Data Center Operations Specialist, Senior Principal

Public Trust: None

Requisition Type: Regular

Your Impact

Own your opportunity to support our nation's defense. Make an impact by connecting and securing critical operations across the globe, keeping our country safe and secure.

Job Description

Data Center Operations Technician is responsible for the installation, configuration, maintenance, troubleshooting, and decommissioning of data center infrastructure, including bare-metal servers, storage systems, and network switches. This role ensures the reliability, availability, and operational readiness of critical infrastructure while providing technical expertise, proactive problem-solving, and clear communication to internal stakeholders.

The ideal candidate combines strong hands-on technical skills with the ability to identify risks, remove roadblocks, recommend solutions, and act as a trusted advisor for infrastructure-related initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Infrastructure Deployment & Installation

• Rack, stack, cable, and deploy servers, storage arrays, network switches, and supporting infrastructure.

• Install and configure bare-metal systems according to documented hardware and networking requirements and documenting anything new in the environment.

• Perform hardware validation, burn-in testing, and deployment verification.

• Configure network connectivity, VLAN assignments, IP addressing, and port mappings as directed by engineering standards.

• Maintain accurate asset inventory and rack elevation documentation.

Hardware Lifecycle Management

• Execute hardware refreshes, upgrades, migrations, and decommissioning activities.

• Ensure proper sanitization, removal, disposal, or return of retired equipment according to cyber, organization, and company policy.

• Track asset movement and maintain accurate inventory records throughout the hardware lifecycle.

• Coordinate equipment receiving, staging, deployment, and retirement processes.

Troubleshooting & Incident Response

• Diagnose and resolve server, storage, networking, and cable issues.

• Perform root cause analysis for hardware failures and operational incidents.

• Replace failed components including drives, memory, CPUs, power supplies, NICs, and other field-replaceable units.

• Escalate complex issues appropriately while maintaining ownership through resolution.

• Participate in incident response and maintenance activities to minimize service disruption.

Operation Excellence

• Follow and improve standard operating procedures (SOPs), installation guides, and operation runbooks.

• Ensure all work is performed according to quality, safety, and change management processes.

• Identify opportunities to improve deployment efficiency, operational reliability, and documentation accuracy.

• Support capacity planning, hardware audits, and infrastructure optimization initiatives.

Technical Advisory & Continuous Improvement

• Serve as a subject matter expert for data center hardware deployment and operational best practices.

• Provide recommendations regarding infrastructure design, deployment methodologies, hardware standards, and operational processes.

• Advise leadership and engineering teams on potential risks, dependencies, and infrastructure readiness.

• Communicate project status, risks, roadblocks, and mitigation plan clearly and professionally.

• Collaborate with engineering, network, systems, facilities, and project management teams.

• Provide timely updates during deployment, incidents, and maintenance activities.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO SUCCEED

Bring your technology expertise and drive for innovation to GDIT. The IT Operations Manager must have:
● Experience: 8+ years of related experience
● Technical skills: Experience installing, configuring, and decommissioning bare-metal servers, storage systems, and network devices. Strong understanding of data center cabling standards and rack layout best practices. Familiarity with TCP/IP networking, VLANs, DNS, DHCP, routing fundaments, and switch connectivity.
● Security clearance level: TS/SCI
● US citizenship required
● Role requirements: Security+ certification required, CDCMP, CCNA, and ITIL certifications preferred

● Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift and move equipment up to 50lbs

• Ability to work in raised floor data center environments

• Ability to install equipment in racks and perform cable management

• Ability to stand, bend, climb ladders, and work in confined spaces for extended periods

GDIT IS YOUR PLACE

At GDIT, the mission is our purpose, and our people are at the center of everything we do.
● Growth: AI-powered career tool that identifies career steps and learning opportunities
● Support: An internal mobility team focused on helping you achieve your career goals
● Rewards: Comprehensive benefits and wellness packages, 401K with company match, and competitive pay and paid time off
● Community: Award-winning culture of innovation and a military-friendly workplace

Explore an enterprise IT career at GDIT and you’ll find endless opportunities to grow alongside colleagues who share your desire to drive operations forward.

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Work Requirements

Years of Experience

8 + years of related experience

* may vary based on technical training, certification(s), or degree

Certification

CompTIA Security+ CE | CompTIA - CompTIA

Travel Required

Less than 10%

Citizenship

U.S. Citizenship Required