Lab Operations Engineer

Team Red Dog is hiring a Lab Operations Engineer for our client, a leading cloud and software provider and intelligent cloud leader. This hands-on engineering role supports cutting-edge Azure Node hardware across development lab, datacenter, networking, and hardware validation environments. You’ll work directly with prototype servers and infrastructure, combining hardware integration and bring-up, UART and low-level debugging, networking, Python scripting, and automation to keep critical engineering systems operational and moving forward. This is an opportunity to work closely with hardware, silicon, firmware, validation, and infrastructure engineering teams on next-generation cloud hardware.

Top Required Skills (Must Haves):

1. 5+ years of experience supporting hardware development labs, datacenters, manufacturing labs, or hardware validation environments, with hands-on responsibility for lab operations and system troubleshooting.
2. Strong server hardware experience, including rack integration, hardware bring-up, deployment, cabling, break-fix, maintenance, and troubleshooting of development platforms.
3. Experience with serial communications, UART interfaces, console access, debug ports, and low-level system debugging in hardware development or validation environments.
4. Scripting and infrastructure troubleshooting experience using Python, Bash, PowerShell, or similar tools, along with working knowledge of switching, VLANs, subnets, routing, and network connectivity.

Opportunity Overview:
This role offers the opportunity to work hands-on with cutting-edge Azure Node hardware and the lab infrastructure supporting its development and validation. You’ll be part of the day-to-day operation of a sophisticated engineering environment—setting up hardware racks, configuring network access, bringing nodes online, running tests, troubleshooting failures, automating repetitive processes, and helping engineering teams quickly resolve issues. The work spans hardware, networking, automation, and datacenter operations, making this an excellent opportunity for an engineer who enjoys solving practical technical problems and seeing the immediate impact of their work.

How you will make an impact:

• Install, configure, cable, instrument, and validate prototype servers, development platforms, racks, networking equipment, and supporting lab infrastructure.
• Support hardware bring-up, system integration, validation testing, and ongoing lab sustainment activities.
• Connect to systems using serial consoles, UART interfaces, debug ports, and other engineering tools to diagnose hardware, firmware, and platform issues.
• Perform hardware break-fix, preventative maintenance, equipment replacement, and system troubleshooting.
• Develop and maintain automation scripts using Python, Bash, PowerShell, or similar scripting languages.
• Build tools and automated workflows for deployment, validation, inventory tracking, test execution, log collection, and other repetitive lab processes.
• Configure and troubleshoot network connectivity, including switches, VLANs, subnets, routing, and node access.
• Assist with rack deployment, hardware installation, cable management, equipment moves, power validation, space planning, and environmental readiness.
• Run hardware and system tests, analyze results and logs, and provide reports to engineering stakeholders.
• Manage lab inventory, spare components, consumables, development hardware, and test equipment.
• Partner with hardware, firmware, silicon, security, validation, networking, IT, and infrastructure engineering teams to identify blockers and drive issues to resolution.
• Maintain lab safety, ESD controls, operational procedures, access requirements, and security standards.
• Contribute to technical documentation, process improvements, operational readiness, and lessons learned.

The expertise you bring:

• 5+ years of experience supporting hardware development labs, datacenters, manufacturing labs, or validation environments.
• Hands-on experience with server hardware, rack integration, system bring-up, deployment, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Experience with serial communications, UARTs, console access, debug ports, and low-level system debugging.
• Scripting experience with Python, Bash, PowerShell, or similar languages.
• Working knowledge of networking fundamentals, including switching, VLANs, subnets, routing, and connectivity troubleshooting.
• Strong troubleshooting, diagnostic, and root-cause analysis skills across hardware and infrastructure environments.
• Ability to work effectively across engineering, operations, networking, and infrastructure teams.
• Experience with Linux administration and hardware validation environments is highly valued.
• Experience supporting silicon development, platform validation, cloud, server, AI, or large-scale datacenter hardware platforms is preferred.
• Familiarity with oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers, logic analyzers, or other engineering instrumentation is preferred.
• Experience with inventory management systems, automation frameworks, or lab operations tooling is beneficial.
• Ability to work fully onsite in support of lab facility management, hardware maintenance, and engineering operations.
• Ability to satisfy the required citizenship attestation for this engagement.

What makes a candidate highly successful in this role:
A highly successful candidate will be a hands-on technical problem solver who is equally comfortable working inside a hardware rack, accessing a server through a UART console, troubleshooting a network configuration, and writing a Python script to automate a repetitive process. Strong candidates can independently diagnose problems across hardware, networking, and lab infrastructure while knowing when to engage specialized engineering teams to move an issue forward. They are proactive, organized, responsive, and comfortable working in a fast-moving development environment where success is measured by promptness, SLA performance, quality, and the ability to get systems operational efficiently.

Why Work with Team Red Dog?
At Team Red Dog, people are at the heart of everything we do. Our commitment to personalized service and our deep experience in matching talented professionals with meaningful roles at some of the world’s most inspiring companies is what sets us apart. We take the time to understand your unique skills, strengths, and passions—because we believe your career should reflect who you are.

Whether you're looking to grow, pivot, or simply find a place where your work truly matters, we offer opportunities that empower you to make a positive impact. With excellent benefits, a supportive team, and a role where you can thrive while doing what you love, we’re here to help you take the next step with confidence. Join us—and discover what it means to be genuinely valued in your career.

Generous benefits package for qualified employees includes:

• Health insurance (medical, dental, vision, and life)
• Employer-matched 401K plan
• Paid Time Off
• Flexible Paid Holiday Benefit

Estimated Start Date: Immediately
Location: Fully onsite (Mountain View, CA)
Job #: 2585
Job Type and Estimated Duration: W2 contract opportunity through December 31, 2026, with the potential to extend up to 18 months total, subject to performance, budget, and client discretion.
Rate: $11,250 - $13,000/month

Team Red Dog is committed to providing equal opportunities to everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic. If you need accommodation during the recruitment process, reach out to hr@teamreddog.com, and we will work to ensure an accessible experience. We strictly adhere to federal, state, and local laws to maintain a workplace free from discrimination and harassment.
We offer competitive compensation aligned with U.S. industry standards, and our final offer will reflect the candidate’s location, job-specific skills, experience, and knowledge.

• All applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for sponsorship.
• Team Red Dog is an E-Verify employer.
• Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a reference and background check.
• Please no solicitations from C2C or recruiting firms.