Data Center Network Engineer — On-Site, Hands-On

Webhosting; Seattle, Northern (WA, KY); On-site; USD 108,000 - 159,000; Full time

Job summary

Rackspace Technology is seeking a Network Engineer 2 to perform hands-on, boots-on-the-ground work in a data center. You will rack and stack hardware, run cabling, test SFPs, and document the physical plant while supporting 24x7 operations and incident response.

You will collaborate with network teams, handle ticketing tasks, and grow into higher-level engineering responsibilities, adhering to safety and change-management policies.

Qualifications

• Basic understanding of the OSI model with strong Layer 1 knowledge.
• TCP/IP fundamentals and basic IP addressing.
• Awareness of routing/switching concepts to understand physical-layer impact.
• Hands-on structured cabling and testing per standards.
• Familiarity with fiber connectors, light-level testing, and cleaning procedures.
• Knowledge of SFP/SFP+/QSFP types and installation best practices.
• Rack power configurations and cable management for airflow.
• Comfort working inside a live data center and adhering to safety protocols.
• Basic familiarity with multi-vendor hardware; configuration knowledge is a plus.
• Ability to read rack elevation diagrams and maintain documentation.

Responsibilities

• Monitor internal ticketing system and provide timely network support.
• Perform physical installation and cabling of network hardware in data centers.
• Mount devices in racks and complete associated cabling to support maintenance.
• Test and troubleshoot fiber and copper cabling to standards.
• Dress, label, test, and clean connectors and cabling.
• Install and verify SFP/SFP+/QSFP transceivers and optics.
• Troubleshoot connectivity at the physical layer and escalate as needed.
• Execute change tasks on devices under supervision of senior engineers.
• Document all physical work in ticketing/asset systems.
• Maintain rack elevations, port maps, and inventory records.
• Support hardware lifecycle activities from receive to disposal.
• Assist during outages and on-call rotations.
• Follow change management, safety, and security policies.
• Work scheduled shifts supporting 24x7 operations.

Skills

Layer 1 knowledge

Layer 2 concepts

TCP/IP fundamentals

OSPF/BGP awareness

Structured cabling

Fiber testing

SFP/QSFP transceivers

Rack safety/ESD

Multivendor hardware familiarity

Documentation accuracy

Ticketing systems

Education

High school diploma or regional equivalent

Job description

Rackspace Technology is seeking a Network Engineer 2 to perform hands-on, boots-on-the-ground work in a data center. You will rack and stack hardware, run cabling, test SFPs, and document the physical plant while supporting 24x7 operations and incident response.

You will collaborate with network teams, handle ticketing tasks, and grow into higher-level engineering responsibilities, adhering to safety and change-management policies.