Senior Data Center Solutions and Operations Engineer

The Foundation

We are the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. Founded on a simple premise: people everywhere, regardless of identity or circumstances, should have the chance to live healthy, productive lives. We believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve. We provide an exceptional benefits package to employees and their families which include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, foundation-paid retirement contribution, regional holidays, and opportunities to engage in several employee communities. As a workplace, we’re committed to creating an environment for you to thrive both personally and professionally.

The Team

As a Senior Data Center Solutions and Operations Engineer at the Gates Foundation, you will be an integral part of IT Infrastructure team and play a pivotal role in shaping the infrastructure that powers our global operations. This position offers a unique opportunity to lead major projects involving the design and optimization of our data centers, ensuring high levels of efficiency and sustainability that align with our strategic objectives.

Your Role 

As the Senior Data Center Solutions and Operations Engineer, you will report to Senior Manager of Infrastructure team. With your robust technical understanding of IT operations, data center operations complexities, vendor management, and infrastructure services you are responsible for defining, tracking, and leading significant operations and multi-functional projects that impact various operational teams as they relate to data centers, data closets, and cable plants. Responsibilities will span the Seattle campus and include regional/affiliate office operations, necessitating both domestic and international travel. 

What You’ll Do 

Seattle Campus: 

• Be responsible for the daily operations of all data center activities, data cabling infrastructure, and telecommunications equipment and circuitry. 

• Review and approve hardware installation plans within data spaces and building demarcation points to ensure compliance with physical requirements (space, rack mount, power, cooling, etc.). Inspect hardware installations upon completion. 

• Implement and maintain data and cabling standards across all foundation spaces. 

• Engage in capacity planning by monitoring and analyzing data space electrical power demand and equipment cooling load to forecast equipment growth capabilities. 

• Serve as the lead technical resource for any work effort or project related to data center expansions or new construction projects. 

• Identify and resolve recurring problems, developing new techniques to enhance operating environments. 

• Train, develop, and lead all aspects of team members involved in data space deployments, build-outs, and moves. 

• Establish and maintain excellent working relationships with vendors. 

• Utilize in-depth knowledge of co-location and self-hosting infrastructure and services to evaluate and negotiate potential data center co-location spaces. 

• Conduct business analysis to work efficiently with other foundation groups, translating needs and issues into functional requirements, technology solutions, and project plans. 

• Manage external vendors conducting work within foundation data spaces (electricians, cabling, HVAC, security). 

• Modernize Data Centers while applying industry advancements and a focus on hybrid infrastructure. <