Data Center Engineer

Oak Ridge National Laboratory•Oak Ridge, TN

11d•Onsite

About The Position

We’re looking for a hands-on Data Center Engineer who will contribute to the modernization of our data center operations, especially around DCIM enhancements and PSC (Power, Space, Cooling) metrics integration. You’ll design, implement, and continuously improve the physical and logical infrastructure across our enterprise facilities, and build data-driven visibility through dashboards and automation. You’ll collaborate closely with IT operations, network, and facilities to ensure reliable service, efficient capacity usage, and compliance with ORNL and industry standards. This position requires being available for on-call rotations and occasional after-hours work as needed. This position resides in the Digital Hosting Services team of the Enterprise Operations group of the Digital Services Infrastructure & Operations division of the Information Technology Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

Requirements

BS in information technology, computer science, engineering or a related field, with 5 years of experience in a data center or similar IT infrastructure environment. Equivalent education and experience may be considered.
Ability to participate in on-call rotations and occasional after-hours support.
Experience with electrical systems, UPS, HVAC, cooling systems, and power distribution in data center environments.
Familiarity with Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) tools including telemetry ingestion and capacity analytics.
Experience with dashboarding and data visualization tools such as Grafana, Power BI, or Tableau.
Experience with automation/scripting using Python or PowerShell.
Knowledge of the ITIL framework and IT service management best practices.
Ability to obtain and maintain a clearance from the Department of Energy.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card.
Must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation.
Must pass a pre-placement drug test and participate in an ongoing random drug testing program.
Must provide a Real ID compliant form of identification.

Nice To Haves

NFPA 70E (Arc Flash) Electrical Safety certification
Data Center Energy Practitioner (DCEP)
DCIM/BMS/SCADA certifications.
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to resolve issues under pressure.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Attention to detail and commitment to high-quality work.

Responsibilities

Coordinate installation, migration, and decommissioning of hardware ensuring compliance with PSC requirements.
Monitor data center infrastructure reliability.
Develop and implement preventative maintenance schedules for all data center equipment.
Identify and resolve problems involving infrastructure telemetry, capacity reporting, DCIM data ingestion, and facility system performance to support enterprise operational integration.
Assist in managing power, space, cooling, and capacity planning.
Manage data in DCIM platforms including EPMS, BMS, and SCADA integrations.
Develop dashboards visualizing PSC metrics, PUE, trends, and alerts.
Standardize DCIM data models, change records, and quality across sites.
Enhance telemetry collection, health monitoring, and reporting to improve infrastructure visibility and observability.
Use infrastructure data for predictive capacity planning.
Optimize cooling and power efficiency from analytics.
Ensure adherence to NFPA, DOE/ORNL, and facility safety policies.
Implement strong physical security, surveillance, and access controls.
Support DR readiness including redundancy and failover testing.
Serve as the Alternate Laboratory Safety Manager (LSM‑Alt), ensuring SBMS safety policies and requirements are implemented and followed within all ITSD data center facilities.
Serve as technical escalation for complex issues.
Provide guidance to junior staff and coordinate with facilities engineers.
Collaborate with vendors on upgrades and commissioning.
Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.