Director of Operations & Maintenance

About Nscale At Nscale, we are building the infrastructure for the AI revolution. Nscale is developing cutting-edge, sovereign generative AI solutions powered by a new generation of high-performance, sustainable data centres and GPUs built specifically for AI workloads. The rapid growth of artificial intelligence is driving unprecedented global demand for compute and GPU infrastructure. Positioned at the heart of this transformation, Nscale is delivering the platforms that will enable the next decade of innovation. Working closely with the world's most advanced AI technology providers — including Microsoft and NVIDIA — Nscale integrates next-generation compute hardware and GPU clusters across both partner and self-delivered facilities. This is a unique opportunity to join Nscale's journey, play a pivotal role in delivering transformative AI infrastructure, and help shape a company designed to scale rapidly across North America, Europe, and beyond. About the Role We are seeking a Director of Operations & Maintenance to build and lead the O&M organization for the Monarch Compute Campus from pre-operational planning through full operation. As the senior operations leader on-site, you will be accountable for safe, reliable, and efficient operation of one of the largest AI factory and behind-the-meter generation complexes in the world. You will own the operational vision for Monarch: a fleet of 864+ Caterpillar reciprocating gas engines, switchgear and substation infrastructure, three hyperscale data center buildings, and supporting BOP and gas systems — all engineered as a state-certified AI microgrid. This role is on-site in Mason County, West Virginia. Reporting to senior Nscale leadership, you will build the local team, partner with EPC during commissioning, set the operating model, and over time scale the organization as additional phases come online. What You'll be Doing O&M Organization Build-Out - Define the Monarch operating model: organisation design, staffing plan, roles, and competency requirements. - Recruit, hire, and develop the operations, maintenance, engineering, EHS, and support functions — with a strong emphasis on hiring and developing local West Virginia talent. - Establish training and qualification programs in partnership with Caterpillar, OEMs, and WV community and technical colleges. Operational Readiness & Commissioning - Lead the operations workstream of commissioning and start-up in close partnership with EPC and Nscale construction leadership. - Develop operating procedures, maintenance procedures, emergency response plans, and the integrated management system. - Drive systems handover, punch-list close-out, and final acceptance from construction to operations. Safe & Reliable Operations - Own day-to-day safe operation of the generation fleet, microgrid, and data center facilities. - Establish leading and lagging performance indicators for safety, reliability, availability, heat rate, and cost. - Champion a robust safety, environmental, and operational risk culture. Maintenance & Asset Management - Develop and execute a comprehensive reliability-centered maintenance strategy across the engine fleet, electrical systems, gas systems, and DC facilities. - Manage major OEM service agreements with Caterpillar, Powell, Babcock & Wilcox, and others. - Own the CMMS, spare parts strategy, and asset lifecycle planning. Compliance, Reporting & Stakeholder Partnership - Ensure compliance with all environmental permits, microgrid certifications, and regulatory obligations. - Report operational performance to Nscale executive leadership, customers (including Microsoft), and external stakeholders. - Partner with the Government Relations team to maintain strong relationships with the local community and regulators. About You - 15+ years of progressive operations leadership experience in gas-fired power generation, large hyperscale data centers, or comparable complex industrial / critical infrastructure operations. - Demonstrated experience commissioning and starting up greenfield generation or data center assets. - Senior leadership experience managing 100+ person operations organisations. - Strong safety leader with a personal commitment to zero harm. - Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical discipline. - Willing and able to be based in or near Point Pleasant, WV. Nice to Have - Direct experience operating reciprocating engine fleets or large gas turbine power stations. - Advanced degree. Why This Role Matters The Monarch Compute Campus is Nscale's flagship North American AI factory: a 2,250+ acre hyperscale campus in Mason County, West Virginia, and the first state-certified AI microgrid district in the United States. At full build-out, Monarch is engineered to deliver multi-gigawatt, off-grid power to support the world's most demanding AI training and inference workloads, anchored by an MOU with Microsoft for 1.35 GW of capacity using NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 GPUs. Phase 1 — a 2.16 GW natural gas-fired facility comprising three H-shaped data center buildings and 864 Caterpillar reciprocating natural gas engines — is targeted for initial operation in early 2027. Monarch represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build mission-critical AI infrastructure in close partnership with Caterpillar, Babcock & Wilcox, Powell Industries, and the State of West Virginia. What We Can Offer You At Nscale, you'll find a collaborative, supportive, and innovative environment where your contributions spark real impact. We're building something extraordinary, and our people are driving it. - Competitive base salary with annual reviews - Performance bonus and long-term incentive eligibility - Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage - 401(k) retirement plan with company match - Generous PTO plus US federal holidays - A career-defining opportunity to be an early member of one of the fastest growing AI infrastructure companies in the world - A human-first approach: We treat you as humans first. Our flexible workplace trusts Nscalers to deliver, giving you the autonomy needed to get the job done. - The chance to push boundaries on cutting-edge AI infrastructure — these data centers aren't just storage for your spam emails, they're changing the industry, and the world, as we've known it. Equal Opportunities Statement At Nscale, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplace. We believe that a variety of perspectives enriches our work environment, and we encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. If there's anything we can do to accommodate your specific situation, please let us know. The range below reflects the base salary for the position. Actual compensation may vary based on job-related factors such as skill set, experience, education, and location. In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible for bonus, equity, and/or commission programs. Nscale may offer a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, flexible paid time off, parental leave, and retirement plan participation. Salary Range $160,000—$210,000 USD For information on how Nscale handles candidate personal data, please see our Employee & Candidate Privacy Notice: Here. Nscale does not accept unsolicited candidate submissions from recruitment agencies.