Data Center Lead

Webhosting; Rotterdam; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

i3D.net in Rotterdam is seeking a Data Center Lead to own and operate global datacenter hardware. You will lead installations, troubleshoot complex issues, and upgrade infrastructure through move-add-change-delete activities, with a hands-on leadership style and strong technical ownership.

This role blends leadership with technical depth across servers, networks, virtualization, and tooling like Docker. You’ll mentor teammates, help set standards, and contribute to high availability while

Qualifications

• Solid experience with RAID setups and datacenter hardware.
• Imaging servers and configuring BMC ports.
• Knowledge of networking basics (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP).
• Hands-on virtualization and Linux administration.

Responsibilities

• Lead, install, configure, and troubleshoot datacenter hardware.
• Mentor team members and guide technical development.
• Coordinate cross-functional deployments and routines.
• Oversee rack, cabling, and power distribution to high standards.
• Set up server imaging, PXE boot, and related deployment methods.
• Validate rack designs, cooling, airflow, and power within datacenters.
• Identify improvements to make operations faster and safer.
• Provide advanced hardware and infrastructure support to the team.
• Collaborate with internal teams and vendors for deployments and maintenance.
• Maintain up-to-date documentation and knowledge base.

Skills

RAID

BMC ports

Server imaging

Datacenter hardware

Networking basics

Linux

Virtualization

Cabling & power

On-call readiness

Team leadership

Tools

Docker

Job description

At i3D.net , we provide world‑class global coverage with one of themost interconnected networksin the world. Our solutions focus on low latency, zero packet loss, and unmatched scalability, enabling seamless experiences for millions of users worldwide. With dedicated support, bespoke solutions, and cutting‑edge technology, we deliver reliable, cost‑efficient infrastructure that empowers game developers and businesses to scale effortlessly. Partnering with major names likeNvidia, DuckDuckGo, andUbisoft, we are shaping the future of gaming and network technology.

Why your role matters

As a Data Center Lead in the Hardware and Bare Metal team at i3D.net , you’ll be the hands‑on expert and technical lead ensuring the smooth operation of our global datacenter hardware. From our Rotterdam datacenter, you’ll lead installations, troubleshoot complex issues, and maintain and upgrade infrastructure through move‑add‑change‑delete activities. Your work directly impacts the performance and reliability of the infrastructure powering some of the world’s largest gaming companies.

You’ll combine strong technical ownership with practical (people) leadership: guiding others, mentoring, improving operational standards, and staying close to the technology behind servers, networks, and infrastructure. In this role you will be responsible for 1 on 1’s, KPI’s setting and career paths. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys taking responsibility, creating structure, and turning hands‑on expertise into real‑world impact.

What you’ll be doing

• Hardware Setup & Maintenance: Lead, install, configure, and troubleshoot datacenter hardware, including servers and network gear.
• Team Guidance: Support and manage team members in their day‑to‑day work and technical development.
• Leadership: Cross functioning collaboration with peers and other leaders, mentoring, career pathing and building routines in for instance 1 on 1’s
• Operational Quality: Oversee tasks like swapping servers, managing cables, keeping racks organized, and ensuring work is completed to a high standard.
• Server Deployment: Set up and support RAID configurations, work with BMC ports, and image servers using tools such as PXE boot, USB installation, or other system deployment methods.
• Datacenter Standards: Follow and validate rack designs, support cooling systems, airflow management, and power distribution within a datacenter environment.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify and suggest smarter ways to work, making operations faster, safer, and more efficient.
• Technical Support: Support the team in solving more complex hardware, deployment, and infrastructure issues.
• Collaboration & Coordination: Coordinate with internal teams and vendors to handle deployments, maintenance, and new site setups.
• Escalations: Act as a point of contact for operational questions, escalations, and technical guidance within the datacenter environment.
• Documentation: Keep documentation and the knowledge base up to date, and help improve standards, procedures, and ways of working.
• Hardware: Servers, racks, network gear, BMC ports, RAID configurations, cabling, power distribution, and airflow management.
• Deployment: PXE boot, USB installation, server imaging, system deployment methods, and move‑add‑change‑delete activities.
• Networking: TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, connectors, cable management, SFP modules, and datacenter connectivity basics.
• Infrastructure: Linux, virtualization, Docker, NAS setups, game server hosting, and related infrastructure tooling.
• Operations: Documentation, knowledge base management, operational standards, troubleshooting, and on‑call processes.

What success looks like in the first year

• You confidently lead installations, troubleshooting, and maintenance of servers, networking equipment, and supporting infrastructure.
• You’ve supported team members by sharing knowledge, setting standards, and helping them grow technically as well as a person.
• Your guidance helps the team work more effectively, and your ideas improve quality, speed, and reliability.
• You understand how our datacenter operations work, how servers interact with networking and virtualization layers, and how everything fits together to deliver high availability.
• You help create structure, improve documentation, and make sure recurring issues are addressed at the root cause.

Key Success Qualities

• Problem Solver: You enjoy troubleshooting hardware, analyzing issues, and figuring out why systems behave the way they do.
• Technical Know-How: You have solid experience with RAID setups, BMC ports, imaging servers, datacenter hardware, or similar infrastructure environments.
• Networking Skills: You understand networking basics such as TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, connectors, cable management, and configuring SFP modules.
• Hands‑on Experience: You have practical experience working with servers, racks, cabling, hardware deployments, or infrastructure operations in a datacenter or similar technical environment.
• Curious by Nature: You may have experimented with things like Linux, virtualization, Docker, NAS setups, or game server hosting and enjoy learning how infrastructure works behind the scenes.
• Leadership Mindset: You enjoy helping others, sharing knowledge, taking ownership, and creating structure in a technical operations environment.
• Physical Capability: You’re comfortable lifting 45kg and live within 50km of our Rotterdam Datacenter for on‑call shifts.
• Organized: You like to keep clean, detailed documentation and structure your workflow accordingly.
• Communication: You are fluent in English and able to communicate clearly with engineers, vendors, stakeholders, and non‑technical teams. Dutch is a plus.
• Work Location: This is a hybrid role with a strong on‑site presence, full‑time position in Rotterdam. You’ll be part of a rotating on‑call schedule with additional compensation; on‑call duties may occur outside business hours and can often be handled remotely.