Critical Facilities Engineer, Data Centers

Blue Signal Search; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual performance bonus

On-site work in Houston

On-site facilities access

Job summary

Blue Signal Search is seeking a Critical Facilities Engineer for data centers in Houston, TX. This on-site role focuses on hands-on management of electrical and cooling infrastructure, with maintenance planning, commissioning, and operational support across facilities.

The engineer will troubleshoot systems, develop procedures, and coordinate with operations leadership. Candidates should have at least six years of relevant experience and be prepared for occasional travel and on-call coverage.

Qualifications

• Minimum six years of hands-on experience operating critical infrastructure in data centers or similar facilities.
• Strong knowledge of electrical or mechanical systems with ability to troubleshoot and perform operating procedures.
• Experience with medium-voltage switching and UPS/generators is a plus.
• Comfort interpreting engineering drawings and control sequences.
• Willingness for on-site, occasional travel between Texas sites, and on-call coverage.

Responsibilities

• Oversee condition, availability, and preventive maintenance of power or cooling infrastructure using CM software.
• Develop and apply standard operating procedures including incident response.
• Diagnose system issues and direct corrective work for electrical distribution, backup power, or cooling equipment.
• Evaluate loading, environmental conditions, capacity, and maintain technical records.
• Contribute to design reviews, commissioning, and construction handover, resolving deficiencies.
• Coordinate contractors, support customer installations, and audit prep.
• Coach technicians and participate in emergency exercises; cross-train in related discipline.

Skills

Data center infra

Electrical power systems

Mechanical cooling systems

Troubleshooting & maintenance planning

Commissioning & testing

Cross-training readiness

Education

EPA Section 608 Universal certification

Tools

Maintenance management software

Job description

Critical Facilities Engineer, Data Centers

Houston, TX | On-site

Our client, a data center services organization, is seeking a Critical Facilities Engineer, Data Centers to take hands‑on responsibility for the infrastructure that keeps customer operations running. This on‑site opportunity combines equipment troubleshooting, maintenance planning, and technical support for construction and facility operations.

Candidates may specialize in electrical power or mechanical cooling systems, with opportunities to broaden their expertise through cross‑training.

This Role Offers

• Salaried compensation with annual performance bonus eligibility.
• Technical ownership of critical building systems and direct collaboration with operations leadership.
• Involvement in equipment commissioning, facility improvements, and ongoing operations.
• Primarily daytime work with shared on‑call coverage and occasional evening or weekend maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the condition, availability, and preventive maintenance of assigned power or cooling infrastructure, using equipment guidance and maintenance management software to organize work.
• Develop and carry out standard, maintenance, and emergency operating procedures, including job briefings, controlled system changes, incident response, and investigations into equipment failures.
• Diagnose system issues and direct corrective work within your specialty, covering electrical distribution and backup power or cooling equipment, controls, and related support systems.
• Evaluate equipment loading, redundancy, environmental conditions, and available capacity, maintaining technical records and reporting operational risks and performance trends.
• Contribute to design reviews, equipment acceptance testing, commissioning, and construction handover, resolving deficiencies before systems enter service.
• Coordinate contractors and site activities with facility management while supporting customer installations, technical inquiries, and audit preparation.
• Coach operations technicians, conduct emergency exercises, and build working knowledge of the other engineering discipline to support shared escalation coverage.

Qualifications

• At least six years of hands‑on experience operating critical infrastructure in data centers or comparable settings, such as healthcare, manufacturing, utilities, or military facilities.
• Advanced practical knowledge in electrical or mechanical infrastructure, with the judgment to troubleshoot equipment, oversee high‑risk maintenance, and personally perform operating procedures; expertise in both disciplines is welcome but not required.
• For electrical specialists: experience with medium‑voltage switching in the 5 to 35 kV range, protective relays, generators, UPS systems, power distribution, three‑phase loads, switching instructions, capacity management, and NFPA 70E qualified‑person practices.
• For mechanical specialists: experience with chillers, chilled‑water distribution, pumps and variable‑frequency drives, computer room cooling, air‑handling and direct‑expansion equipment, building controls, fuel systems, and water treatment, plus EPA Section 608 Universal certification.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and control sequences, manage computerized maintenance records, prepare operating procedures, and communicate technical findings; relevant education, trade credentials, military technical training, or equivalent progressive field experience is valued.
• Commissioning and integrated testing experience is preferred; additional strengths include electrical testing or power‑system analysis, cooling‑system controls, equipment manufacturer training, energy‑efficiency analysis, or liquid cooling.
• Availability for shared round‑the‑clock escalation coverage, a one‑hour response to the assigned facility, approximately monthly travel between Texas sites and occasional equipment testing trips, off‑hours maintenance, and physical plant duties involving lifting up to 50 pounds.