Lead System Engineering

Job Description:

This position requires office presence of a minimum of 5 days per week and is only located in the location(s) posted. No relocation is offered.

AT&T will not hire any applicants for this position who require employer sponsorship now or in the future.

Join AT&T and help shape the future of communications and technology that connect the world. We value innovators who seek to explore the unknown and challenge the status quo. Bring your bold ideas and fearless spirit to redefine connectivity and transform how people share stories and experiences. At AT&T, you won’t just imagine the future—you’ll build it.

What you’ll do:

• Operational Leadership:

  • Lead the daily operations of multiple geographically distributed, mission-critical data centers with a focus on uptime, safety, and performance.

  • Ensure 24x7x365 operational readiness through robust incident response, preventive maintenance, and continuous monitoring of critical systems.

• Infrastructure Strategy & Project Delivery:

  • Own the lifecycle of capital infrastructure projects—from requirements gathering and design through commissioning and handover.

  • Manage large-scale upgrades and retrofits to support capacity growth, energy efficiency, and evolving technology needs.

  • Oversee all critical systems including electrical distribution, UPS, diesel generators, HVAC, fire/life safety, BMS, and fuel systems.

• Cross-Functional & Vendor Leadership:

  • Partner with internal stakeholders (engineering, IT, real estate, finance) and external vendors to deliver projects on time, within budget, and with zero disruption to live environments.

  • Lead performance management of third-party facility management providers, ensuring adherence to SLAs, KPIs, and compliance standards.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement:

  • Drive operational excellence through automation, predictive maintenance, and data-driven decision-making.

  • Identify and implement energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives aligned with corporate goals.

• Risk Management & Compliance:

  • Lead root cause analysis and post-incident reviews for infrastructure-related events.

  • Ensure compliance with all regulatory, environmental, health, and safety standards (e.g., NFPA, ASHRAE, OSHA).

What you’ll need:

As a Lead System Engineering Manager, you will serve as a strategic leader responsible for the end-to-end performance, reliability, and scalability of AT&T’s mission-critical data center infrastructure. This role combines operational excellence, engineering leadership, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure 24x7 availability, support business continuity, and enable future growth. You will drive innovation, lead high-impact initiatives, and ensure our facilities meet the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and resiliency.

What you’ll bring:

• Required Experience:

  • 5-8 years’ experience in Mission critical data center operations, engineering or construction management; Technical Career Pathway (TCP) role

  • Provide technical support for on-site engineering operations 24x7x365 by phone for emergencies only

• Desired Education:

  • Bachelors of Science degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience preferred

• Desired Qualifications:

  • 7+ years of experience in mission-critical data center operations, engineering, or construction management.

  • Experience managing large-scale, high-availability environments in telecom, cloud, or hyperscale data center settings.

  • Preferred certifications: PMP, IFMA, BOMI, Uptime Institute ATD/ATS, or Professional Engineer (PE) license.

  • Familiarity with IT infrastructure, networking, and cloud service delivery models is a plus.

  • Aligns infrastructure planning with long-term business and technology goals.

  • Delivers consistent, high-quality results in high-pressure environments.

  • Deep understanding of critical infrastructure systems and emerging technologies.

  • Build strong relationships and drives accountability across external teams.

  • Leads teams through transformation, innovation, and continuous improvement.

  • Effectively communicates with technical and non-technical stakeholders, from field engineers to senior executives.

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