Director, Power Plant Operations - Memphis

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the Memphis gas turbine power plant, including 24/7 operations, maintenance, commissioning, and ongoing construction and capacity expansion
• Own end-to-end delivery of electrical power to the Colossus data center sites, ensuring industry-leading reliability, availability, power quality, and redundancy
• Lead multidisciplinary teams of operators, maintenance technicians, engineers, contractors, and support staff in a 24/7 operational and construction environment
• Oversee plant performance, commissioning, testing, and seamless integration with data center electrical infrastructure and load
• Develop and execute comprehensive operations and maintenance strategies, including preventative/predictive maintenance, outage planning, hot gas path management, and OEM coordination for gas turbines, generators, balance of plant, and high-voltage electrical systems
• Manage concurrent construction, equipment installation, civil works, and phased capacity expansions while maintaining safe, reliable operation of the existing plant
• Ensure full compliance with environmental, safety, and regulatory requirements, including air permits, emissions controls, TDEC, EPA, OSHA, and local authorities
• Partner closely with SpaceXSI data center operations, engineering, fuel suppliers, OEMs, utilities, and regulatory agencies
• Formulate and execute operating budgets, fuel management, O&M, capital projects, and annual operating plans
• Drive continuous improvement in plant availability, heat rate, emissions, cost, safety metrics, and operational processes
• Establish and promote a culture of uncompromising safety, accountability, operational excellence, rapid execution, and collaboration
• Serve as the site leader and primary representative to the Memphis community, regulators, and stakeholders
• Recruit, develop, coach, and retain high-performing talent; manage staffing, resource allocation, and contractor oversight for both operations and construction

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, electrical, or other engineering discipline
• 8+ years of experience in power generation operations, plant management, or industrial or aerospace operations
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing teams of operators, technicians, and engineers
• Experience operating or managing gas turbine power plants (simple cycle or combined cycle)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience managing large-scale gas turbine facilities (100 MW+), preferably with high-availability critical power applications (data centers, industrial, or similar)
• Proven track record of achieving and sustaining high plant availability, reliability, and low forced outage rates
• Hands-on experience with plant construction, commissioning, start-up, and concurrent operations/expansion of gas turbine facilities
• Deep knowledge of gas turbine technology (aeroderivative and/or heavy-duty frames), performance optimization, emissions controls (SCR, etc.), and balance of plant systems
• Experience with high-voltage electrical systems, generators, switchgear, protection, and data center or industrial interconnection
• Strong understanding of environmental permitting, air quality compliance, and regulatory reporting for combustion turbines
• Experience in fast-paced, high-growth environments requiring simultaneous operations and major construction
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, fuel costs, contractors, and complex stakeholder relationships
• Excellent oral and written communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills
• Unfazed by major, abrupt changes in strategic direction or aggressive timelines
• Ability to work in a demanding, autonomously driven, start-up atmosphere

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to support and supervise plant operations and construction outside of normal business hours, including nights, weekends, and on-call response
• Must be based at the Memphis, TN site
• Willingness to work extended hours as needed to support plant reliability and construction milestones
• General physical fitness required; ability to walk the plant site, access equipment, and work in industrial/outdoor environments (heat, noise, etc.)