Datacenter NetDeploy Lead

About The Team

OpenAI, in close collaboration with our capital partners, is building the world’s most advanced AI infrastructure ecosystem. This team defines and executes our core infrastructure strategy. From site selection through full buildout, we sit at the intersection of commercial, technical, strategy, and operations, partnering closely with internal teams and external stakeholders.

About The Role

We are seeking a Datacenter NetDeploy Lead to own the end-to-end execution of physical network deployments in data center environments. This role bridges Network Engineering, Capacity Delivery/Construction, Data Center Engineering, and Operations to ensure network infrastructure is installed, validated, and formally handed over in a production-ready state. The Datacenter NetDeploy Lead is accountable for vendor execution, schedule delivery, quality standards, and in-field issue resolution, while maintaining strict alignment to documented standards, ticketing, cleanliness, and escalation protocols.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead full lifecycle physical network deployments for new builds, expansions, and refreshes.
• Translate network topologies, cabling designs, and BOMs into executable field plans and sequencing.
• Oversee and/or coordinate rack-and-stack of network equipment (switches, OOB, ancillary network systems).
• Oversee and/or coordinate fiber trunk pulls, routing, and termination to patch panels / equipment.
• Oversee and/or coordinate patch panel installation, patching, labeling, and cable management.
• Drive port-to-port verification, continuity testing, and validation sign-off.
• Ensure work follows documented standards and runbooks (tables, tickets, checklists, cleanliness, escalation).
• Develop the systems, processes, and tools to enable deployment and maintenance of deployed systems.
• Source, evaluate, and manage vendors across structured cabling, JIT fiber remediation, rack-and-stack/patching teams, and testing/verification support.
• Define scope, develop SOWs, validate pricing, and manage execution to contract terms; track vendor performance against quality, throughput, safety, schedule, and documentation requirements; drive corrective actions when vendors miss standards.
• Partner with Network Engineering to resolve field issues and deployment constraints (wrong switch delivered, substitutions, component failures, damaged gear; installation blockers and design/port mapping discrepancies; sequencing changes to maintain schedule).
• Partner with Data Center Engineering to align deployments to approved physical network infrastructure designs; verify fiber routing diversity and pathway separation; enforce installation standards for routing, labeling, and cable administration; resolve field constraints that would force deviations from design intent.
• Partner with Capacity Delivery / Construction / Facilities to gain site access and coordinate logistics/staging; ensure pathways, trays, penetrations, and build readiness for trunk pulls; align fiber completion to rack/machine placement milestones.
• Partner with Operations for handover: confirm install is complete/validated/documented; ensure as-builts, labeling, port maps, and test evidence are delivered; execute formal ownership transfer so Ops can maintain/operate the network.
• Build and manage deployment schedules, sequencing plans, and milestone tracking; forecast labor needs, vendor ramp, and critical path dependencies.
• Track cost drivers (labor, materials, change orders) and manage contract burn.
• Identify risks early and drive mitigation plans to protect turn-up dates.
• Enforce adherence to deployment standards (labeling, patching, cleanliness, cable management), ticket-driven execution/closure, escalation protocols, change management, and documentation deliverables (as-builts, port maps, test results) to ensure installs are repeatable, auditable, and ready for operations at scale.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in data center network deployment / infrastructure delivery.
• Strong understanding of data center network topologies (leaf/spine, core/aggregation, etc.).
• Strong understanding of network components, BOMs, racking constraints, and deployment sequencing.
• Strong understanding of fiber/structured cabling practices (trunks, panels, terminations, cleaning, testing).
• Demonstrated vendor management experience, including SOWs and execution oversight.
• Proven ability to coordinate across engineering, construction/capacity teams, and operations.
• Strong scheduling, risk management, and delivery accountability in the field.

Preferred Skills

• Hyperscale / multi-site / high-throughput deployment experience.
• Familiarity with structured cabling standards (e.g., BICSI, TIA/EIA) and test methodologies.
• Experience working in ticket-based operational environments (change control, incident escalation).
• Exposure to network deployment validation tooling and/or automated evidence capture.

Key skills/competency

• Datacenter Network Deployment
• Infrastructure Delivery
• Vendor Management
• Network Topologies
• Structured Cabling
• Fiber Optics
• Project Scheduling
• Risk Management
• Cross-functional Collaboration
• Operational Standards