Head of Data Center Operations, Perimeter Compute

Job description

Head of Data Center Operations Full Time, Remote Role, Travel Required ABOUT MONTAUK CAPITAL Montauk Capital builds and backs companies at the forefront of the Electron Economy, the generational shift towards electrified, intelligent technologies reshaping industries and driving unprecedented demand for energy. Our team combines deep investing acumen with decades of operating experience to give founders the strategic clarity and hands-on support that accelerates the building of enduring companies of consequence. ABOUT PERIMETER COMPUTE Co-founded by Montauk Capital, Perimeter Compute is a pre-seed venture specializing in modular, metro-edge AI infrastructure. By leveraging existing infrastructure for inference deployment, Perimeter Compute provides low-latency, SLA-backed performance across diverse GPU SKUs and colocation environments. Our technology intelligently routes traffic based on demand proximity and real-world network limitations, bypassing the heavy power and infrastructure requirements of traditional hyperscalers. We are launching pilot nodes in NYC and pursuing a city-by-city expansion strategy with plans for a broader multi-metro rollout. ABOUT THE ROLE Perimeter Compute is seeking a Head of Data Center Operations to build and lead the operating model behind a rapidly expanding network of distributed AI infrastructure sites. You will own the deployment and ongoing support of every site, likely many hundred, and ensure each operates safely, reliably, and consistently. You will also work directly with the real estate team to ensure each site transitions from a qualified real-estate location to a deployment-ready facility. This is a senior role that will commence as a hands-on operator and evolve into a multi-site, multi-metro leadership position. You will personally drive early deployments, define the contractor and vendor model, establish operating standards, and document the playbooks that do not yet exist. As the network expands, you will build and manage a combination of direct employees and contract teams across North America, with the opportunity to shape the company’s international operating model. Significant travel is expected around site launches and critical operating periods. WHAT YOU’LL DO · Translate site requirements into detailed launch plans covering power, cooling, connectivity, physical security, equipment installation, testing, commissioning, and handoff · Lead site activation from construction and fit-out through commissioning, production launch, and steady-state operation · Define the contract workforce model for each market, including staffing levels, scopes of work, training, escalation paths, and performance expectations · Select, onboard, and manage outsourced operators, field-service providers, maintenance partners, and other critical vendors · Create and maintain operating procedures, runbooks, preventive-maintenance programs, incident-response processes, and site-level documentation · Establish operational KPIs and reporting for availability, safety, maintenance, capacity, incident response, and vendor performance · Coordinate closely with infrastructure engineering, networking, real estate, construction, and commercial teams to resolve launch and operating risks · Lead incident response and root-cause analysis for site-level failures, turning lessons learned into repeatable improvements across the network · Build and lead a distributed organization of direct hires and contract labor capable of operating multiple sites and metro launches simultaneously · Build and lead a distributed customer support organization of direct hires and contract labor capable of supporting a variety of customers across the fleet WHAT YOU’LL BRING You are a deeply hands-on data center operator who knows how to launch sites, stabilize operations, and build systems that other teams can execute consistently. You combine urgency with discipline, are comfortable operating without an established playbook, and can move between the data-center floor, a vendor negotiation, and an executive operating review. · Experience managing operations across at least three data centers simultaneously · Strong operational background in data centers, colocation, neo-cloud infrastructure, hyperscale environments, or other mission-critical facilities · Demonstrated experience bringing new data center capacity online, including site readiness, commissioning, operational handoff, and steady-state support · Working knowledge of critical data center systems, including electrical distribution, backup power, cooling, network connectivity, fire and life safety, and physical security · Experience managing third-party operators, contractors, field-service teams, maintenance providers, and equipment vendors against clear service expectations · Ability to build operating procedures, maintenance standards, documentation, metrics, and escalation processes from scratch · Track record of managing incidents, diagnosing operational failures, and improving reliability across multiple facilities · Ability to lead through influence initially and build a high-performing distributed team as the company scales · Willingness and ability to travel frequently for new deployments, site launches, vendor oversight, and critical incidents NICE TO HAVE · Experience operating GPU clusters, AI infrastructure, high-density compute, HPC environments, or liquid-cooled systems · Background at a neo-cloud provider, colocation operator, hyperscaler data center organization, or rapidly scaling digital-infrastructure platform · Experience launching operations in multiple North American metros or building an international data center operating model · Customer-facing experience supporting enterprise infrastructure deployments, service reviews, or SLA commitments · Experience managing a hybrid workforce of internal employees, contractors, and outsourced site operators WHY JOIN US · Build from Zero: Whiteboard and create the operations function for a new category of distributed AI infrastructure · High-Impact Leadership: Own the execution layer that converts real-estate opportunities into reliable production capacity · Scale a New Network: Define how Perimeter launches and operates sites across multiple metros and, ultimately, international markets · Studio Support: Leverage Montauk Capital’s resources, network, and operating expertise during critical early stages · Competitive Compensation + Equity: Take meaningful ownership in the platform you help build