Data Center Engineer – AI

DeFi Tech; Asia; On-site; PEN 234,000 - 421,000; Full time

Job summary

DeFi Tech in Dubai/Abu Dhabi is seeking a hands-on Data Center Engineer to design, deploy, and operate the infrastructure behind demanding AI workloads. You will own servers, storage, networks, and rack infrastructure from planning through commissioning and daily operations.

You will lead incident response, coordinate with facilities teams and vendors, and ensure reliable power, cooling, and IT systems while maintaining safety and documentation standards.

Qualifications

• Substantial hands-on experience building and operating production data centers.
• Strong knowledge of Linux, server hardware, storage architectures, Ethernet networking, routing, and switching.
• Experience deploying or supporting GPU servers and high-density computing environments.

Responsibilities

• Design and deployment of server, storage, and network designs with capacity planning.
• Plan rack layouts and manage cabling with accurate infrastructure records.
• Configure and maintain CPU/GPU servers, storage, switches, and management interfaces.

Skills

Data center operations

Linux

Networking

GPU servers

Cooling systems

HSE compliance

Incident response

Vendor coordination

DCIM monitoring

Documentation

Job description

Dubai / Abu Dhabi. Full Time - 5+ years of Data Center Engineering Operations & Maintenance experience.

Note: This position requires shift and on-call coverage supporting 24/7 operations.

The Opportunity

We are looking for a hands‑on Data Center Engineer to design, deploy, and operate the infrastructure behind demanding AI workloads.

You will take ownership of servers, storage, networks, and rack infrastructure—from initial planning and installation through commissioning, maintenance, and daily operations. You will also work closely with facilities specialists, contractors, and technology vendors to ensure that power, cooling, and IT systems operate reliably together.

This role suits an engineer who combines strong technical foundations with practical judgment: someone who anticipates problems, stays composed during incidents, and follows every issue through to resolution.

What You Will Own

• Design and deployment. Translate business and workload requirements into practical server, storage, and network designs. Select equipment, plan capacity and redundancy, and lead installation, testing, and operational handover.
• Racks and connectivity. Plan rack layouts, install and configure equipment, manage copper and fiber cabling, and maintain clear labeling, cable management, and accurate infrastructure records.
• Servers, storage, and networks. Configure, troubleshoot, and maintain CPU and GPU servers, enterprise storage, switches, and associated operating systems, firmware, and management interfaces.
• Daily operations. Own infrastructure health monitoring, preventive maintenance, hardware repairs, spares, and capacity planning. Manage changes with clear procedures, maintenance windows, and rollback plans.
• Cooling and facilities coordination. Support reliable operation across air‑cooled, direct‑to‑chip, and immersion‑cooled environments. Coordinate power and HVAC requirements with qualified facilities teams and specialist contractors.
• Incident response. Take charge of technical troubleshooting during outages, equipment failures, thermal events, and performance degradation. Communicate clearly, restore service safely, and complete root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Vendors and contractors. Review technical proposals, coordinate site activities, verify workmanship, and hold suppliers accountable for quality, safety, deadlines, and service commitments.
• Safety and compliance. Apply Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) requirements, risk assessments, permit‑to‑work controls, and safe isolation procedures. Maintain operating procedures, emergency response plans, access controls, and audit records.

What You Bring

• Proven data center experience: Substantial hands‑on experience building and operating production data centers, with demonstrated responsibility for servers, storage, networks, and service availability.
• Strong infrastructure engineering: The ability to independently design, implement, and troubleshoot systems across multiple vendors, supported by solid knowledge of Linux, server hardware, storage architectures, Ethernet networking, routing, and switching.
• Practical AI infrastructure experience: Experience deploying or supporting GPU servers and high‑density computing environments, including their power, thermal, storage, and network demands.
• Hands‑on experience with all three cooling approaches: A strong foundation in air cooling, direct‑to‑chip liquid cooling, and immersion liquid cooling, including commissioning, monitoring, maintenance, and fault response. Understand airflow management, coolant distribution units, flow and temperature monitoring, leak detection, and coolant or dielectric‑fluid handling requirements.
• Critical facilities knowledge: A sound understanding of electrical distribution, UPS systems, backup generators, rack power distribution, HVAC, and infrastructure redundancy—and how failures affect IT services.
• Experience under pressure: A track record of resolving real production incidents, handling competing priorities and demanding workloads, and making sound decisions during stressful conditions.
• Operational discipline: Strong HSE and compliance knowledge, accurate documentation, clear communication, and experience coordinating contractors and vendors.

Additional strengths: InfiniBand or RoCE networking, infrastructure automation, DCIM/BMS monitoring tools, and relevant networking, server, data center, or HSE certifications.

How You Work

You take responsibility without waiting to be chased. You investigate beyond the immediate symptom, challenge assumptions, and find practical improvements while respecting change controls and safety requirements. You know when to act independently, when to elevate, and when specialist support is needed.

Your standard is straightforward: dependable infrastructure, safe execution, clear communication, and issues closed properly.