Data Center Engineering Technical Manager Job ID 257987 Posted 27-Jan-2026 Service line GWS Segment Role type Full-time Areas of Interest Data Centers, Engineering/Maintenance Location(s) Lemont - Illinois - United States of America, West Chicago - Illinois - United States of America **About the Role:** As the Technical Manager, you will be the primary engineering authority supporting the underlying infrastructure that sustains one of CBRE’s High Performance Computing (HPC) environments in the world. Based in Lemont, Illinois, this CBRE on-site role provides the client with specialized strategic (and operational feedback) pertaining to **critical electrical, mechanical, cooling, and facility infrastructure** that woulddirectly support the Facility’s compute capability. You will also act as CBRE’s: 1. **Site Subject Matter Expert (SME)** for liquid cooling and MEP systems supporting high-density compute systems; and 2. **Owner of Critical Environment Risk Management (CERM)** for the facility, ensuring the stability, safety, and resilience of the supporting critical infrastructure. This position requires an advanced engineering skill set, deep infrastructure knowledge, and the ability to operate within a **research and laboratory environment** , supporting mission-critical workloads and rigorous compliance requirements. It is imperative that the individual has **advanced presentation and communications skills (written and oral)** to convey complex engineering and technical messages to executives, and be able to do so in a professional and concise manner. **Essential Duties & Responsibilities** · Represent the face of CBRE in any strategic and/or complex technical conversations/engagements involving Client representatives (i.e., Asset Manager, Engineer of Record (EOR) and other 3 rd party technical expertise) in order to provide CBRE high level and/or detailed operational input, and done in a concise and timely manner for future capacity decisions. · Manage the Facility’s power, cooling, and infrastructure capacity in line with exascale system demands and future technology refresh cycles. The Technical Manager will manage in a timely manner any Data Center capacity requests that come in from the Client’s Client related to enhanced, revised, or reduced capacity loads (incl. power, HVAC, space, weight). · Ensure all infrastructure operations comply with client and vendor technical requirements, including contract-specific engineering deliverables. · On behalf of CBRE, maintain and govern all critical infrastructure drawings for the Facility, including chilled water distribution, liquid-cooling loops, electrical one-lines, and HPC load distribution diagrams. · Develop and maintain detailed site-specific RACI matrices tailored to HPC operational structure. · Perform staffing analysis to support 24/7 coverage, high-density cooling management, and HPC system maintenance windows. · Lead creation and updates of business continuity and disaster recovery plans specific to the high-performance computing environment. · Implement training and qualification programs for critical facilities engineers supporting the Facility’s unique cooling and power systems. · Coordinate mock failure scenarios (e.g., chiller plant failures, power transitions, liquid-cooling loop disruptions) to validate operational readiness. · Develop and refine operating procedures (SOP/EOP/MOP) specific to exascale HPC cooling, power sequencing, and system change protocols. · Provide incident response support, including contribution to root cause analysis for any facility events that impact HPC availability. · Identify and maintain a site-specific risk register covering HPC thermal loads, water systems, UPS distribution, and mission interruptions. · Oversee airflow and liquid-cooling optimization to support the Facility’s extreme compute power density. · Assess lifecycle condition of assets supporting the Facility (UPC, CW pumps, cooling towers, CDUs, heat exchangers) and inform capital planning. · Develop and implement sustainability strategies in accordance with Client sustainability goals, including water usage, energy efficiency, and PUE/WUE reduction. **Knowledge** Operation, maintenance, and repair of data center critical infrastructure, including: · Standby generators, UPS systems, PDUs, ATSs supporting the Facility. · Large-scale chilled water plants, liquid-cooling distribution units, and plate heat exchangers · CRAHs, CRACs, and data center-specific cooling technologies (e.g., warm-water loops, rear-door exchangers) · BMS, EPMS, CMMS, DCIM systems integrated with HPC telemetry systems Engineering Knowledge of: · Psychrometric charts, HVAC load calculations, and hydronic pipe sizing. · Reading electrical one-lines, chilled, and condenser water diagrams. · Standard sequences of operation for electrical and mechanical data center systems. · Electrical power calculations per NFPA 70 (NEC), coordination, arc-flash studies (NFPA 70E), and maintenance practices (NFPA 70B). · Industry standards, including ASHRAE Datacom/TC 9.9 and OCP publications. · Principles of preventative, predictive, and reactive maintenance. · Energy efficiency metrics (e.g., PUE, WUE) and sustainable data center practices. **Skills** · Ability to analyze performance data from the data center’s environmental telemetry, SCADA systems, and HPC monitoring tools. · Strong documentation abilities for highly regulated environments (DOE/ANL). · Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams) and Microsoft Power BI for data analysis and reporting. · Proficient in Bluebeam, CAD, and BIM software for technical documentation. · Strong communication, capable of bridging discussions between CBRE, the Client, Client’s Client(s) and associated 3 rd parties (including vendor engineering teams and EOR). · Analytical and strategic thinking for planning and problem-solving. **Talents** · **Analytical** : Objective in identifying patterns and root causes through systematic analysis. · **Adaptable** : Thrives in dynamic environments, managing multiple priorities effectively. · **Focused** : Maintains clear objectives and filters actions to achieve goals. · **Responsible** : Takes ownership of commitments and delivers results reliably. **Qualifications** · Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, electrical, or related engineering field is preferred · PE licensure a plus, especially with experience in HPC environments or mission-critical facilities. · 3–5 years of experience in data center or HPC facility operations; exascale or national laboratory experience highly desirable. CBRE carefully considers multiple factors to determine compensation, including a candidate’s education, training, and experience. The minimum salary for the Data Center Technical Manager position is $150,000 annually and the maximum salary of $182,000 annually. The compensation offered to a successful candidate will depend on their skills, qualifications, and experience. This role will provide the following benefits: 401(K), Dental insurance, Health insurance, Life insurance, and Vision insurance. **Equal Employment Opportunity:** CBRE has a long-standing commitment to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, veteran status, political belief, or any other basis protected by applicable law. **Candidate Accommodations:** CBRE values the differences of all current and prospective employees and recognizes how every employee contributes to our company’s success. CBRE provides reasonable accommodations in job application procedures for individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request via email at recruitingaccommodations@cbre.com or via telephone at +1 866 225 3099 (U.S.) and +1 866 388 4346 (Canada). CBRE, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer (Women/Minorities/Persons with Disabilities/US Veterans)