About the roleRiot is seeking a Liquid Cooling Subject Matter Expert (SME) to join our Central Operations team. In this role, you will serve as the technical authority for the deployment, commissioning, optimization, and lifecycle management of industrial-scale liquid cooling systems. You will bridge engineering design and field execution, leading complex cooling infrastructure including heat exchangers, fluid distribution systems, valves, controls, and monitoring platforms. This is a hands-on, highly visible role focused on ensuring reliability and performance in high-density computing environments. This position is remote, with up to 75% travel required to support site activities, troubleshooting, and operational initiatives at our Rockdale, TX site.
What you'll be doing - Lead the technical strategy for industrial liquid cooling systems, including large-scale direct-to-chip, cold-plate, and immersion deployments
- Apply thermal theory to validate system-level heat balance, fluid chemistry, and heat exchanger performance
- Support end-to-end liquid-cooled rack deployments, providing project management support for full lifecycle execution
- Serve as a subject matter expert in valves, pumps, VFD controls, and piping hydraulics to ensure stable flow and pressure management
- Define and optimize control logic, alarm thresholds, and fail-safe interlocks in collaboration with automation teams (PLC/BMS)
- Support commissioning activities for liquid systems, including hydro-testing, flow balancing, and thermal validation under load
- Lead root-cause analysis (RCA) for thermal and fluid incidents and drive continuous improvement to reduce MTTR and repeat failures
- Develop maintenance protocols, SOPs, MOPs, and training programs for water treatment and safe operation of liquid cooling systems
What you'll have- 7+ years of experience in industrial water cooling or critical infrastructure, with a strong focus on large-scale fluid systems
- Proven experience in deployment and maintenance of hyperscale data center liquid cooling systems strongly preferred
- Strong understanding of thermal heat transfer and fluid dynamics, with expert knowledge of industrial valves, heat exchangers, and pumping systems
- Proficiency in reading and developing P&IDs and mechanical schematics
- Hands-on experience with industrial controls (PLC/BMS), alarm management, and data-driven troubleshooting
- Ability to manage complex projects and influence cross-functional teams (Construction, Engineering, Operations) without direct authority
- Ability to meet physical job requirements and work in a data center environment
- Preferred experience in Mechanical Engineering, Fluid Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- Preferred Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering (e.g., Mechanical Engineering) or a related field.
Compensation and Benefits- Competitive Salary: Base range (commensurate with experience) + bonus + sign-on equity grant.
- Long-Term Growth: Eligible to participate in Riot's equity incentive programs and share in the success you help build.
- 401(k) Retirement Plan: Incudes a generous company match.
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Multiple medical plan options, including 100% company-paid plans.
- Wellness & Lifestyle Perks: Enjoy free gym memberships, pet insurance, childcare discounts, and more to support your life both in and out of work.
