Data Center Administrator
Location: Santa Clara, CA (5 Days Onsite – Mandatory)
Work Hours: PST Hours About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Data Center Administrator to manage and maintain our data center infrastructure. This role is responsible for ensuring the reliability, security, and optimal performance of servers, storage systems, and network equipment. The ideal candidate will bring strong technical expertise, hands-on experience, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, mission-critical environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Install, configure, and maintain servers, storage arrays, and network equipment
- Manage data center layout, including rack setup and structured cabling
- Monitor and optimize power, cooling, and environmental conditions
- Track power usage, balancing, and capacity planning for cabinets
- Monitor system performance, troubleshoot issues, and ensure high availability
- Perform hardware/software upgrades, patching, and preventive maintenance
- Implement and enforce data center security protocols (physical & logical)
- Maintain compliance with industry standards and best practices
- Document configurations, processes, and asset inventory (DCIM tools)
- Support capacity planning and future infrastructure scaling
- Collaborate with cross-functional IT teams for deployments and support
- Provide hands-on troubleshooting for hardware and system issues
- Coordinate with remote data center teams (remote hands support)
- Manage asset lifecycle, including shipping/receiving and RMA processes
- Maintain accurate ticketing and adhere to change management procedures
- Participate in off-hours maintenance and change windows
Required Skills & Experience
- 5+ years of hands-on experience in Data Center operations (compute, storage, networking)
- Strong knowledge of servers, storage systems, networking, racks, cabling, and PDUs
- Experience with virtualization technologies: VMware, Kubernetes, OpenStack
- Solid understanding of Linux/Unix systems and CLI environments
- Experience with SAN connectivity and networking fundamentals
- Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities
- Knowledge of data center security standards and best practices
- Experience with power, cooling, and space planning
- Familiarity with DCIM tools and asset management
- Experience working with vendors and handling RMA/support cases
- Basic scripting or coding skills for automation/reporting
- Ability to support 24x7 production environments