Chiller Technician III

Job Type:  Full-time | Location:  Childress, TX | Department:  Operations | Reporting to:  Mechanical Manager | Work Location Type:  #onsite

IREN is a leading AI Cloud Service Provider, delivering large-scale GPU clusters for AI training and inference. IREN’s vertically integrated platform is underpinned by its expansive portfolio of grid-connected land and data centers in renewable-rich regions across the U.S. and Canada.  

The Senior Chiller Technician III is a technician operating the central utility plant (CUP) at IREN’s liquid-cooled hyperscale campuses in West Texas and Oklahoma. Working on shift as part of the mechanical team, this role independently manages the full range of plant that removes heat from some of the densest AI compute in North America – centrifugal and screw chillers, cooling towers, pumps, heat exchangers, coolant distribution units and the direct-to-chip liquid cooling loops that serve the racks themselves.

This is a hands-on, high-accountability role for an experienced technician ready to take on the deepest technical problems on shift, short of full plant ownership. Reporting to the Associate Director of Operations and working closely with the Chiller Specialist, the successful candidate acts as the first point of technical escalation on shift, provides technical guidance to Chiller Technician Is and IIs, and follows a clear progression path toward Chiller Specialist as the portfolio grows.

With 100% renewable energy, we build, own and operate our data centers and take pride in being at the forefront of sustainable solutions for the ever-evolving applications of high-performance compute. We believe that human progress is invaluable, but it should be done in the right way – responsibly, sustainably and having a positive impact on the communities we operate in.  

Responsibilities

• Central utility plant operation: Operate, monitor and maintain the central utility plant (CUP) – centrifugal, screw and air-cooled chillers, cooling towers, pumps, heat exchangers, dry coolers, valves and associated piping – on assigned shifts, acting as the senior technician on shift and providing technical guidance to Chiller Technician Is and IIs.
• Preventive maintenance execution: Carry out and quality-check scheduled preventive maintenance on central utility plant equipment to the published programme and quality standard, completing all documentation accurately and on time.
• Liquid cooling support: Maintain and troubleshoot direct-to-chip and immersion cooling infrastructure including CDUs, manifolds, quick-disconnects, filtration and leak detection, escalating only the most complex issues to the Chiller Specialist.
• Operational rounds and readings: Perform routine rounds, take operational readings across mechanical systems, and escalate abnormal trends, alarms or conditions promptly.
• Advanced troubleshooting and corrective work: Diagnose and repair complex mechanical faults on chillers, pumps, towers and controls independently, leading corrective work as directed and escalating only the highest-risk issues to the Chiller Specialist or Associate Director of Operations.
• Water treatment support: Support condenser and technical cooling water treatment programmes through sampling, testing, dosing and record-keeping.
• Incident response: Act as the senior on-shift responder for thermal alarms and mechanical events in the absence of the Chiller Specialist, execute recovery steps per approved procedures, and contribute to post-incident reviews.
• Procedure compliance: Execute all work on critical plant strictly in accordance with approved Methods of Procedure, SOPs and the change management process – no improvisation on live systems.
• Safety: Follow lockout/tagout, confined space, hot work, arc flash and refrigerant handling requirements without exception, and raise safety concerns immediately.
• Contractor escort and oversight: Escort and monitor OEM and specialist contractors on site, verifying that work matches the approved scope and meets IREN safety expectations.
• Documentation and CMMS: Keep work orders, asset histories, readings and refrigerant records accurate and current in the CMMS.
• Continuous learning: Participate actively in the training and qualification programme, contributing to Methods of Procedure peer review and building toward Chiller Specialist competency on liquid cooling and central utility plant operations, while providing technical guidance to Chiller Technician Is and IIs.

Requirements

• 5+ years of hands-on experience maintaining and troubleshooting commercial or industrial chillers and HVAC plant, including central utility plant systems; mission-critical or industrial process cooling experience is required
• EPA Section 608 Universal certification is required
• Strong working knowledge of chiller refrigerant circuits, cooling towers, pumps, heat exchangers, VFDs and hydronic systems, with the ability to diagnose complex or intermittent faults
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, P&IDs, schematics and control sequences
• Direct, hands-on experience with direct-to-chip and immersion liquid cooling systems is required
• Proficiency with BMS or building automation front ends, and comfort using a CMMS for work order and record management
• High school diploma or equivalent required; trade school, apprenticeship, military technical training or an associate degree in HVAC, refrigeration or mechanical technology preferred
• At least one additional credential required: NATE, RETA CRO, HVAC journeyman license, Texas TDLR registration, or manufacturer-specific chiller certification
• Ability to work 12-hour rotating shifts including nights, weekends and holidays, and to participate in an on-call rotation
• Physically able to climb ladders and stairs, work at height and in confined spaces, lift up to 50 pounds, and work in mechanical spaces and outdoor West Texas conditions
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel between the Texas and Oklahoma campuses as required
• Must live within, or be willing to relocate to, commutable distance of the assigned campus; relocation assistance is available
• A safety-first mindset, reliable attendance, and the discipline to follow written procedures precisely in a live critical environment