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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Chief Engineer - Data Center Operations - **Company:** Orion Talent - **Location:** Sterling, VA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $135,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Big Data, Microsoft Outlook, Computerized Maintenance Management Systems, Data Centers, Reliability Engineering - **Published:** September 22, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.oriontalent.com/search-jobs/career/11663071/chief-engineer-data-center-operations-virginia-va-sterling ## About the Role * 7-10 years of experience managing critical mechanical and electrical facilities and technical staff * Strong hands-on experience with critical mechanical and electrical infrastructure * Experience leading and providing technical direction to operating engineers or other technical maintenance personnel * Experience operating and maintaining centrifugal chiller plants * Experience with cooling towers and heat exchangers * Experience with CRAH units and critical cooling systems * Experience with emergency generators * Experience with UPS systems * Strong knowledge of electrical distribution systems * Experience implementing or managing preventive maintenance programs * Experience implementing or managing predictive maintenance programs * Experience with Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) * Working knowledge of Building Management Systems (BMS/BAS) * Knowledge of fire detection systems * Knowledge of gaseous fire-suppression systems * Knowledge of pre-action sprinkler systems * Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills * Ability to respond to equipment failures, alarms, and emergency situations * Ability to provide technical direction during emergency and abnormal operating conditions * Ability to lead technical personnel in a 24/7 mission-critical environment * Experience with maintenance planning and scheduling * Strong manpower planning and employee scheduling skills * Ability to assist with operating and capital budget preparation and management * Strong understanding of equipment reliability and critical-facilities best practices * Ability to communicate equipment status and technical issues to site leadership and engineering personnel * Strong interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills * Ability to work effectively with employees, contractors, site leadership, and other facility personnel * Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook * Ability to work effectively in a mission-critical, high-availability environment * Availability to respond to facility emergencies on a 7x24 basis Nice-to-Have Skills: * Data center facilities experience * Mission-critical or high-availability facilities experience * Associate degree or technical school education * Military electrical, mechanical, HVAC, power-generation, or facilities experience * Experience leading teams of Operating Engineers or critical-facilities technicians * Large-scale centrifugal chiller plant experience * Critical power infrastructure experience * Advanced UPS and emergency generator experience * BMS/BAS controls and facility-monitoring experience * CMMS implementation experience * Preventive and predictive maintenance program development experience * Critical-facility emergency-response experience * Technical or facilities-related licenses and certifications * Experience supporting large-scale data center cooling infrastructure * Experience managing equipment reliability and uptime in a 24/7 environment ## Description The Chief Engineer is responsible for leading the technical operation, maintenance, reliability, and performance of critical mechanical and electrical infrastructure supporting a mission-critical data center. This position provides technical leadership to a team of 6-10 Operating Engineers while ensuring critical facility systems remain safe, reliable, and available in a 24/7 high-availability environment. The Chief Engineer will oversee critical power, cooling, building controls, and life-safety systems while managing preventive and predictive maintenance programs. 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