Critical Infrastructure Learning Specialist

Per Scholas; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 36,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off 40+ days/year

Health insurance

401(k) with employer match

Parental leave

Dental and vision insurance

Life and AD&D insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts

Job summary

Per Scholas seeks a Critical Infrastructure Learning Specialist to join our National Training Team onsite in Silver Spring, MD. The role supports instructors, delivers hands-on labs, and helps learners prepare for entry- to mid-level data center careers.

You will teach electrical distribution, UPS, generators, BMS/DCIM, and safety practices while maintaining records in our LMS. A strong instructional background and ability to mentor adults are essential.

Qualifications

• 2-5+ years of working in data centers as a Critical Facility Engineer/Technician
• 1-3 years of instructional skills teaching technical subjects to technicians and operators
• Strong technical background and ability to convey complex technical material
• Ability to respond clearly to live digital conversations via Zoom or in-person training
• Strong communication and facilitation skills
• Experience teaching adult learners in structured training environments

Responsibilities

• Assist the Critical Infrastructure Expert Trainer in delivering instructor-led training for entry to mid-level careers as Critical Facilities Technicians/Engineers in data center environments
• Assist in daily instruction, assessment administration, attendance tracking, tutoring, and lab standards enforcement
• Teach foundational and intermediate electrical and building systems concepts (3-phase power, UPS, generators, BMS/DCIM)
• Support hands-on labs with electrical panels, monitoring simulations, and safety practices
• Evaluate troubleshooting performance using scenario-based diagnostics and checklists
• Provide supplemental resources on technical systems and certifications
• Dedicate time to professional development and curriculum improvement
• Collaborate with teams to improve lab effectiveness and learner experience
• Maintain Salesforce/LMS records with grades, scores, attendance, and notes
• Support and maintain curricula, syllabi, lesson plans, and materials

Job description

Critical Infrastructure Learning Specialist

Silver Spring, Maryland, United States

ABOUT PER SCHOLAS:

For 30 years, Per Scholas has been on a mission to drive mobility and opportunity in the ever-advancing technology landscape by unlocking the untapped potential of individuals, uplifting communities, and meeting the needs of employers through rigorous tech training. By teaming up with dynamic employer partners, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups, we're forging inclusive tech talent pipelines, fulfilling an ever-increasing need for skilled talent. With national remote training and campuses in 20+ cities and counting, Per Scholas offers no-cost training programs in the most sought-after tech skills, spanning Cloud, Cybersecurity, Data Engineering, IT Support, Software Engineering, and more. To date, 30,000+ individuals have been trained through Per Scholas, propelling their professional trajectories into high-growth tech careers with salaries three times higher than their pre-training earnings. Learn more by visiting PerScholas.org and follow us on LinkedIn , X , Facebook , Instagram , and YouTube .

Per Scholas candidates must reside in one of the following states, provided the position does not carry a specific office location requirement: AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, MD, MA, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TX, WA.

Position Title: Critical Infrastructure Learning Specialist
Office: Silver Spring, MD
Work Modality: Onsite
Work Type: Contract
Duration: 3-6 Months
Hourly Rate: $26-29/hr

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Per Scholas is seeking a Critical Infrastructure Learning Specialist to become a member of our National Training Team. The ideal candidate is a technically strong, safety-minded professional who can support the lead instructor in translating complex electrical and mechanical systems into structured, high-quality learning experiences.

This learning specialist must understand how mission-critical infrastructure operates in data center environments and possess the ability to teach learners how to operate, monitor, and troubleshoot those systems responsibly. The right candidate is not only technically competent but also able to instill operational discipline, risk awareness, and professional accountability in adult learners preparing for uptime-sensitive environments.

To succeed in this role, candidates must be business-minded within our mission focus and excel in instructional delivery that meets clients’ and learners’ high expectations.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Assist the Critical Infrastructure Expert Trainer in delivering instructor-led training that prepares students for entry-level to mid-level careers as Critical Facilities Technicians/Engineers in data center environments and, when necessary, deliver specific training modules as assigned by the lead instructor.. Responsibilities include assistance in daily instruction, assessment administration, attendance tracking, one-on-one tutoring, daily evaluation and monitoring of individual student progress, and consistent enforcement of classroom and lab standards.
• Assist the instructor in teaching foundational and intermediate technical concepts, including:
• Electrical distribution systems (3-phase power, switchgear, PDUs)
• Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems
• Backup generators and Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS)
• Building Management Systems (BMS) and DCIM platforms
• Assist in the facilitated hands-on lab exercises involving electrical panels, monitoring simulations, and mechanical systems while enforcing OSHA and NFPA-aligned safety practices.
• Assist in the evaluation of student troubleshooting performance using scenario-based diagnostics and structured performance checklists.
• Provide students with relevant supplemental resources for deeper learning on technical systems, industry certifications, and best practices.
• Dedicate capacity (e.g., 10% of non-instructional time) to professional development, technical upskilling, curriculum modernization, and contributing to the product's retrospective/evaluation cycle
• Work closely with the instructional and curriculum development teams to provide feedback on lab effectiveness, learner pain points, and content clarity.
• Maintain and update Salesforce and/or our LMS with student grades, certification scores, attendance, and performance notes.
• Support and maintain training curricula, syllabi, lesson plans, and classroom materials, identifying areas for improvement based on delivery experience.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING TO US

Instructional Skill Sets

• 2-5+ years of working in data centers as a Critical Facility Engineer/Technician
• 1-3 years of instructional skills teaching technical subjects to technicians and operators.
• Strong technical background; able to grasp highly technical subject matter and effectively support its conveyance to learners during instruction and lab sessions
• Ability to respond clearly to live digital conversations via Zoom or in-person training environments
• Strong communication and facilitation skills
• Experience teaching adult learners in structured training environments preferred

Required Skill Sets

• Technical proficiency in the following areas:
• Electrical systems and power distribution
• UPS and backup power systems
• Industrial HVAC or cooling systems
• Building monitoring or controls systems
• Demonstrated understanding of industrial or mission-critical safety standards (OSHA, NFPA 70E, LOTO procedures)
• Ability to guide learners through troubleshooting scenarios in a structured and safety-conscious manner
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and maintaining technical currency in evolving infrastructure technologies
• Demonstrated fluency in utilizing Generative AI tools (e.g., Google Gemini) for instructional prep, assessment, and to model real-world professional use in the technical domain

Preferred Skill Sets

• Significant prior experience working in data centers, critical facilities, or industrial maintenance environments
• Experience with SCADA, BMS, or DCIM monitoring systems
• Industry certifications such as:
• OSHA 10 or 30 (General Industry)
• NFPA 70E training
• Electrical, HVAC, or Maintenance certifications
• Experience delivering competency-based or hands-on technical training programs

Professional Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline (or equivalent industry experience)
• Strong technical aptitude (Google Workspace, LMS platforms, Zoom, project management tools)
• Excellent written communication, presentation, and classroom management skills
• Strong evaluation and data management skills
• Ability to interpret technical documentation including schematics, P&IDs, and single-line diagrams

Personal Characteristics

• You thrive in a creative, inventive, fast-paced startup environment with people who are passionate about their work and mission.
• You are data-driven, result-oriented, and a forward-looking catalyst for social change.
• You have a collaborative and flexible work style. You’re excited to work cross-functionally with other departments and independently.
• You are a life-long learner.
• You are an effective communicator with strong oral and written skills.
• You are tech-savvy and learn new tools quickly.
• You are detail-oriented, with exceptional organizational management skills.
• You have strong public speaking and interpersonal skills. You are a motivator who is personable, approachable, and socially engaging. You can cultivate relationships and build rapport quickly and authentically with people from various professional and cultural backgrounds.
• You are adept at managing your time and balancing multiple projects and tasks.
• You stand behind our mission, believing that individuals from any community should have access to well-paying career positions and that talent should be recognized and recruited from diverse sources.

COMPENSATION

For this role specifically, we are targeting a hourly rate rate of $26-29/hr. Final compensation may vary based on several factors including geographic location, experience, and alignment with qualifications.

#LI-Onsite

Per Scholas offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial well-being, and overall quality of life!

Holidays & PTO: Full-TimePer Scholas team members enjoy over 40 days of paid time off each year through a mix of holidays, vacation, and sick/personal time! All employees are eligible for Holiday pay upon hire (a total of 22 holidays annually, including a week off for Independence day and a week before the New Year). Full-Time Benefits Eligible employees also receive 80 Wellness Hours to use for Sick, Safe, or Personal reasons and accrue Vacation at a rate of 8 hours at the beginning of every month, supporting rest, recharge, and work-life balance. Vacation accruals increase with tenure. Part-time employees are afforded time off on a prorated basis and in accordance with local requirements.

Comprehensive Medical Coverage: Benefit eligible employees can choose from multiple medical plans through Cigna or Kaiser Permanente (where available), with options to fit your needs. Eligible employees also have access to a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) that reimburses eligible out-of-pocket expenses, up to $4,000 for individuals and $8,000 for families.

Dental and Vision Insurance: Eligible employees can select from two dental plan options and a vision plan. Employees who waive medical coverage receive employer paid dental and vision premiums.

Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with a current 100% employer match on contributions up to 6%, eligible employees are offered entry and full vesting after 90 days with the company.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Free, confidential, 24/7 access to counseling, legal support, and financial resources for employees and their household members

Parental Leave: Eligible employees are offered up to 6 weeks of 100% paid parental leave to support employees as they welcome a new child and bond with their family.

Additional Benefits & Perks: Eligible employees have access to employer-paid life and AD&D Insurance, as well as employer-paid short-term disability coverage, with the option to elect additional life coverage and long-term disability insurance. Flexible Spending accounts are available for healthcare, dependent care, and commuting expenses. Per Scholas also offers a range of voluntary benefits, including: Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Legal Services, and Pet Insurance. Additional resources include healthcare concierge support, financial wellness tools, and employee discount programs.

We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.