Senior Data Center Construction Manager

Cerebras Systems builds the world's largest AI chip, 56 times larger than GPUs. This architecture allows Cerebras to deliver industry-leading training and inference speeds; over 10 times faster than GPU-based hyperscale cloud inference services.

This order of magnitude increase in speed is transforming the user experience of AI applications, unlocking real-time iteration and increasing intelligence via additional agentic computation.

Cerebras works with the leading model labs, global enterprises, and cutting-edge AI-native startups. OpenAI recently announced a multi-year partnership with Cerebras, to deploy 750 megawatts of scale, transforming key workloads with ultra high-speed inference.

The Role

Cerebras is seeking a Senior Data Center Construction Manager to manage the execution of white-space fit-out projects across colocation (colo) environments and maintain the overall construction schedules for assigned data center builds. Reporting to the Director of Data Center Construction, this role is responsible for rapidly deploying high-performance AI infrastructure within third-party data centers while ensuring speed, quality, safety, and cost discipline.

You will manage the day-to-day delivery of assigned data center construction projects, working closely with colo providers, contractors, vendors, and internal engineering teams to bring capacity online quickly and reliably. This hands-on project leadership role requires strong ownership, disciplined follow-through, sound judgment, and a bias for action.

Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end delivery of assigned data center construction projects from planning through commissioning and turnover.

• Lead all aspects of data hall buildout, including racks, containment, power distribution, cooling integration, and network readiness.

• Act as the day-to-day site interface with colo providers to align on base-build readiness, SLAs, schedule milestones, and integration points.

• Drive vendors, general contractors, and trade partners to execute fit-out scope on aggressive timelines.

• Implement and maintain Cerebras construction standards, playbooks, and repeatable deployment processes for colo-based builds.

• Ensure seamless coordination between base-building and tenant-improvement scopes.

• Manage cost, schedule, quality, and safety across assigned projects and workstreams.

• Develop, maintain, and challenge detailed construction schedules, including critical-path activities, dependencies, resource requirements, and recovery plans.

• Identify risks early, develop mitigation strategies, and escalate material issues to the Director with clear recommendations.

• Lead site-level execution teams and maintain a strong on-the-ground presence as required.

• Partner with procurement and supply chain to track and support the timely delivery of long-lead equipment.

• Maintain real-time project reporting, dashboards, look-ahead schedules, and executive-ready status updates.

• Support deployment improvements, including modularization, prefabrication, and lessons learned from completed projects.

• Build and maintain effective working relationships with colocation providers and their site-level teams.

• Implement and verify compliance with technical and delivery requirements for base-building readiness.

• Ensure clear demarcation of responsibilities between landlord and tenant scopes.

• Hold providers, contractors, and vendors accountable for schedule commitments, power-delivery milestones, quality requirements, and facility readiness.

• Resolve integration issues between colo infrastructure and Cerebras systems, coordinating with internal engineering stakeholders as needed.

• Review scope, schedule impacts, pricing, and change orders; negotiate within delegated authority and provide recommendations to the Director for approval when required.

• Lead regular project meetings, document decisions and action items, and ensure timely closure of outstanding issues.

• Verify construction progress through site walks, field observations, schedule reviews, and validation of contractor-reported progress.

• Support commissioning, punch-list completion, turnover documentation, and operational handoff.

Skills & Qualifications

• 5–7 years of experience in mission-critical construction, preferably in data centers.

• Deep experience delivering white-space fit-out projects within colocation environments.

• Strong understanding of power, cooling, controls, and rack-level infrastructure in high-density environments.

• Proven ability to manage multiple complex construction projects or workstreams simultaneously.

• Experience working with EPC firms, general contractors, specialty trades, and colocation providers.

• Strong project controls and commercial skills, including schedule management, change-order review, contract administration, and cost control.

• Demonstrated ability to review detailed construction schedules, identify critical-path risks, and develop practical recovery plans.

• Working knowledge of commissioning, quality control, safety, and project-turnover processes.

• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, ambiguous startup environment.

• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.

• Ability to work independently, make timely field-level decisions, and escalate issues appropriately.

• Proficiency with construction-management, scheduling, and reporting tools.

• Ability to travel regularly to project sites as required.

Location: Remote, USA, Finland

Why Join Cerebras

People who are serious about software make their own hardware. At Cerebras, we have built a breakthrough architecture that is unlocking new opportunities for the AI industry. With dozens of model releases and rapid growth, we’ve reached an inflection point in our business. Members of our team tell us there are five main reasons they joined Cerebras:

1. Build a breakthrough AI platform beyond the constraints of the GPU.

2. Publish and open source their cutting-edge AI research.

3. Work on one of the fastest AI supercomputers in the world.

4. Enjoy job stability with startup vitality.

5. Our simple, non-corporate work culture that respects individual beliefs.

Find out more about what it's like to work at Cerebras here!

Apply today and become part of the forefront of groundbreaking advancements in AI!

Cerebras Systems is committed to creating an equal and diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate different backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We believe inclusive teams build better products and companies. We try every day to build a work environment that empowers people to do their best work through continuous learning, growth and support of those around them.

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