Senior Data Center Engineer - Kansas City
About The Position
DigitalOcean is seeking a Senior Data Center Engineer to build and scale reliable data center infrastructure for its cloud and AI platform. The role owns complex deployments and repairs with limited instruction, serves as an escalation point for difficult and recurring issues, improves team operations, mentors technicians and engineers, leads smaller projects, and helps establish standards that support reliable sites. The position reports to the Data Center Manager and is onsite in Kansas City, Missouri. The engineer will work with GPU and AI infrastructure, servers, networking, storage hardware, and Linux systems. The role includes reviewing incidents and operational data, checking new data center spaces against power, cooling, and cabling standards, maintaining operational documentation and processes, tracking metrics, planning project resources, and ensuring consistent inventory, asset management, and RMA practices. The role may involve 12-hour shifts at non-standard hours, on-call rotation, and domestic travel.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or 4 years of equivalent work experience.
- At least 3 years of experience troubleshooting IT systems.
- Experience deploying and troubleshooting GPU hardware at scale for AI workloads.
- Strong understanding of infrastructure hardware deployment and troubleshooting across networking, hardware, and Linux operating systems.
- Strong understanding of Linux operating systems and proficiency with bash scripting.
- Working knowledge of data center power and cooling, and strong understanding of cabling plans and best practices.
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to perform deep technical investigations to resolve issues efficiently.
- Ability to work effectively through ambiguity.
- Experience mentoring or training junior engineers and technicians.
- Ability to be on your feet all day and lift objects up to 50 pounds.
- Willingness to participate in an on-call rotation.
Responsibilities
- Own complex deployments from start to finish, including GPU and AI infrastructure, servers, network, and storage hardware.
- Troubleshoot complex and recurring hardware, network, GPU, and Linux operating system issues as an escalation point.
- Lead reviews of data center events and incidents, use data to identify root causes, and drive fixes through timely resolution and closure.
- Review new data center spaces, cages, and suites against power, cooling, and cabling standards.
- Write, review, and approve operational documentation, runbooks, and procedures; improve and standardize site procedures.
- Track and report operational metrics and recommend improvements.
- Provide input on hardware, materials, and staffing needs for upcoming projects.
- Lead site-wide projects and mentor Data Center Technicians and Engineers.
- Partner with peers and leaders across teams, sharing knowledge through documentation, demonstrations, and team learning sessions.
- Ensure RMA, inventory, and asset management processes are followed consistently at the site.
- Participate in an on-call rotation.
- Travel domestically, typically up to 10%, including travel between multiple locations during the workday and occasional overnight stays at other sites.
Benefits
- Annual bonus plan eligibility for non-sales roles, subject to plan terms and local eligibility; bonus amounts depend on company and individual performance.
- Possible new-hire equity grant, subject to plan terms and local eligibility.
- Employee Stock Purchase Program opportunity in participating countries, subject to applicable plan terms.
- Reimbursement for relevant conferences, training, and education, subject to company policy.
- Flexible time off, depending on location and eligibility.
- Local team meetups, depending on location and eligibility.
- Mental health and well-being support, depending on location and eligibility.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
