Principal IT Engineer

Job Description

The Data Center Operations Sr. IT Engineer is responsible for end-to-end operational oversight of enterprise data centers and global colocation sites. This role owns physical infrastructure readiness, capacity planning, access governance, DCIM accuracy, vendor coordination, service execution (install/move/add/change), logistics, and compliance. The engineer ensures highly reliable, secure, and scalable environments supporting business-critical compute, network, storage, HPC, and AI workloads.

This position requires deep technical knowledge of data center ecosystems, strong program management capability, and hands‑on experience coordinating with colo providers, smart hands teams, OEM vendors, procurement, and internal engineering groups.

• 1. Data Center & Colocation Site Operations
  • Own daily operations across multiple colocation sites (e.g., Equinix, Cyrus One, NTT) and internal data centers.
  • Oversee cage builds, cabinet installations, power turn‑ups, demarc extensions, cable tray setup, overhead infrastructure, and physical layout readiness.
  • Coordinate access windows, early‑access exceptions, site rules, and on‑site work scheduling with facility managers.
  • Manage ongoing incidents, escalations, and operational blockers associated with cabinet delivery, site readiness, and vendor SLAs.
  • Ensure compliance with data center standards (no cardboard, food/drinks, proper handling of equipment, safety protocols, audit trails, etc.).
• 2. Capacity Planning & Rack Elevation Management
  • Develop, maintain, and analyze rack elevations for compute, network, HPC, storage, and AI systems.
  • Forecast power, cooling, space, and network capacity requirements for new deployments and refresh cycles.
  • Validate cabinet quantities, RU availability, PDU loads, and expansion requirements.
  • Partner with engineering teams (HPC, SAP/HANA, AI Factory, ERP, Infra) to confirm BOMs, node placement, and network topology alignment.
• 3. Access Governance & Physical Security
  • Administer physical access requests in Service Now for permanent and temporary badges.
  • Maintain secured access lists for all sites and ensure recertification cycles are followed.
  • Train teams on Equinix Portal processes and site‑specific inbound/outbound shipment requirements.
  • Oversee visitor access, work visit requests, and ensure approval flow is executed per audit requirements.
• 4. DCIM Platforms (Sunbird dc Track & Power
  
  IQ)
  • Serve as primary owner or SME for DCIM platforms.
  • Ensure accuracy of floor plans, rack elevations, PDU mapping, connectivity, asset metadata, and power chains.
  • Oversee integrations between DC Track and Power
    
    IQ and maintain version updates, SSL certs, SSO configurations, and environment migrations.
  • Validate updates to DCIM inventory following every install, move, decom, migration, or equipment removal.
• 5. Service Now Workflow Ownership
  • Manage RITM/CHG tickets for installs, decoms, network requests, physical access, smart hands activities, and logistics.
  • Ensure required documentation (port matrices, rack elevations, BOMs, work instructions) is attached and accurate.
  • Validate closure of tasks and alignment across teams (Networking, Capacity Planner, Smarthands, Colo Ops).
  • Improve workflow standardization, templates, and audit consistency.
• 6. Vendor Management & Procurement Support
  • Act as primary operational interface with colocation vendors (Equinix, NTT, Cyrus One), logistics partners, smart hands providers, OEM field teams (Dell, HPE), and integrators (Computacenter, IES).
  • Track cabinet deliveries, circuit installs, PDU sourcing, cage readiness, and vendor SLA adherence.
  • Provide detailed scope inputs for SOWs, POs, change orders, and project quotes.
  • Participate in supplier onboarding discussions and security exhibit reviews with legal and procurement teams.
  • Identify delays or discrepancies (pricing differences, dormant orders, shipment delays) and drive escalation paths.
• 7. Deployment, Migration & Decommissioning Activities
  • Plan and supervise install, rack & stack, cabling, labeling, network uplinks, power connectivity, and configuration readiness.
  • Coordinate inbound shipments, receiving, and storage tracking.
  • Lead decom cycles: identify equipment ready…