Design Manager

About xAI

xAI is building artificial intelligence to accelerate human scientific discovery, guided by our mission to advance our collective understanding of the universe.

About the Role

We are seeking a Design Manager for our Memphis location to lead the design of cutting-edge AI infrastructure at an unprecedented scale.

Responsibilities

• Lead as head of design, unifying mechanical, electrical, structural, and network systems for cohesive, optimized AI infrastructure.
• Apply engineering codes, principles, and practices to guide design, analysis, and problem-solving.
• Collaborate with internal teams to define infrastructure requirements.
• Partner with external design teams and stakeholders to develop and issue design documents.
• Manage design change processes to align with project goals.
• Review and respond to contractor Requests for Information (RFIs).
• Conduct site reviews and deliver technical reports.
• Support project closeout and as-built documentation.
• Review commissioning scripts and reports to validate system performance.
• Identify process improvements, optimize designs, and balance schedule, performance, and cost tradeoffs.
• Mitigate design risks and implement robust QA/QC practices.
• Align designs with xAI’s technical and business objectives.
• Integrate sustainability, energy efficiency, and resiliency into designs.
• Travel between xAI’s Memphis location and project sites in the US and internationally as needed.

Basic Qualifications

• BS in Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in mission-critical infrastructure design.
• Experience stamping construction drawing packages.
• Deep knowledge of industry standards, building codes, and safety regulations.
• Proficiency in Revit/BIM, Autodesk, or similar design software.
• Expertise in data center infrastructure design, construction, commissioning, and operation.
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced environments, balancing long-term planning with immediate execution needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Architect (RA) license.
• Experience building AI infrastructure or supercomputers at scale.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and align them around a shared technical vision.
• Comfort with ambiguity and skill in turning loosely defined goals into structured execution plans.
• Strong communication skills to convey complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and influence executive decisions.
• Systems-level thinking, understanding how decisions impact performance, cost, and schedule.
• Track record of mentoring teams and fostering technical excellence and accountability.
• Ability to prioritize design quality and optimize for speed, scalability, or resilience based on project needs.