Nava

About Nava
Nava is building next-generation AI infrastructure and inference platforms at global scale. We're looking for a Principal Engineer - Cluster Deployment to lead the successful deployment of large-scale GPU clusters across global data centres.
This is a high-impact execution role responsible for taking GPU clusters from hardware delivery to fully validated, production-ready infrastructure. You'll own deployment execution across sites, vendors, and cross-functional teams, ensuring every cluster is delivered on time, meets quality standards, and is ready for customer workloads.
What You'll Do
<ul>
<li>End-to-End Cluster Deployment</li>
<ul>
<li>Own the deployment of GPU clusters from rack arrival through to tenant-ready production capacity.</li>
<li>Plan, coordinate, and execute deployment activities across multiple global data centre locations.</li>
<li>Drive installation, rack integration, power-up, hardware bring-up, firmware validation, and production readiness.</li>
<li>Ensure deployments are completed safely, efficiently, and within agreed timelines.</li>
</ul>
<li>Deployment Execution</li>
<ul>
<li>Lead cluster bring-up activities, including hardware validation, network configuration, storage integration, and platform initialization.</li>
<li>Oversee structured cabling, power validation, firmware upgrades, BIOS configuration, and infrastructure readiness.</li>
<li>Coordinate deployment activities across internal engineering teams, hardware vendors, systems integrators, and data centre partners.</li>
<li>Resolve deployment blockers and drive rapid issue resolution during implementation.</li>
</ul>
<li>Validation &amp; Quality Assurance</li>
<ul>
<li>Develop and execute deployment validation procedures and acceptance criteria.</li>
<li>Lead burn-in testing, stress testing, hardware diagnostics, and production readiness validation.</li>
<li>Ensure clusters meet defined performance, stability, and reliability benchmarks before customer handover.</li>
<li>Own first-pass acceptance and minimize deployment rework through robust quality processes.</li>
</ul>
<li>Vendor &amp; Site Management</li>
<ul>
<li>Act as the primary technical lead during on-site deployments.</li>
<li>Manage relationships with OEMs, contract manufacturers, data centre operators, and installation partners.</li>
<li>Ensure deployment standards are consistently followed across all locations.</li>
<li>Drive continuous improvement across deployment processes, documentation, and execution methodologies.</li>
</ul>
<li>Cross-Functional Collaboration</li>
<ul>
<li>Partner with GPU Cluster Engineering, Platform Engineering, Networking, SRE, Supply Chain, and Data Centre Operations teams.</li>
<li>Ensure seamless transition from deployment to production operations.</li>
<li>Support troubleshooting of deployment issues and coordinate engineering fixes where required.</li>
</ul>
<li>Operational Excellence</li>
<ul>
<li>Develop deployment playbooks, SOPs, checklists, and automation to improve deployment consistency.</li>
<li>Track deployment metrics and identify opportunities to reduce deployment timelines and improve quality.</li>
<li>Drive lessons learned reviews following every deployment.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Success Metrics
You will be measured on:
<ul>
<li>Time-to-live for new GPU clusters</li>
<li>First-pass deployment acceptance rate</li>
<li>Deployment quality and reliability</li>
<li>Reduction in deployment rework</li>
<li>Deployment schedule adherence</li>
<li>Production readiness at handover</li>
<li>Deployment process standardization and automation</li>
</ul>
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
<ul>
<li>10+ years of experience in infrastructure deployment, data centre engineering, HPC, cloud infrastructure, or systems engineering.</li>
<li>Proven experience deploying large-scale compute infrastructure, GPU clusters, HPC systems, or cloud platforms.</li>
<li>Deep technical expertise in:
<ul>
<li>Server and rack deployment</li>
<li>GPU hardware platforms</li>
<li>High-speed networking (InfiniBand, Ethernet, RDMA)</li>
<li>Structured cabling and power systems</li>
<li>Linux systems administration</li>
<li>Firmware, BIOS, and hardware lifecycle management</li>
<li>Infrastructure validation and production readiness</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Experience coordinating cross-functional deployment projects across multiple sites.</li>
<li>Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills in complex infrastructure environments.</li>
<li>Willingness to travel to domestic and international deployment locations.</li>
</ul>
Preferred Qualifications
<ul>
<li>Experience with NVIDIA DGX, HGX, or similar GPU platforms.</li>
<li>Familiarity with Kubernetes, cluster provisioning, automation, and Infrastructure-as-Code.</li>
<li>Experience working with hyperscalers, AI infrastructure providers, or data centre operators.</li>
<li>Exposure to HPC, AI factories, or large-scale inference platforms.</li>
</ul>