Senior Data Center Facilities Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory • Laurel, MD

6h

About The Position

The Senior Data Center Facilities Engineer helps operate, maintain, design, and modernize APL’s enterprise data centers, including facilities that support classified computing environments. The role works with facilities, network, server, and infrastructure engineers to maintain reliable operations, resolve technical challenges, and develop data center infrastructure for national security and other mission-critical needs. Experience in classified or security-sensitive data centers is valued, as is a strong commercial enterprise data center background.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• At least 7 years of experience supporting enterprise data centers or comparable mission-critical facilities.
• Experience with data center power, cooling, and supporting infrastructure.
• Experience coordinating technical maintenance, infrastructure changes, or facility operations.
• Experience contributing to data center design, expansion, modernization, or long-term infrastructure planning.
• Experience with critical power and cooling systems, preventive maintenance programs, and infrastructure reliability.
• Familiarity with data center industry standards, structured cabling, and infrastructure management tools.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Active Secret security clearance and ability to ultimately obtain Top Secret clearance; eligibility for classified access requires U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

• Experience operating or supporting classified data centers, secure government facilities, or defense and intelligence community environments.
• Active Top Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Support daily operations, maintenance, and continuous improvement of enterprise data centers, including classified computing facilities.
• Coordinate maintenance and troubleshooting of critical infrastructure, including power distribution, UPS systems, generators, and cooling systems.
• Contribute to data center facility design and evolution, including infrastructure architecture, physical layouts, power and cooling strategies, capacity planning, and long-term modernization.
• Plan and implement new data center capabilities, facility expansions, technology upgrades, and infrastructure improvements.
• Plan and coordinate equipment installations, relocations, structured cabling, and other data center infrastructure changes.
• Collaborate with facilities personnel, technical teams, and external service providers on maintenance, engineering, and infrastructure projects.
• Maintain accurate infrastructure documentation, inventory, and data center management records.
• Troubleshoot infrastructure failures and operational issues to maintain service availability and minimize disruptions.
• Coordinate work within controlled-access facilities in accordance with applicable security and operational requirements.

Benefits

• Robust education assistance program and training and development.
• Retirement plans and contributions.
• Paid time off.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• Healthy work/life balance.
• Potential sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance, or discretionary payments for exceptional performance, subject to applicable policies and circumstances.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior