Data Center Operations Engineer

A highly experienced Data Center Operations Engineer with deep expertise supporting enterprise-scale, mission-critical colocation and data center environments. You bring a proven track record of managing 24x7 operations, leading facility build-outs and expansions, and supporting large-scale infrastructure deployments in highly available environments.

Fast-paced technical environment where uptime, resiliency, operational excellence, and infrastructure scalability are paramount. You possess strong knowledge of data center power, cooling, structured cabling, asset lifecycle management, server infrastructure, networking, security systems, and colocation operations.

Hands-on technical leader, operating with an ownership mindset, working independently while partnering across infrastructure, networking, cloud, security, and vendor organizations to ensure enterprise and AI-focused colocation facilities remain secure, compliant, scalable, and highly available.

This role will play a key part in defining and scaling operational standards, processes, and strategies for current and future AI infrastructure deployments, including high-density GPU-based platforms.

Success in This Role

Within the first 12-24 months, the successful candidate will:

• Become the operational owner for enterprise colocation facilities.
• Standardize operational procedures and governance across all sites.
• Improve visibility into capacity, power, inventory, utilization, and facility metrics.
• Lead future AI infrastructure expansions and data center build initiatives.
• Establish scalable operational models supporting enterprise, cloud, and AI growth strategies.
• Evolve into the technical lead for data center and colocation operations across mission-critical infrastructure environments.

• Bachelor’’’’’’'’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Data Center Operations, or a related technical field; or
• Equivalent combination of education, technical certifications, military experience, and relevant professional experience.

Preferred Certifications

• CDCDP, CDCS, or equivalent data center certifications.
• Cisco (CCNA, CCNP, or higher).
• VMware certifications.
• ITIL Foundation or higher.
• Relevant cloud and infrastructure certifications.

Experience

• 10+ years of enterprise data center operations experience.
• 5+ years supporting large-scale colocation environments.
• Experience operating mission-critical 24x7 facilities.
• Demonstrated success leading data center build-outs, expansions, or migrations.
• Experience supporting Fortune 500 or similarly complex enterprise environments.
• Strong incident management and operational support experience.

Technical Expertise

Data Center Operations

• Rack and stack operations
• Structured cabling systems
• Asset lifecycle management
• Inventory management systems
• Capacity planning
• Power management
• Environmental monitoring
• Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM)

Infrastructure Technologies

• Cisco Nexus and enterprise switching technologies
• Enterprise routing platforms
• Server hardware platforms
• Blade chassis infrastructure
• Storage systems
• Backup platforms
• VMware environments
• Linux and Windows server environments

Facility Systems

• UPS systems
• Generator systems
• HVAC systems
• Fire suppression systems
• Power distribution infrastructure
• Environmental monitoring technologies

Monitoring & Operations

• Event management systems
• Infrastructure monitoring platforms
• Ticketing platforms (ServiceNow preferred)
• Capacity reporting tools
• Asset management systems

Leadership Competencies

• Strong ownership mentality and accountability.
• Executive-level communication skills.
• Strong decision-making capabilities during operational incidents.
• Exceptional coordination and collaboration skills.
• Proven vendor management experience.
• Ability to lead through influence across multiple engineering disciplines.