Data Center Architect/Engineer

Overview

Edgewater Federal Solutions is seeking an experienced Data Center Architect/Engineer to lead the design, strategic planning, and optimization of our data center infrastructure. This role requires a forward-thinking individual who can balance technical excellence with business requirements to create scalable, reliable, and efficient data center solutions while ensuring integration with cloud environments. This is onsite in DC and we are only considering candidates that currently live within 50 miles of DC.

Responsibilities

Infrastructure Design

• Design and architect comprehensive data center infrastructure solutions including power, cooling, network, storage, and compute resources
• Develop detailed technical specifications for data center builds and expansions
• Evaluate and select appropriate hardware and software solutions based on business requirements, performance needs, and total cost of ownership
• Create redundancy and disaster recovery architectures to ensure business continuity
• Design network topologies that support current and future bandwidth requirements

Strategic Planning

• Develop long-term roadmaps for data center capacity expansion aligned with business growth projections
• Create and execute cloud integration strategies, including hybrid and multi-cloud architectures
• Evaluate emerging technologies and provide recommendations for adoption
• Establish standardization protocols for infrastructure deployment
• Conduct feasibility studies and cost-benefit analyses for infrastructure investments
• Lead technology refresh cycles and platform modernization initiatives

System Optimization

• Continuously analyze and optimize data center performance, utilization, and efficiency metrics
• Implement power optimization solutions to reduce PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness)
• Design and optimize cooling systems to maximize energy efficiency
• Establish monitoring systems and thresholds to ensure optimal performance
• Conduct capacity planning to prevent resource constraints while minimizing overprovisioning

Compliance and Safety

• Ensure data center designs meet applicable industry standards (ANSI/TIA-942, BICSI, Uptime Institute)
• Maintain compliance with regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOX)
• Develop and enforce physical security protocols for data center facilities
• Create and maintain documentation for audit and compliance purposes
• Establish environmental safety protocols and disaster recovery procedure

Collaboration

• Partner with IT teams, facilities management, and business stakeholders to align solutions with organizational needs
• Work closely with vendors and service providers to implement new technologies
• Coordinate with project managers during implementation phases
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior team members
• Present complex technical concepts to executive leadership in business terms
• Collaborate with procurement to optimize vendor relationships and contracts

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field and 7+ years of experience in data center infrastructure design and management
• U.S. Citizenship is required per contract to obtain and maintain a Public Trust
• Strong understanding of data center systems including power, cooling, cabling, and rack infrastructure
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and hybrid cloud architectures
• Knowledge of virtualization technologies and container platforms
• Understanding of networking principles including SDN, load balancing, and security
• Experience with capacity planning and performance optimization
• Familiarity with compliance standards relevant to data centers
• Project management experience for large-scale infrastructure initiatives

Preferred:

• Professional certifications such as CDCDP, CDCE, CDCS, or CDCP
• Cloud certifications (AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Azure Solutions Architect, etc.)
• Experience with data center infrastructure management (DCIM) tools
• Knowledge of automation and infrastructure-as-code principles
• Experience with energy-efficient data center design
• Understanding of financial aspects of data center operations

Salary: $115,594 - $121,678

Additional benefits include: 

• Paid Time Off & Holiday Pay
• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Disability, Life Insurance, and AD&D
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Pre-Tax