Data Center White Space Designer
What you'll do
As Data Center White Space Designer at Giga, you'll lead the planning, design, and optimization of data center white space for our AI infrastructure projects. You'll own rack layouts, hot/cold containment strategies, power distribution, cable pathways, and infrastructure standards that enable hyperscale compute deployments. Working across colocation partners, internal teams (mechanical, electrical, structural, fire), and operations, you'll translate complex requirements into robust, executable designs. You'll travel to sites for design validation and commissioning, mentor junior engineers, and help shape the future of our data center design standards. If you want to own end-to-end white space strategy and see it deployed at scale — and fast — this is the role.
Where you'll work
This role is based in one of our offices (Houston, TX / Long Beach, CA / San Francisco, CA / Reno, NV). We work in person because the best engineering happens when smart people are in the same room. Regular travel to data center sites for design validation, commissioning, and operational support is expected.
That said, we will make exceptions for truly exceptional talent if you live outside one of our hubs. If you're the right person for this role, we'll have a conversation about what works.
Responsibilities
AI/ML Rack Layout Strategy & GIGA BASE Alignment
Own the white space and rack layout strategy for current and upcoming AI/ML rack platforms (NVIDIA GPU racks, Google TPU pods, Cerebras wafer-scale systems, and comparable accelerator hardware), tracking how power density, cooling, and interconnect requirements are evolving generation over generation
Define how each rack platform's requirements map onto GIGA BASE, Giga's modular white space product, including power distribution, containment, cable pathways, and structural interfaces
Identify where emerging rack requirements exceed the capabilities of current GIGA BASE modular products, and translate those gaps into clear, engineering-backed requirements for the product development team
Basis of Design & Rack Layout Templates
Own and maintain Basis of Design (BoD) documents and rack layout templates for each AI/ML rack platform in Giga's pipeline
Keep templates current as new accelerator generations, rack form factors, and customer requirements come online
Use these templates as the working basis for customer-facing layout conversations, so every engagement starts from a Giga-optimized design rather than a blank sheet
Customer & Cross-Functional Coordination
Coordinate directly with customers to translate their AI/ML deployment requirements into rack layouts that are optimized around GIGA BASE modular products
Collaborate with colocation partners, internal teams (mechanical, electrical, structural, fire), and technology partners (network, compute, carrier) to align white space design with rack-level requirements
Lead project coordination meetings to align on scope, timelines, and critical design updates
Product Gap Analysis & Roadmap Input
Maintain a running view of where rack technology is headed (power density, liquid cooling, busway/PDU requirements, interconnect topologies) and flag implications for the GIGA BASE roadmap before they become deployment blockers
Partner with product development on design reviews for new or modified GIGA BASE components driven by rack requirement changes
Represent white space and rack layout considerations in internal product planning discussions
Site Validation & Operations Support
Travel to new and existing data centers to conduct on-site design validation, commissioning, and engineering analysis
Act as subject matter expert for white space and rack systems, validating integration with facility operations and infrastructure
Provide engineering support during live events and incident investigations to ensure rapid resolution and operational continuity
Capture and share all documentation with operations and field engineering teams
Standards & Continuous Improvement
Develop and evolve data center white space and rack layout standards, policies, procedures, and commissioning protocols
Research and evaluate new AI/ML rack designs, materials, and construction methods, and assess their fit with GIGA BASE
Create and validate digital models of data center white space to support design integrity, capacity planning, and scalability analysis
Mentor junior engineers and lead knowledge-sharing initiatives on white space and rack layout design
Requirements
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related engineering discipline
5+ years of data center white space design, infrastructure design, or site engineering experience
Demonstrated expertise in rack layout, hot/cold containment strategies, power distribution planning, and structured cabling design
Strong understanding of data center thermal management, power density optimization, and scalability principles
Proficiency with data center design tools, CAD software, and infrastructure modeling
Strong project coordination and leadership skills; ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and teams
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to present technical information to diverse stakeholders
Willingness to travel regularly to data center sites for design validation, commissioning, and operational support
Able to work under minimal oversight, make decisions with available information, and move fast in a high-velocity environment
Bonus points
Experience with hyperscale, colocation, or AI-focused data center deployments
Experience designing for high-density, high-power compute environments (GPU clusters, AI accelerators)
Familiarity with network infrastructure design and data center network architectures
Experience with BIM, Revit, or advanced CAD modeling for data center infrastructure
Experience with data center commissioning, FAT/SAT, and operational handoff
Knowledge of ASHRAE thermal guidelines, power efficiency standards, and data center best practices
Experience mentoring and developing junior engineers