Data Center Project Manager

Company: Selby Jennings
Location: Chicago
Posted on: February 18, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Job Title: Data Center Project Manager - GPU & Research Compute Infrastructure Location: Chicago, IL (with regular travel to Aurora, IL) About the Role An Elite high frequency trading firm is looking to bring on a Data Center Project manager focused on building and scaling cutting-edge GPU infrastructure to support advanced research and compute workloads. This is a unique opportunity to shape the foundation of a high-performance, bare-metal environment that powers some of the most demanding computational workloads in the industry. This role blends strategic project leadership with hands-on technical execution, ideal for someone who thrives in fast-paced, high-stakes environments and is passionate about data center operations and infrastructure innovation. Key Responsibilities Project Management & Execution Lead end-to-end project management for data center build-outs, expansions, and infrastructure upgrades. Develop and maintain detailed project plans, timelines, and budgets. Coordinate with internal stakeholders, vendors, and contractors to ensure timely and high-quality delivery. Vendor & Stakeholder Management Manage relationships with hardware vendors, colocation providers, and service contractors. Oversee procurement, delivery, and installation of GPU servers and supporting infrastructure. Hands-On Infrastructure Deployment Participate in physical racking, stacking, and cabling of servers and networking equipment. Perform on-site inspections and validations to ensure compliance with design and operational standards. Infrastructure Operations & Scaling Support the ongoing operation and scaling of bare-metal research compute environments. Monitor and optimize power, cooling (including liquid cooling systems), and space utilization across data centers in Chicago and Aurora. Collaborate with engineering and research teams to align infrastructure capabilities with compute needs. Qualifications Required: 8 years of experience in data center operations or infrastructure project management. Strong knowledge of data center design, power and cooling systems (including liquid cooling), and physical infrastructure. Experience with bare-metal server deployments and large-scale hardware rollouts. Proven ability to manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders and vendors. Willingness and ability to be hands-on in the data center environment. Preferred: Experience supporting GPU-based compute environments or high-performance computing (HPC). Familiarity with research computing workflows and infrastructure needs. Technical certifications (e.g., CDCP, CDCS, PMP) are a plus. Work Environment Based in Chicago, with regular travel to our Aurora data center. This is a hybrid role combining strategic project leadership with on-site technical execution. Company Description Operating as part of Phaidon International, Selby Jennings is a multi-award winning global recruitment organization focused on servicing the financial industry. By breaking down financial markets into individual niches and micro-specialisms, Selby Jennings powers a knowledge-led model, delivering global solutions into local markets. Every consultant is an expert in their field. Structuring our teams to mirror the demands of our clients and candidates, we identify, qualify and present the highest caliber candidates, as well as identifying the best market opportunities for leading finance professionals. We work in partnership with clients to tailor-make a suitable search model based on the type of assignment and client service level requirements, adopting a bespoke combination of solutions to ensure optimum reach into the active and passive market places. From our offices around the world, we recruit beyond international boundaries, pro-actively sourcing the best talent in the industry. Across contingent, retained, and project solutions, our service is unrivaled; speaking to our level of service provision, search accuracy, and flexibility. Company Description Operating as part of Phaidon International, Selby Jennings is a multi-award winning global recruitment organization focused on servicing the financial industry.\r\n\r\nBy breaking down financial markets into individual niches and micro-specialisms, Selby Jennings powers a knowledge-led model, delivering global solutions into local markets. Every consultant is an expert in their field. Structuring our teams to mirror the demands of our clients and candidates, we identify, qualify and present the highest caliber candidates, as well as identifying the best market opportunities for leading finance professionals.\r\n\r\nWe work in partnership with clients to tailor-make a suitable search model based on the type of assignment and client service level requirements, adopting a bespoke combination of solutions to ensure optimum reach into the active and passive market places.\r\n\r\nFrom our offices around the world, we recruit beyond international boundaries, pro-actively sourcing the best talent in the industry. Across contingent, retained, and project solutions, our service is unrivaled; speaking to our level of service provision, search accuracy, and flexibility.

Keywords: Selby Jennings, Joliet , Data Center Project Manager, IT / Software / Systems , Chicago, Illinois