Data Center Infrastructure Engineering

Apex Systems; Charlotte (NC); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Apex Systems in Charlotte, NC is seeking a Data Center Infrastructure Engineer to design, maintain, and expand the physical infrastructure of a data center. This role focuses on critical power and cooling, capacity planning, and resiliency, not IT hardware or software.

The position requires collaboration with Real Estate, Construction, Utilities and facilities teams on projects, upgrades and commissioning, and to lead root-cause analyses to improve uptime. This is a contract-to-hire opportunity.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of data center mechanical/electrical/structured cabling infrastructure.
• Experience delivering budgets and cost controls for data center projects.
• Experience partnering with Real Estate, Critical Systems, Construction and Technology teams.
• Proven ability to contribute to data center infrastructure engineering and design activities.
• Experience delivering technical solutions that meet availability, redundancy, quality and budget requirements.

Responsibilities

• Design, maintain and improve critical electrical infrastructure (utility service, switchgear, generators, UPS, power distribution).
• Manage cooling and mechanical systems supporting data center environments.
• Conduct capacity planning for power, space and cooling.
• Perform infrastructure resiliency, redundancy and failover analyses.
• Participate in data center construction, upgrades and commissioning activities.
• Lead root cause analysis of infrastructure failures.
• Utilize DCIM, monitoring and metrics for data-driven decisions.
• Collaborate with construction teams, utilities, vendors and facility stakeholders on infrastructure projects.

Skills

Data center infrastructure

Budget & cost control

Cross-functional collaboration

Leadership & accountability

Communication skills

Education

Engineering/technical discipline

Tools

DCIM

Monitoring systems

Job description

Data Center Infrastructure Engineering

Location: Charlotte, North Carolina (Hybrid)

Duration: 12 months CTH

Role Overview

We are seeking a candidate to help design, maintain, improve, and expand the physical infrastructure of a data center. The ideal candidate will have an understanding of critical power and cooling systems, capacity management, infrastructure projects, and operational resiliency. This role focuses on the physical infrastructure, not the IT hardware or software running within it. This is a potential contract-to-hire opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, maintain, and improve critical electrical infrastructure such as utility service, switchgear, generators, UPS systems, and power distribution.
• Manage cooling and mechanical systems that support data center environments.
• Conduct capacity planning for power, space, and cooling.
• Perform infrastructure resiliency, redundancy, and failover analysis.
• Participate in data center construction, upgrades, and commissioning activities.
• Lead root cause analysis of infrastructure failures.
• Utilize DCIM, monitoring, and engineering metrics for data-driven decisions.
• Collaborate with construction teams, utilities, vendors, and facility stakeholders on infrastructure projects.

Required Qualifications

• A strong working knowledge of data center critical infrastructure, including mechanical, electrical, and/or structured cabling systems, with an engineering or technical discipline background.
• Experience supporting budgets and cost controls for data center projects and infrastructure operations.
• Demonstrated experience partnering with Real Estate, Critical Systems, Construction, and Technology teams.
• Proven ability to contribute to data center infrastructure engineering and design activities.
• Experience delivering technical solutions that meet defined availability, redundancy, quality, and budget requirements.
• Professional experience working within a large, complex organization and collaborating across functions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for presenting technical and operational information.
• Experience leading teams and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Typically 5+ years of experience in Data Center, Critical Systems, or related infrastructure engineering disciplines.
• Experience supporting data center engineering, construction, upgrades, or integration activities in a multi-site environment.
• Working knowledge of risk assessment and availability concepts for data centers.
• A solid understanding of data center technologies and associated monitoring and management tools (DCIM).
• Experience compiling site assessments, infrastructure health evaluations, and facility upgrade plans.
• Working knowledge of root-cause failure analysis for critical systems equipment.
• Familiarity with working with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) to support compliance with codes and regulations.
• Exposure to commissioning activities, including testing and validation of mechanical, electrical, and control systems.