Data Center Chief Engineer - ORD

EDC•Aurora, IL

123d

About The Position

Edged Data Centers is seeking a Data Center Chief Engineer to oversee facility operations, compliance, systems, incident response, stakeholder engagement, and operational planning. The role leads and develops facility technicians, maintains site readiness and operational reliability, and reports staffing and operational matters to the Site Operations Manager. It oversees electrical, mechanical, HVAC, and fire life safety systems and supports customers, vendors, contractors, and internal teams. The position is associated with Edged’s North American data center platform, which emphasizes sustainable infrastructure and waterless cooling.

Requirements

Associate degree, technical degree, equivalent military training, or equivalent experience.
5–7 years of experience in data center, critical facilities, or mission-critical environments.
2–3 years in a supervisory or lead role.
Strong technical expertise in electrical, mechanical, HVAC, and fire life safety systems.
Experience with CMMS, BMS, and other monitoring tools.
Proven ability to lead teams under pressure, manage escalations, and deliver results in high-availability environments.
Leadership and people management skills focused on team development.
Strong problem-solving, root cause analysis, and decision-making capabilities.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, CMMS, and reporting tools.
Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends, holidays, and on-call rotations as required.

Nice To Haves

Industry-specific certifications.
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and manage facility technicians; oversee shift coverage, work assignments, and resource allocation; conduct performance evaluations and coaching; and foster safety, compliance, and teamwork.
Report staffing performance, issues, and needs to the Site Operations Manager.
Ensure operations comply with company policies, safety standards, and regulatory requirements.
Review and approve JHAs, MOPs, SOPs, and EOPs; conduct audits, inspections, and training; and support compliance with ISO 27001, PCI, and SOC 2 Type I standards.
Provide regular operational updates to the Site Operations Manager.
Oversee operation, maintenance, and performance of electrical, mechanical, HVAC, and fire life safety systems.
Approve and prioritize preventative and corrective maintenance activities in the CMMS; ensure documentation and system logs are complete and accurate.
Analyze performance trends, identify risks, and drive preventive solutions to maintain uptime.
Serve as primary escalation point for abnormal conditions, incidents, and system failures; escalate unresolved or high-impact issues to the Site Operations Manager.
Lead root cause analysis, corrective action plans, and post-incident reporting; drive continuous improvement initiatives.
Act as an additional site-level contact for customers, vendors, and contractors on technical and operational matters.
Coordinate vendor and contractor activities to ensure safety, compliance, and adherence to scope; support customer requirements, installations, and escalations.
Partner with the Site Operations Manager and IT, Operations, and Projects teams to align facility operations with business needs.
Develop and manage maintenance schedules, work orders, and capacity plans.
Review and approve daily shift reports, turnover notes, and incident documentation.
Track spare parts and inventory to optimize resources and reduce downtime risk.
Provide regular reports and operational updates to the Site Operations Manager and senior management.