Director of Datacenter Operations
Location & work modality: Rubí, Barcelona. #LI-Hybrid
Start: ASAP
Type of Contract: Full Time / Permanent
About Submer
The best way to introduce you to Submer is undoubtedly through our values: Sustainable, Unique, Bold, Making Sense, Empathetic and Reliable. If these resonate with you we're sure you will find your place here in no time.
At Submer, we believe that our digital world can be more sustainable, more efficient and more environmentally friendly. Submer is solving the biggest problems of datacenter, supercomputer, hyperscale and edge applications to make that future possible.
Our multinational talented team has a huge passion in reducing IT environmental footprint by building the next generation of liquid cooling technologies and datacenters. We’re scaling our team and operations worldwide to meet growing international demand. Submer has recently expanded its operations with the launch of two new business units: Data Center Design & Build and AI-as-a-Service (AIaaS) (Read more).
This role will be part of the Design & Build team, leading global site scouting, design, and construction of next-generation liquid-cooled data centers, driving innovation and sustainability in high-performance digital infrastructure.
Submer Expands Its Capabilities with New Business Units in Datacenter Design & AIaaS - Submer
As key leaders in the liquid cooling market, we've launched new business units in datacenter design and construction and datacenter services for AI. Discover more on our blog.
What impact you will have
We are seeking a Director of Datacenter Operations to lead and manage the physical infrastructure of our AIaaS (AI-as-a-Service) datacenters. This role will be responsible for the design, deployment, and operation of high-density AI datacenters, ensuring optimal power, cooling, and networking for AI-optimized compute clusters.
This position requires deep expertise in datacenter infrastructure management, energy efficiency, sustainability, and high-performance core networks. You will oversee the Datacenter Designn Construction and Operations teams to drive design, build, and operational excellence. The role also involves site selection, expansion planning, and partnerships with colocation providers to ensure cost-effective and scalable AI infrastructure.
What you’ll do
Datacenter Infrastructure Management:
- Identify and assess new expansion sites, including self-owned facilities and colocation partnerships.
- Oversee the design, deployment, and operation of AI-optimized datacenters, covering power distribution, cooling, networking, and physical security.
- Ensure high availability, redundancy, and SLA compliance for mission-critical AI workloads.
- Develop and maintain scalability plans to support the growth of AI compute demand.
- Manage real estate planning for new datacenter locations and infrastructure expansion.
- Maintain strategic relationships with colocation providers, hardware vendors, and contractors to ensure cost-effective and high-performance infrastructure.
Power & Cooling Optimization:
- Implement and optimize waterless, energy-efficient cooling systems, including:
- Immersion cooling infrastructure (cooling plants, dielectric fluid management).
- Liquid cooling solutions (direct-to-chip, cold plate, rear-door heat exchangers).
- High-efficiency HVAC and airflow management for maximum energy efficiency.
- Manage power distribution and redundancy, including:
- UPS, PDUs, backup power systems, and grid interconnects.
- Energy storage solutions to support renewable energy integration.
- Optimize PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) and drive cost-efficient energy consumption.
- Oversee waste heat recovery initiatives to support sustainability goals.
Networking & Physical Infrastructure:
- Ensure high-bandwidth, low-latency networking to support multi-datacenter AI workloads, including:
- Dark fiber connectivity between datacenters for high-speed AI workload distribution.
- Redundant, scalable network architectures to prevent bottlenecks and failures.
- Peering, BGP routing, and IP assignment strategy for core datacenter networks.
- Implement advanced DCIM (Datacenter Infrastructure Management) tools for:
- Real-time monitoring of power, cooling, and environmental conditions.
- Predictive maintenance and automated issue detection.
Operational Reliability & Compliance:
- Develop preventive maintenance schedules to maximize infrastructure reliability.
- Implement automated monitoring and alerting systems for early detection of potential failures.
- Ensure compliance with industry standards, including ISO 27001, SOC 2, TIA-942, and Uptime Institute Tier certifications.
- Maintain disaster recovery and business continuity plans to ensure datacenter resilience.
Cost & Vendor Management:
- Optimize CapEx and OpEx for datacenter construction, expansion, and operations.
- Negotiate contracts with hardware suppliers, energy providers, and colocation partners to ensure cost-efficient AI infrastructure.
- Implement TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) modeling to support strategic investment decisions.
What you’ll need
- 10+ years of experience in datacenter infrastructure management, colocation operations, or enterprise IT facilities management.
- Proven expertise in designing, deploying, and managing high-density AI/HPC datacenters, including modular (prefabricated) and traditional brick-and-mortar facilities.
- Deep knowledge of power distribution, cooling technologies, and energy-efficient solutions for DC infrastructure.
- Strong background in sustainability-driven initiatives, including PUE optimization, renewable energy integration, and waste heat recovery.
- Hands-on experience in redundant power architectures, including UPS systems, backup generators, energy storage, and grid interconnects.
- Extensive expertise in datacenter networking, including core network design, dark fiber infrastructure, and BGP routing.
- Familiarity with colocation vs. owned datacenter strategies, including lease vs. build analysis.
- Experience in large-scale vendor contract negotiations for hardware, networking, and power infrastructure.
What we offer
- Attractive compensation package reflecting your expertise and experience.
- Restaurant Pass.
- Private Health Insurance.
- Languages classes (English).
- A healthy work environment with fresh fruits to energise and an on-site gym for active breaks.
- A great work environment characterised by friendliness, international diversity, flexibility, and a hybrid-friendly approach.
- You'll be part of a fast-growing scale-up with a mission to make a positive impact, offering an exciting career evolution.
Our Inclusive Responsibility
Submer is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law.
- Locations
- Barcelona (Rubí)
- Remote status
- Hybrid

About Submer
"Submer was born in 2015 from two brilliant and original minds, Daniel Pope and Pol Valls, to make operating and constructing data centers more sustainable and efficient.
Our Mission is to build sustainable and future-proof digital infrastructures to create a better and fairer world with sustainable technology."
Director of Datacenter Operations
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