Senior Data Center Consultant

Ramboll • Arlington, VA

1d • Remote

About The Position

The Senior Data Center Consultant provides leadership and technical expertise in assessing data center infrastructure and supporting strategy development projects. The role evaluates mission-critical electrical, mechanical, and operational systems, identifies reliability risks and single points of failure, and recommends practical measures to improve availability, resilience, maintainability, and efficiency. It also contributes to conceptual master planning, infrastructure expansion and capacity-change designs, and rough-order-of-magnitude cost estimates.

The consultant manages and participates in major project delivery, serving as client partner and project executive for projects they develop. They oversee project quality, client relationships, and financial forecasts, and learn and use the group’s analytical tools. The role requires clear, persuasive communication of technical findings to clients, including senior executives, and participation in industry symposiums, professional journals, and webinars.

Team members generally work from a home office and travel as required. Travel averages 25%–50%, with periods of sustained travel possible, particularly for global projects.

Requirements

• Demonstrated expertise interpreting electrical one-line diagrams and evaluating mission-critical electrical distribution systems, including utility service, switchgear, UPS, generators, transfer switches, PDUs, transformers, and grounding systems.
• Strong understanding of electrical redundancy concepts, reliability principles, load calculations, power capacity, and identifying single points of failure with practical mitigation strategies.
• Ability to assess the condition, operation, and maintenance effectiveness of critical power infrastructure, including UPS and battery systems, standby power, electrical distribution equipment, and controls.
• Experience collecting, analyzing, and interpreting electrical infrastructure operating data to evaluate performance, reliability, energy efficiency, and alignment with industry best practices.
• Working knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC), mission-critical facility design standards, and safe work in energized or critical-infrastructure environments.
• Ability to interpret mechanical one-line drawings and evaluate mission-critical HVAC infrastructure, redundancy, and system load capacity.
• Ability to assess mechanical infrastructure, including chillers, cooling towers, heat-rejection systems, pumps, valves, piping, thermal storage, controls, and instrumentation.
• Ability to analyze mechanical designs for component and reliability risks, single points of failure, and energy optimization opportunities, and recommend improvements to resilience, maintainability, and efficiency.
• Experience analyzing mechanical operating data and performing engineering calculations related to cooling capacity, power, kVA, power factor, and energy performance.
• Knowledge of mission-critical mechanical system best practices, redundancy classifications, reliability principles such as MTBF, MTTR, availability, and maintainability, and safe work practices.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office applications effectively.
• Ability to serve as a customer-facing mechanical subject matter expert and communicate technical findings and recommendations clearly, while following written and verbal instructions.
• Knowledge of mission-critical systems including EPO, VESDA, FM-200, Ansul, sprinkler and pre-action systems, and physical security technologies such as card access, video surveillance, biometric access, and perimeter protection.
• Ability to manage and participate in major projects, act as client partner and project executive for developed projects, and manage project quality, client relationships, and financial forecasts.
• Professional, effective, and persuasive verbal and written communication skills, including communication with client CIOs, CFOs, COOs, and other senior leaders.
• Ability to travel as required; travel averages 25%–50% and may include sustained periods, particularly for global projects.

Nice To Haves

• 10 years or more of data center operational experience in privately owned or colocation facilities.
• BA/BS degree from an accredited college or university; an engineering or computer science degree is a plus.
• Ability to pass a background check prior to receiving an offer letter.
• U.S. passport and ability to travel internationally.

Responsibilities

• Interpret electrical one-line diagrams and assess mission-critical electrical distribution systems, redundancy, capacity, reliability, condition, maintenance, performance, energy efficiency, and compliance.
• Evaluate mechanical one-line drawings and mission-critical HVAC systems, including cooling capacity, condition, maintenance, reliability, energy performance, and opportunities for optimization.
• Collect, interpret, and analyze operational data from electrical and mechanical infrastructure and perform related engineering calculations.
• Assess operational practices and documentation, including maintenance management, change management, security systems, raised-floor environments, fire detection and suppression, and critical equipment records.
• Operate and evaluate Building Monitoring and Control Systems (BMS/BAS) supporting critical infrastructure.
• Develop maintenance staffing plans and identify technical skills needed for mission-critical facility operations.
• Identify infrastructure risks and single points of failure, and develop practical, cost-effective mitigation recommendations to improve availability and resilience.
• Evaluate facilities and provide input during planning sessions and workshops; assist engineering and design colleagues with conceptual designs for infrastructure expansion or capacity changes.
• Assess data center critical loading requirements for greenfield options, understand redundancy requirements and Tier levels, and provide ROM estimates with approximately +/- 30% accuracy.
• Present findings and interact with customers at all levels, including senior client executives.
• Manage and participate in major project delivery as client partner and project executive, overseeing project quality, client relationships, and forecast financial measures.
• Learn and use the group’s analytical tools and support their use as required.
• Communicate professionally, effectively, and persuasively in writing and verbally; participate as an industry expert in symposiums, professional journals, and webinars.
• Travel as required, averaging 25%–50%, with potential periods of sustained travel for global projects.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package supporting well-being, professional development, and work-life balance.
• May be eligible for a bonus, overtime, or other forms of compensation.
• Flexible approach to where, when, and how much employees work.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed