrical

• Reading single-line diagrams and wiring schematics
• Safe isolation and lockout/tagout (LOTO)
• Motor control center (MCC) familiarization
  
  

Documentation

• Maintaining maintenance logs and completing work orders
• Following written SOPs and commissioning checklists
  
  

Certifications

• EPA 608 Universal - Preferred
• OSHA 10 - Preferred
• No certifications required; hands-on experience and demonstrated competency take priority
  
  

Behavioral & Operational Expectations

• Ability to operate independently onsite without direct supervision during normal operations
• Willing to contribute to creation of new SOPs where documentation does not already exist
• Comfortable following written SOPs and escalation procedures; does not freestyle when protocols exist
• Communicates equipment anomalies promptly and accurately: written shift logs and verbal handoffs
• Physically capable of working in an outdoor containerized environment in Alabama summer conditions
• Comfortable working in close proximity to high-density electrical equipment
• Methodical approach to troubleshooting: follows fault isolation logic rather than swapping parts
  
  

Nice to Have

• Prior experience in a modular or containerized data center, co-location facility, or similar critical environment
• Familiarity with Dunham-Bush chiller OEM documentation or controls interface
• CMMS experience: work order management and preventive maintenance scheduling
• Familiarity with LOTO programs in a high-density electrical environment