Senior Data Center Systems Engineer -- AI Infrastructure & Performance Optimization (hybrid)

What you will do

Johnson Controls' Data Center Thermal Solutions team is seeking a Senior Data Center Systems Engineer for the Advanced Technology & Innovation group. This role bridges AI/HPC computing systems with data center infrastructure, focusing on optimizing the interdependencies between computing workloads and cooling efficiency. The ideal candidate will be highly self-driven, able to work independently with limited supervision, and bring deep expertise in GPU-based AI workloads combined with comprehensive understanding of data center infrastructure systems. This position is based onsite, minimum 3 days per week, at our Advanced Technology and Innovation Center located in New Freedom, PA. Candidates must be commuting distance to the facility or able to relocate.

How you will do it

• Deploy, configure, and manage AI/HPC compute clusters running diverse workloads including LLM training and inference, VLM applications, HPC simulations, and stress testing scenarios.

• Deploy and commission liquid cooling hardware including direct-to-chip cold plates, CDUs, immersion systems, and hybrid cooling solutions for high-density AI infrastructure.

• Design and execute workload management strategies to evaluate thermal and power characteristics across CPU and GPU-based AI nodes under varied operational conditions.

• Develop system-level digital twin simulations integrating IT telemetry with mechanical and electrical infrastructure data to model cooling and computing efficiency interdependencies.

• Extract and analyze telemetry data from IT nodes, GPUs, CPUs, and thermal systems including chillers, cooling towers, pumps, and CDUs to optimize performance and energy efficiency.

• Collaborate with thermal engineers and controls teams to validate cooling system performance under real-world AI/HPC workloads and support NPI development initiatives.

• Integrate and leverage DCIM and BAS platforms for holistic infrastructure monitoring, predictive analytics, and operational optimization.

• Author technical reports and industry white papers documenting research findings, best practices, and performance benchmarks for AI data center infrastructure.

• Represent Johnson Controls at industry conferences, technical forums, and customer engagements to share innovations and establish thought leadership in AI infrastructure optimization.

• Interface with hyperscalers, OEMs, and technology partners to align infrastructure solutions with evolving AI hardware and workload requirements.

• Contribute to technical publications, patent filings, and industry standards related to data center systems optimization.

What you will need

Required

• PhD or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Computer Science.

• 5+ years of professional experience in AI/HPC infrastructure, data center operations, or related technical roles.

• Proven hands-on experience deploying and managing LLM, VLM, training, inference, and HPC simulation workloads on GPU-based AI infrastructure.

• Deep understanding of AI hardware architectures (NVIDIA H100/H200, AMD MI300, etc.) and their thermal/power characteristics across diverse workloads.

• Strong knowledge of data center mechanical systems (cooling distribution, heat rejection), electrical systems (power distribution, UPS), and networking architectures (InfiniBand, Ethernet fabrics).

• Proficiency with DCIM platforms, BAS integration, and digital twin modeling tools for infrastructure simulation and optimization.

• Experience with stress testing tools, workload orchestration platforms (Kubernetes, Slurm, etc.), and telemetry collection frameworks.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage complex projects, and deliver results with minimal supervision.

• Track record of innovation and cross-functional collaboration in data center or AI infrastructure environments.

Preferred

• Prior experience working in data center environments

HIRING SALARY RANGE: $90,000 - $120,000 (Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, location and alignment with market data.) This role offers a competitive Bonus plan that will take into account individual, group, and corporate performance. This position includes a competitive benefits package. For details, please visit the About Us tab on the Johnson Controls Careers site at